History of Medina county and Ohio, Part 97

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 97

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Eliza Young, a young lady whose parents were residing in Sharon, was teaching school in the fall of 1842, on the Smith road, in Granger. After school-hours on a Friday aft- ernoon, she rode home with Isaac Van Orman. A heavy storm was blowing. Passing along the road, one of the heavy oak trees that had

been girdled a number of years previously, sud- denly fell before the wind, striking the carriage, killing Mr. Van Orman instantly, and injuriug Miss Young so that she died a few days later.

Under virtue of the military provisions of the Ohio State laws, a militia company was organized in Granger in 1819. At first, the townships of Sharon, Copley, Bath and Granger, joined together and formed one company, form- ing part of the regiment allotted to Medina County. Annual drills were held, the place of holding them alternating between the different townships. A few years later, the Granger people formed a company of their own. John Burt was elected Captain ; Daniel Burt, Lieu- tenant, and Nathaniel Goodwin Ensign. The annual drills of these home soldiers formed an event of great interest to all the inhabitants. The exercises gencrally continued for a num- ber of days, and furnished frolic and excite- ment for young and old.

The Fourth of July, 1826, the semi-centen- nial anniversary day of American Independ- ence, forms a red-letter day in the history of Granger Township, on account of the observance of this national fete day by its people. The people congregated from far and near ; from Medina, Hinckley, Sharon and Bath. Several military companies from these townships came in full force, and they, together with the Granger company, weut through the different military evolutions, making a grand and very impressive display. The housewives had brought provisions along, and a grand bauquet was held in the open woods. The Declaration of Independence was read, and a Fourth of July oration delivered by Mr. Moses Bissell.

Remson's tract forms the northwest corner of the township, and contains an exact quarter of its aren, bcing two miles iu width and three miles in length, on the northeru boundary of the township. This tract had come in posses- sion of one Remson, of New York, shortly after the division of the " Reserve " lands by the

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Connecticut Land Company. He deeded it to the children of one of his daughters, with the proviso that the land was not to be sold until they had attained age. So the lands of this tract remained in a complete state of wilder- ness, save that now aud then a few " squat- ters " located on it, and endeavored to make an unsettled and precarious living by hunting and raising small patches of corn and potatoes, until the year 1845, when the entire tract was placed on the market, and, within a few years, the whole area was sold. William Canfield, of Medina, was appointed agent by the owners, and he disposed of the land at an average price of $10 per acre. The first settlers on thesc lands were Bushnell Seymour and Lucian Perry. A little hamlet had sprung up near the center of the tract. There are several small industrial establish- ments located here, and it contains a post of- fice.

The political organization of the township took place in February, 1820; and the first election for civil officers occurred at the house of Seth Paull, on the first Monday of April, in the same year. The Board of Trustees elected at this time consisted of N. A. Goodwin, S. Paull and Festus Ganyard ; John Codding was elected as Clerk, and Burt Codding as Justice of the Peace. In January of 1822, the Trust- ees appointed Ira Ingraham as Township Con- stable. The first money paid into the town- ship treasury was a fine of 25 cents, imposed upon one of its inhabitants for swearing. Of that money, one-half was paid out for paper on which to record the township proceedings ; the other half was to William Paull, for bringing the State laws and journals from the county seat. The selection of a name for the new township caused a little strife among the peo- ple. The names of Berlin, Ontario, Codding and Granger were suggested. It was finally decided, by vote, that the township should be known as Granger, in honor of the former pro- prietor, who had become noted and distin-

guished as a Legislator in the State of Con- necticut, and as one of the Postmaster Gen- erals in Washington's administration. In the political affairs of the county and State, Gran- ger occupies a conspicuous place. A number of its citizens have held positious of public honor, as county and State officers.

Two years after the organization of the township, a public town hall was erected a short distance west of Grangerburg. It was a log house, and, aside from the public purposes for which it was used, it also served for a num- ber of years as a meeting-house for the society of Presbyterians that had been started in the colony. On the 10th day of October, 1860, Franklin Sylvester deeded a tract of land near the geographical center of the township to the Board of Trustees and their successors, and, the following spring. the preseut town hall was erected there.

In commercial and industrial interests, Gran- ger does not compare with some of its neigh- bor townships. The first mercantile goods were imported by John Burt, and he continued to keep a small country store for a number of years at the locality which is known as Gran- gerburg. Alva Stimson opened up a store at the cross roads, a few rods north of where the towu hall is now located, in the year 1828. Squire Lee, who lived diagonally opposite from him, brought in a limited supply of country merchandise a few years later. Marvin Hop- kins was also one of the early storekeepers at the " Burg."

A post office was established at Grangerburg in 1825, John Burt receiving the commission as Postmaster. He officiated as such for a number of years. The town was supplied with a weekly mail for many years. A Frenchman by the name of Pierre Dubeau carried the mail, passing from Elyria to Ravenna. He traveled on horseback, arriving and departing at no definite or particular time of the week, and always blowing his horn with great gusto

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HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY.

to signalize his coming. The town now is sup- plied with a tri-weekly mail, passing from Sharon to Cleveland and return.

The religious sentiment of the pioneers of this township manifested itself in an outward form as soon as the first cabins had been cov- ered with roofs. Missionaries from Connecti- cut came among them and preached the word of God. The Rev. Israel was one of the earnest laborers in this field, and he came quite often, passing from settlement to settle- ment through the Reserve counties. A church society, on the united plan of the Congrega- tional and Presbyterian faith, was organized in the fall of 1819, by the Rev. W. Hanford and Caleb Pilkins. There were ten members at the first organization, and their names are Elizur Hills, Abigail Hills, James and Phebe Gan- yard, Ira and Lydia Ingraham, John and Dolly Turner, Lawrence and Mary Moore, Wealthy Dye and Charity and Hannah Turner. Part of these members were residents of Bath Town- ship.

Meetings were, at first, held in private houses, and thereafter in the town hall, near the " Burg," until, in after ycars, through outward influence, caused by dissensions that had broken out among the United Presbyterians and Con- gregationalists throughout the county, the Granger society disbanded, and has never been re-organized.

The Methodist Episcopal society was organ- ized by Elder Nunn in the year 1820. The first members were Belia and Amanda Spen- cer, Jane Griffin, Hannah McCloud, Samuel McCloud, John McCloud, Samuel Griffin and Lydia Spencer. William Peats, of Bath, was the Class-leader of the church for a few years, when he was succceded by John Mc- Cloud. James McMahon, Russell Bigelow, Adam Poe, Benjamim Christy and U. S. Yo- cum were the ministers of this denomination who preached to the Granger people in the early days. A hewed-log house for religious

services was erected by the society-within a few years after organization. Within recent years, a large church edifice has been erected at Grangerburg, where worship is held every Sunday. The church now numbers about one hundred members. A split was caused in the society in the year 1844, and a new class, called the Wesleyan Methodists, was formed by the dissenters. A small church cdifice was built by John McCloud on "Liberty Hill," and re- ligious meetings held there for nearly ten years, when this society again disbanded, and most of its members returned to the mother church. Elder Webber and Rev. George McCloud were the officiating ministers in this branch society, during its existence.

The first Baptist Church was formed by the Rev. Henry Hudson, of Royalton, in the fall of 1821, near the east line of the township, and their first meetings were held at Reed's School- house. The incorporators of this society were Whiting Freeman, Jesse H. Smith and Hoel Hatch. This was in the year 1837, and there were then twenty regular members in the church. A Baptist meeting-house was erected near the center of the township, a few years after the civil incorporation of the society, which, in 1865, was removed to Remson's Corners.

The society of the "Disciples of Christ," of Granger, was organized in 1838, with Seth Paull, Clarinda Paull, Harris Reed and wife, William Comstock and wife, Barlow Baker, Conrad Turner and Rebecca Low, as the first members. The Rev. William Hayden was the first officiating minister of this society. Their place of worship for quite a number of years was the Reed Schoolhouse, two and a half miles northeast from the "Burg." In 1862, a church edifice was built by the society. It numbers now over 150 members.

The matter of public instruction kept well apace, from the beginning of the colony, with its moral and material progress. William Paull

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taught a class of seventeen scholars in a little log schoolhouse, in the eastern part of the township, in the fall and winter of 1819 and 1820. This is yet to-day known as Reed's Schoolhouse. John Codding taught a school at Copley's Corners, for several years in the early days of the colony. John Burt taught at Grangerburg in 1820 and 1821. In 1848, a special schoolhouse was erected near the Burg, and a special and select school taught in it for several years. But it was discontinued until in the winter of 1880, when a select class was taught by C. A. Dustin.

The following abstracts taken from the Pub- lic Education Records for 1880, will exhibit the condition of the public schools in Granger

Township. The total enumeration of school children is 247. Of this, 139 are male and 108 female ; the number of school districts in the township is eight. This statement is for the year ending September 1, 1880 :

Balance on hand. $1,691 53

State tax. 378 00

Township tax for schools and school purposes 1,516 65

Irreducible tax 59 75

Fines, licenses, etc. 24 22

Total .$3,670 15

Whole amount paid teachers. .$1,134 00

Amount paid for sites and buildings 944 37

Amount paid for fuel, etc .. 173 08

Total expenses. $2,251 45

CHAPTER XXIII.

MONTVILLE TOWNSHIP- PHYSICAL FEATURES-EARLY SETTLEMENT-GROWTH OF TOWNSHIP- THE BEGINNINGS OF CHURCH AND SCHOOL.

H AD the new world adopted the "pomp of power " known in the old, cui bono must have been the legend emblazoned upon the banners of the " Western Reserve." Peo- pled by a class of emigrants whose native State furnished little more than the bare necessities of life, utility became to them the rigid standard of excellence, and the secret source of their laborious success. Though the transplanting of this stock, and the prog- ress of succeeding years have wrought many changes, and modified the Puritanic strictness of this rule, its influence is yet to be traced in the social economy of the "Reserve." This is undoubtedly more marked in sections re- mote from railroads, where the bustling activities of younger enterprises have less effect upon this intrenched conservatism; and it is here that the historian, dependent upon the active interest of those who form the con- necting link between the pioneer days and

these, finds the greatest difficulty in securing the data for his work. Recognizing no value in the tradition of the early days, they have "let the dead past bury its dead," and made no sign. But to the rising generation, these early days, so full of toil and privation, which have passed beyond the reach of their hopes and fears, command an interest that is akin to the romantic, and it is for such interests that history is written. But a higher motive for perpetuat- ing the history of those who subdued the wil- derness and made the desert places to "blos- som as the rose," is that we are thus able approximately to measure the value of what has been wrought for succeeding generations. It was a noble spirit of self-sacrifice that ani- mated the pioneers of this land, and " bowed their strong manhood to the humble plow." Forgetful of their own ease at a time of life when years of toil could reasonably have de- manded repose for their declining days, they

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HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY.

braved the untried difficulties of the wilder ness, that their children might achieve that greatness which their patriotic faith pictured in the future. The rapidly increasing popu- lation in a country devoid of manufactories left to the pioneer but one alternative, ease at the expense of their children's future, or a wider scope of cheaper lands, bought with a life of toil that found rest only beyond the grave. The broad lands pregnant with the promise of the coming harvest, the thousand homes adorned with the comforts and luxuries of an advanced civilization, the vast resources that command a nation's homage, are the grand memorials that set forth the virtue and wisdom of their choice.

The land which invited immigration to Montville was all that nature, in her pleas- antest mood, could offer. A dense forest of elm, beech, oak, maple, black walnut, butter- nut, and, in the bottoms, a mixture of syca- more, covered every acre. Rocky River, tak- ing its source in the high ground in the south- east part of the township, and flowing in a northwesterly course, with its tributaries, fur- nished an ample drainage, and, at the same time, supplied the motive power for those pioneer industries so essential to the success and com- fort of the pioneer community. As its name suggests, this township was formed of high, rolling land, which, in many places, assumes a billowy character. Along Rocky River, the valley varies from upward of a mile in width, to a few rods, from which the land rises in easy undulations, to the height of some hun- dred feet, and gradually rising from this point to the higher portions in the western part of the township. This water-divide in the south- ern part of the township, is worthy of mention. Here Rocky River and the river Styx are sep- erated only by a distance of about a mile, flow- ing in opposite directions, the water falling on the northern slope finding its way, ulti-

mately, into the St. Lawrence River, and thence to the ocean; and that on the southern slope, flowing off to the Ohio, and thence to the Gulf of Mexico. The soil in the high lands is of a clayey mixture, though not of that heavy, tough texture found in some parts of adjoining counties. Along the valleys of the streams in the eastern part of the town- ship are rich bottom lands, that are remarka- bly productive. These lands are devoted to corn, largely; wheat and other grains find a better soil on the uplands. The ordinary sys- tem of mixed husbandry prevails here, though sheep-grazing and dairying received a large share of attention from the farmers. Mont- ville is situated near the center of the county, and is bounded on the north by Medina, on the east by Sharon, south by Guilford, and on the west by La Fayette. No village has found a location in this township, save the extension of Medina Village, the southern part of which passes beyond the Smith road, which is the northern boundary of this township.

This territory, known in the Connecticut Company's survey as Township 6, Range 14, was early sold by the Connecticut Land Com- pany to Gen. Aristarchus Champion, who, in 1818, caused it to be surveyed in sections, pre- paratory to settlement. In the early part of this year, Austin Badger, in company with Alonzo Hickox, started from Genesee County, N. Y., for the New Connecticut. Both were young, unmarried men, Badger being twenty- four years of age, and, packing their worldly effects into a knapsack, shouldered their bur- den and set out on foot for their destination. On reaching Buffalo, they took an open row- boat, hoping to accomplish their journey in a less tedious way. But prevailing head winds disappointed these anticipations, and they were glad to land at the mouth of Cattaraugus Creek. From this point, they traveled on foot to Erie, then known as Presque Isle. Here

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HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY.

they took a schooner to Ashtabula, when they resumed their journey on foot. Hickox had a brother living at Wooster, a fact that deter- mined their destination. Following the old State road, they arrived at Weymouth on the 10th of May, and, proceeding the next morn- ing, came to the residence of R. Ferris, who lived then near the present site of Medina Village, and took breakfast. Mr. Ferris was agent for the sale of the lands in that vicinity, and, learning the business of the young men, was very solicitous that they should return after their visit to Wooster and locate lands there. Without making any promises, the young men went on to Wooster, when, after spending several days without finding any advantageous opening, Mr. Badger re- turned to Medina. Mr. Ferris at once inter- ested himself in his case, and, finding him with little money and anxious to secure some- thing to do while examining the country, offered him a position with Abram Frieze, who was then surveying Montville. Taking the directions to find the surveying party, Mr. Badger started out, following the line of blazed trees until he came up with them. Here a young man who had been assisting the sur- veyor, sick of his job, proposed that Badger should take his place, which the latter was only too glad to accept. Continuing until July, they finished the survey, earning small wages and receiving the stipulated privilege of first choice of lands. After locating several lots in the southeastern part of the township, which were secured by article without any payment for two years, he returned to Medina and took a contract to clear what is now the square in Medina Village, boarding in the meanwhile with Mr. Ferris. Though unmar- ried, he did not neglect to prepare for future events, and, in 1819, put up a small log cabin, and, after clearing a small piece, planted a patch of corn. In the following year, he went

to Euclid, secured a wife, and, in the fall, took possession of his new home.

The year 1819 brought quite an influx of new-comers to the county seat, and many lo- cated lands in Montville Township. First of these was Samuel Brown, who took up 160 acres in the southern middle part of the town- ship. Mr. Brown had come, originally, from New York, to Euclid, but, attracted by the reports from the new county then coming into the market, sought a home here. He had but a small family, and was in rather strait- ened circumstances. Neighbors were few, and situated at some distance apart, and it was found difficult to secure enough to raise a log cabin. Mr. Brown, in soliciting help, asked the neighbors to come directly after dinner, as, "the fact is," said he, " we have not got much to eat, and you may prefer to get home for supper." When the neighbors gathered, they found that Brown and his wife, with the aid of his team had succeeded in placing the logs so far, that one tier had to be removed to place the joist. There is a slight discrepancy as to authorities upon the fact whether Brown was really the first settler. The evi- dence seems rather to favor the right of Par- ker Pelton, Sr., to that title. At all events, they both came in about the same time. Pelton was originally from Connecticut to Euclid, whence he followed in the wake of the gen- eral movement to Medina. He took up a lot in the southeastern part of the township, just south of Badger's property. He bought one of the lots located by Mr. Badger, buying his contract for $1 an acre, and occupying a de- serted cabin until he could erect one of his own. About this same time Philo Welton came in, located land, and, leaving persons to make a clearing, returned to New York to bring on his family. On his return, his fam- ily found a home with Mr. Pelton until a cabin could be erected. Of Mrs. Welton, it is

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HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY.

said, that on one occasion she rode on horse- back through the woods to Euclid and back, alone, carrying her young babe before her on the saddle. She was intimately acquainted with James Buchanan when he was a clerk in the store near her native place. Thomas Currier, a native of New York, and a resident of Euclid, was another of the earlier settlers. He came into the township, took up land in the northeast part, and set to clearing his land, keeping " bachelor's hall " in the mean- while. Following him, came Amasa Smith, from New York, and bought land just south of Currier. He was followed by his father and three brothers, but they stayed only a few years, when they all went farther west. Seth Hoyt came in from Summit County, locat- ing west of Mr. Badger, and John Lawrence, about the same time, locating in the same neighborhood. Joseph Pimlot, who came in 1819, was an Englishman. He came to the country with the English army about 1812, but, taking a fancy to the new country, and desiring to leave the army and secure a home, accom- plished both designs by deserting his company in Canada, and came to Cleveland. Here he laid hidden in a hogshead, covered with tow, until after the final removal of the army. Aft- er marrying, he came from Cleveland in 1819, to Montville, purchasing land near the southern boundary of the township. This included the families that made up the little community of Montville Township, in 1820, with the exception of G. F. Atherton, of whom little is remembered.

Most of these families were of Connecticut extraction, and brought with them the habits and customs of "the land of steady habits." They were, for the time, sober, industrious people, and the wilderness soon gave way be- fore their sturdy strokes. The land they came to was, in fact, what is known by the indiscriminate term of "a howling wilder-

ness." The natives had long before aban- doned this country as a place of residence, and, though the surveyors found here and there evidences of their abandoned camps, none were seen in this section. To the west- ward, on Chippewa River, was located a con- siderable camp of Indians, who supported themselves by hunting and fishing, but their stay was of short duration, and few of the children of the pioneers of this township ever saw one of them. Game was found here in abundance, and formed a large share of the sup- port of the first few years. What little stock was brought in was needed for other purposes than to supply meat, and were carefully cared for. Parker Pelton was one of the most suc- cessful hunters in this community, and fre- quently supplied the less fortunate with game. William Warner, though among the later emi- grants, was noted as a hunter. Everybody in the township was in straitened circum- stances, and the gift of a quarter of veni- son was always acceptable, and was for years the only meat that could be afforded. Mr. Warner, it is said, killed the last deer that were found in this county, one of them being shot just north of the swamp land in La Fayette Township. Mr. Warner was a native of New York, and came with an ox team from his Eastern home. It is said that his chil- dren had never seen a hickory-nut, and they were greatly delighted with some given them on their journey West. The woods continued, as late as 1832, to be a terror to new settlers. John Clark, the father of William P. Clark, Esq., who arrived in Montville that year, got lost while on a hunting expedition, and did not return until the whole neighborhood had organized to hunt for him. He fortunately struck a cabin, where he was directed to his home. Bears were found occasionally, and wolves, for the first few years, were a great drawback to stock raising, though they never

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HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY.

were bold enough to attack persons. Snakes, though not generally considered under the head of game, were frequently hunted in this locality. The earlier settlers found them in large numbers, consisting chiefly of rattle- snakes, and were obliged to exercise the most vigorous scrutiny to keep them out of the house. It is related that Mrs. Albro-wife of J. H. Albro-when a child, was observed to carry a cup of milk, regularly, out of the house. It excited no special attention, until one day she was found holding the cup for a large snake to drink the milk, in the mean- while patting the head of the reptile. Such favoritism was at once broken up ; but it was a number of years before they were extermi- nated from this country.

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History of Medina county and Ohio, Part 97

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