USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Strongsville > History of Strongsville, Cuyahoga County, Ohio ; with illustrations > Part 4
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a goose quill, he was permitted to teach. Later, conditions improved, good teachers were secured, and the Academy was built. Strongsville, at this time, was an educational center, numbering among its non-resi- dent pupils, many from Cleveland.
Among the first teachers in the Academy were Miss Bennett, and Mr. Perley Bills, who remained until 1837, when he accepted a position in the University at Tecumseh, Michigan, a branch of W. R. College. Prof. Bills afterward studied law, and at the time of his death, in 1863, was a wealthy and influential citizen of Tecumseh. After leaving the Acade- my, many attended Western Reserve College, among them being L P. Harvey, Levi, Myron, Mary A., and Henry Sabin, Lyman and Sidney Strong, Franklin Strong, and Benjamin Olds Strong. About 1842. a private school was established at the Center by Miss Paulina Gilbert, a sister of B. Gilbert. A cottage now owned by Mrs. O. C. Graves, was built on the northeast corner of the Square; this was used as a residence and school house combined. Board was furnished to a few pupils, but most of the students boarded at home. Instruction was given in the common branches, but advanced studies and languages were taught, when desired. Miss Gilbert was a firm believer in "old style" etiquette. On entering or leaving the school-room, the boys were required to bow and the girls to courtesy in a manner unknown today.
Among the teachers in the years following were Montraville Stone, Louis Harvey, Truman Lane, David Watson, Jared Clark, J. S. Smedley, - Abbot, E. H. Fairchild, H. E. Burr, - Hornell, Rev. Amzi Lyon, N. E. Stark, - McCollom and H. W. Parker. Many of the teachers were from Oberlin, Ohio, and through their influence scholarships at Oberlin College were purchased, and for many years the young people of the town went in great numbers to that institution of learning.
As auxiliaries to the common school system, spelling schools and ge- ography schools were held, furnishing amusement as well as instruction. Singing schools were added to the pleasures of that day, and all combin- ed to produce a generation of scholars which the present generation, with greater advantages and better facilities, find hard to excel.
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PHYSICIANS.
Probably the first physician to practise in Strongsville was Dr. Henry Hudson, a doctor, farmer and Baptist preacher, who moved into Royalton in 1818. The first doctors, who resided in the township, were Dr. Olds and Dr. Baldwin previously mentioned. After these came Dr. Roswell Trask, who for more than thirty years ministered to the sick of the township. During that time came Dr. Drake, who afterwards moved to La Porte, Ohio, and Dr. Lathan, who moved from Strongsville to Columbia, Lorain Co., O., where he was killed by a stroke of lightning.
Dr. St Clair practised for a few years; he also bought the woolen factory at Albion, and after running it for several years, sold it to Lester Miles. Dr. Jonathan Pope and Dr. Leonard were noted physicians of the 50's and 60's.
Later, Dr. Geo. Lee, Dr. W. S Hudson, and Dr. J. B, McConnell who still resides in Strongsville and has an extensive practise, moved to town. Dr. Berghoff, Dr. Haskins, and Dr. Beckwith, remained for a short time only. Of these physicians, Dr. Pope was a Thompsonian and Dr. Lee and Dr. Hudson were homeopathists.
LYMAN W. STRONG
CLARK R. STRONG
WARNER STRONG
SALOME STRONG
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PRESENT HISTORY.
The first chapters of this book were devoted to a description of a phase of life scarcely comprehended by the present generation-primitive life lived amid the unbroken forests of a century ago, by a band of stur- dy men and fearless women cheerfully enduring privations and hardships in the effort to secure homes for themselves and their children. In the humble cabins then dotting the Western Reserve, were daily enacted scenes of which a faithful record would now read like a page from one of Cooper's Novels. The early settlers of Strongsville Township, like other pioneers, were largely imbued with a love of personal liberty and a free- dom from restraint that led them willingly to forego the comforts and ease of an older civilization, and in a school of difficulty and danger, de- veloped those strong traits of character that, transmitted to their de- scendants, have done good service to state and nation.
The present history of Strongsville, then, is but the logical sequence of the history of her early days. The forests have disappeared and fer- tile fields have taken their places; in lieu of the humble log cabin are pre- tentious dwellings, churches, schools, stores, and budding factories that promise in the near future to become something more important. The names of many of the descendants of the early settlers whose ashes rest under the green sod of our rural cemeteries, are te be found filling all the higher walks of life. In patriotic faith, they have given their lives for freedom on battlefields at home and abroad. They have carried the seeds of the christian religion into the far off regions of Heathendom. In Leg- islative Halls their voices have always been raised for truth and right.
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Strongsville, while still strictly speaking an agricultural township, has within its domain nearly all the conveniences of city life without its discomforts; a perfect telephone and telegraph service, steam and elec- tric railways, and of more importance to this locality than either of these -a brick road which was built in 1896, by the county at the cost of fif- ty-one thousand dollars. This road has given to the township easy access to the Cleveland markets at all seasons of the year, and has given an im- petus to farming that could not have existed under former conditions.
One of the partially developed resources of the township is the white sandstone quarries on the farms of George and Lorenzo Strong in the south part of the town. This sandstone is used extensively in building bridges and culverts. It has been submitted to high pressure and chem- ical tests, and has been found to contain 99 per cent pure silica, rendering it an important factor in the manufacture of plate glass and for other purposes .- See report of Prof. Edward Orton, State Geologist for Ohio.
Strongsville's annual surplus products reaching the Cleveland mar- kets, partly estimated and partly taken from assessors' returns, amount to about two hundred thousand dollars in value, without taking into account the output of her three flour and feed mills which are run at times, night and day. Sheer industry, directed by intelligent effort of the occupants of her farm lands, has brought a comparatively stubborn soil up to the highest producing point-compared with the best lands of the state. Thus "The Man with the Hoe" is fast solving the labor problem and some oth- er problems of higher importance to the nation. He has become the Man of Hope for himself and for the state-from whose frugal habits and simple faith she draws the sustenance that corrects the moral and political decay, the greed of wealth and the vices of voluptuous living in her large cities, and assures the permanency of her free institutions.
EXPERIMENT STATION.
The Experiment Station, a branch of that at Wooster, under the di- rection of Prof. C. E. Thorne, was established at Strongsville in the spring of 1895. There had always been a dispute among the leading Agricultur-
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ists as to the value of the different commercial fertilizers upon the clay lands of the state, and it was proposed to settle the question in the only practical way; by careful experiment upon that kind of soil.
At the solicitation of the Hon. M. S. Haynes, the Station was placed here in a very favorable position for carrying out the work, and, as an object lesson, has been of inestimable value to the farming community of this portion of the State.
INDUSTRIES.
Although the majority of the inhabitants of Strongsville are engag- ed in general farming, the dairy and fruit industries claim no small atten- tion. W. O. Ashcraft has a herd of thoroughbreds, second to none in this locality. William Curtis, William Humiston, J. Killian and Sons, G. H. Lyman, and others have proved successful small fruit growers, while George B. Strong's orchards are well known
The two saw-mills in the township are owned and operated by W. B. Blakeslee and A. J. Winsor, while R. Evans, H. Lant & Son, and W. Roy are proprietors of the three grist mills. The manufactory of brick was established a few years ago with a capacity of 30,000 bricks per day. The blacksmith shops number | three; with F. Frank, and W. Whell- er & Son, proprietors at the Center, and W. Trask at Albion.
Strongsville is well supplied with stores. At the Center are located Messrs. Howe & Clement, who deal in general merchandise, carriages, wagons, and all kinds of farming implements. In their store is located the postoffice, with Mr. T. H. Clement as postmaster; L. A. Glessman, dealer in groceries and general merchandise. L. A. Tuttle is proprietor of the grocery store at Albion; he also operates a printing press; is compos- er and publisher of music, and editor of a musical journal. John Roy, postmaster at Vigil, is a dealer in groceries, carriages, wagons and farm- ing implements. George Barneswell is a grocer and coal dealer.
MACCABEES.
Cuyahoga Tent, No. 260, Knights of the Maccabees of the World, was organized at Strongsville, May 21, 1895, with the following Charter
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officers :- Past Commander, J. P. Roof; Commander, F. J. Preston; Lieut. Commander, W. J. Wheller; Record Keeper, S. R. Bedford; Finance Keep- er, J. B. McConnell; Chaplain, G. M. Ordner; Sergeant, G. G. Atkinson; Physician, J. B. McConnell; Master at Arms, A. L. Sanderson; 1st Master of Guards, M. C. Blake; 2d Master of Guards, William Barber; Sentinel, H. A. Sanderson; Picket, J. P. Robbins.
Up to the present date the Knights have a membership of seventy, 39 of whom are Life Benefit Members. The total amount of protection carried by the Life Benefit Members is $59,000.
Goodwill Hive, No. 179, Ladies of the Maccabees of the World, was organized at Strongsville, July 31st, 1896, The following were elected charter officers of the new Hive:
Past Lady Commander, Anna R. Freeman; Lady Commander, Lulu Roof; Lieut. Lady Commander, Eva E. Wheller; Lady Record Keeper, Clara Clogg; Lady Finance Keeper, Lora L. Graves; Lady Chaplain, Fan- nie Poots; Lady Sergeant, Bertha Kaatz; Lady Mistress at Arms, Stella Sanderson; Lady Sentinel, Ella Coville; Lady Picket, Julia Hughes; Hive Physician, J. B. McConnell.
The Hive now enjoys a membership of twenty-seven. The to- tal amount of protection carried by its members is $8,500.
Some of the farms in Strongsville are still owned or occupied by de- scendants of those who first secured titles to the same. Among these are :-
Martin Barber, R. A. Carpenter,
T. H. Clement, Jerry Drake, Hon. M. S. Haynes, B. B. Heazlit,
C. G. Howe, Mrs. Wm. Humiston, John Lathror, F. V. Stone,
Jedediah Southworth,
T. H. Pope, D. M. Strong, Lorerzo Strong.
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KEZIA JENNE POPE
MARGARET POPE WELLMAN
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PERSONAL SKETCHES.
ROBERT MOSES ASHLEY was born Aug. 17th, 1782, at Lee, Berkshire Co., Mass., and married Aug. 30th, 1810, Fiche Van Deusen, who was also a native of Lee. Their seven children were Geo. Wendell, who was born in 1813 and died at the age of 26 years; Harriet E., who died in 1831, at the age of 16 years; Charles Lowell; William Harper; Robert Moses; Francis Marian; and Egbert Dwight. The family came to Ohio, June 2d, 1832, settling on what was known later as the Lester Miles place, but soon purchased the farm now owned by the heirs of Wm. H. Ashley. R. M. Ashley, Sr., died Sept. 12th, 1854, and Mrs. Ashley's death occurred Jan. 24th, 1849.
Robert M. Ashley, Jr., married Marcia Ann Strong, Jan. 2d, 1847, who died March 30th, 1853. The following year he married Catherine Ozmun. They had three children, Walter S., who married, Nov. 19th, 1884, Miss Ettie E. Loynes; Sidney O. and Marcia Ann, both of whom died in infancy. Mr Ashley died July 7th, 1875, Mrs. Ashley's death oc- curring Aug. 10th, 1891.
Wm. H. Ashley married Mary D. Strong, April 30th, 1849. Her death occurred Sept. 5th, 1854, and Jan. 31st, 1856 he married Ruth M. Bramhall, who died April 9th, 1869. Mr. Ashley died Sept. 1st, 1885, leaving three children: Mary A., who became Mrs. Warner and died in Nebraska; Charles B .; and Jennie, who married Mr. John Peck. The lat- ter two live in Strongsville.
Francis M. Ashley, who settled in Medina County, married Mary Jane Fuller, May 19th, 1852, and died in July, 1898.
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Egbert D. Ashley is the only survivor of the older generation of Ash- leys. He resides in Medina. Jan. 22nd, 1850, he married Eliza Jane Tuttle who died Sept. 16th of that year. April 28th, 1852 he married Maria D. Deming, whose death occurred Aug. 24th, 1891.
THATCHER AVERY, was born Aug. 17th, 1790, at Plainfield, New Hampshire. His father, George Avery, was a Revolutionary soldier, leaving home when young and enduring the privations and hardships of that period. Later, October 16, 1780, he was in the French and Indian War, at the time of the burning of Royalton, Vermont, and was taken prisoner by the Indians who kept him in constant fear for six weeks; then he was taken to Montreal and sold to the British for eight dollars, (scalps being worth but four). He was kept by them twenty-two months, and was then exchanged as a prisoner of war, suffering no less with the Brit- ish than with the Indians. After about two years' absence he reached his home at Truro, Mass., where he had been mourned as dead. Thatcher Avery spent his youth and early manhood among the hills of New Hamp- shire, but in 1817, he, with Wheeler Cole, traveled the entire distance to Ohio, with a team of oxen and cart, consuming six weeks of time for the trip, and bought land in Strongsville. In 1825, he married Julia Ann Lyman. Mrs. Avery was born in Vermont, June 22, 1807; a woman of active temperament, well fitted to fill her place in the family and society, always ready to push on every good work, especially in caring for the sick. Mr. and Mrs. Avery united with the Congregational Church in 1827, and were always helpful and consistent members. Mr. Avery sold his farm, and with his son, Hollis, bought the Isaac's mill property, east of Strongsville Center. Here he lived until his death, April 27, 1875. Mrs. Avery died September 3, 1889. They had three children-George, who lived in Strongsville and vicinity, and attended school at Baldwin University, until 1854, when he went to Kankakee, Illinois, where he now resides. In 1861, he married Elicia Fleming, of Seville, Ohio, who died, leaving three children. January 30, 1883, he married Miss Frances Good- rich, of Kankakee, Illinois. After her death, he married, June 18, 1900, Mrs. L. B. Adams, of Olmsted Fall:, Ohio; Irene, (Mrs. Carpenter ) who
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died at Pilot Center, Illinois; and Hollis, who married Emily Holbrook. He was for many years a resident of Strongsville, but is now a farmer at East Trumbull, Ohio.
DR. WILLIAM BALDWIN, son of Elnathan and Esther Bissel Bald- win, was born at Windsor, Conn. He was thirteen years of age when his father was accidentally ki led, and he was cast upon his own resources. After finishing an academical course, he decided to make the medical pro- fession his life work. He graduated at the Medical College at New Hav- en, Conn., in 1821, and immediately started for the Great West, finally lo- cating in Strongsville, O. The following year he returned to Suffield, Ct., and married Miss Delia Alden, Oct. 16th. Miss Alden was a descendant of John and Priscilla Alden of Mayflower fame. Their first home in Strongsville was a part of the unfinished tavern, until Dr. Baldwin could build the cottage that occupied the site of the present Pomeroy house, and which enjoyed the distinction of being the first finished frame house in Strongsville. Dr. Baldwin was obliged to carry a torch through the blazed roads when visiting a sick patient at night, in order to frighten away the wolves, and the Indians often spent the night by his fireplace in the new home. Dr. and Mrs. Baldwin were the parents of three children, all born at Strongsville: William Howard, Delia Alden, and Sidney Alden. Dr. Baldwin was a resident of Strongsville fifteen years, being regarded not only as a physician but as a personal friend, and one interested in the prosperity of those about him. During his residence in Strongsville he was secretary of the Cuyahoga Medical Convention. July 4th, 1836 he, with his family, moved to Tecumseh, Mich., where he continued for many years in the practice of his profession. Dr. Baldwin died at Tecumseh, Dec. 5th, 1864, aged sixty-five years, and Mrs. Baldwin lived at Tecumseh until her death, April 20th, 1875, aged 80 years.
JAMES J. BARTLETT, the youngest of seven children, was seven years of age when he came to Strongsville in 1852 with his parents Frederick R. and Elizabeth Brown Bartlett, who were natives of England. He has all his life taken a commendable interest in local affairs and for many years was one of the trustees of the township. He was al-
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so one of the prime movers in securing the brick road. He is a . farmer and for a number of years was a bridge builder. In 1868 Mr. Bartlett married Miss Mary J. Hendershott of Cleveland. They have five children: Stella, Mrs. A. L. Sanderson; Edward J .; Edith E., Mrs. Frank Ody; Luella M. and Mary M. The children, with the exception of Mrs. Ody, whose home is in Cleveland, live in Strongsville.
WM. BEDFORD, his wife Elizabeth, and son, Thomas, came from Wantage, England, in company with the Clements. One son, John, went to India, where he died, leaving a child, Bessie, who, after his death, came to Strongsville and is now the wife of Mr. Root, of Brunswick. William Bedford was born in 1772, and died in 1857; Mrs. Bedford was born in 1786, and for some time before her death, in 1831, was bling.
Thomas Bedford was born in 1807, and in the year 1831, before com_ ing to America, he married Miss Harriet Hudson. He worked in Cleve- land for some time, at his trade of painting and graining. He also paint- ed many pictures, some of which are now in the possession of the family. Mr. Bedford was also fond of music; he played a fife in the first band that was ever organized in Cleveland. To Thomas and Harriet Bedford were born two children, John and Belinda, (Mrs. Tudhope.) In 1843, aft- er the death of his wife, Mr. Bedford married Miss Selina Clement, and to them were born eight children: Emanuel, Emily, (Mrs F. G. Howe,) Al- bert, Harriet, (Mrs. M. Meacham,) Fred, Lawrence, George, and Cora, (Mrs. E N. Drake), all of whom are now living except the eldest. Thomas, Bedford died of apoplexy in 1888
REV. DANIEL C. BLOOD, was born Feb. 2nd, 1803. He grad- uated at Dartmouth College in 1828, and at Andover The: logical Semina- ry three years later. In 1843 he was installed pastor of the Strongsville Congregational Church, remaining in that capacity until 1841, when he went to Massillon, Ohio. Mr Blood was a fine orator, and was a faithful pastor in striving to win souls to Christ His wife, Mrs. Delia Allyn Blood was well fitted to assist him in church work. Their only child, Sarah Jane' died at the age of three years. Rev. Blood's death occurred at Collamer,
DR. JONATHAN POPE
MRS. JONATHAN POPE
PHILANDER POPE
MRS. PHILANDER POPE
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O., June 3rd, 1889, Mrs. Blood following him Sept. 10th, 1895 aged 91 years.
JOHN BOSWORTH, SR., came from Herkimer Co., N. Y., to Auburn and then to Strongsville about 1823 with his wife, who was Miss Hannah Luther of Connecticut, and family consisting of seven sons and two daughters, namely: Samuel, Elijah, John, Jr., Rosanna, Luther, Isaac, Lovisa, Joseph and Benjamin. About 1850 Isaac, Luther and Joseph went to Mich. Samuel and Benjamin spent their lives in Strongsville; Elijah and Samuel were soldiers of the war of 1812 and with their bounty money purchased their farms in Strongsville. Lovisa became Mrs. Jehi- el Cross, and Rosanna married Mr. Russel Harris of Cleveland, and died in 1878.
REV. LUKE BOWEN was born at Putney, Vt., April 9th, 1783, and graduated in 1817 from Middleton College, Vt. After marrying Mrs. Esther Lyman Smith, a sister of Elijah Lyman, Sr., he came to Strongs- ville in 1822. According to an old deed now in existence, Mr. Bowen bought of Mr. Benjamin Olds, 25 acres of land, situated one half mile north of the center for $150, and later he purchased 100 acres joining his small farm. Mr. Bowen was an active worker in the church and in vari- ous temperance societies One son, Levett, was born to Mr. and Mrs. Bowen. Mr. Bowen died at Strongsville, Oct 9th, 1855, Mrs. Bowen fol- lowing him sometime in the sixties.
Levett Bowen was born in 1824 and attended Western Reserve Col- lege. . He studied law and was admitted to the bar. From Strongsville he went West, where, later, he was Governor of Nebraska.
MRS. LOVINIA STRONG BURRELL, daughter of John S. Strong, was born at Marlboro, Vermont, September 18, 1812. She came with her parents to Strongsville when six years of age, and two years later united with the 1st Congregational Church. In 1833 she was mar- ried to Mr. Jabez L. Burrell. They had one son, Martin S. Burrell, who went to Portland, Oregon, and investing in mining lands and real estate, became every wealthy. He died
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sometime in the seventies;but his widow, Mrs. Rosetta Frazer Burrell, and their son, Walter F., still live in Portland. Mrs Burrell died April 26, 1837. Mr. Jabez Burrell's death occurred in Oberlin, in March, 1900.
JOSIAH CARPENTER was a direct descendant of William Car- penter, who was born in England, in 1576, and landed in Rhode Island, in the ship Bevis in 1638. He was born in Bratt eboro, Vt, and lived there with his family, farming among the rocks, hills and brooks of New England until 1818, when the tide of emigration was pointing to the Western Reserve. In that year, Mr. Carpenter, with his sons, Zachary and Caleb, in company with the families of Eliakim Lyon and J. S. Strong, started for Ohio, driving an ox team carrying goods for Mr. Strong. On reaching Buffalo, Zackery Carpenter and Stoughton Strong took the boat for Cleveland. Soon after the party had reached Strongsville, Mr. Josiah arpenter bought 300 acres of land at $4 per acre in the southeastern part of the township, after which he returned to Vermont. During the summer, Zachary and Caleb cleared six acres for wheat and built a log house. They bought in Cleveland a barrel of pork for twenty-five dollars and a cow for twenty-eight dollars. In October, Mr. Carpenter returned with the remainder of his family. Here he lived only five years, dying of apoplexy in Sept. 1823, aged 55 years. His widow, Lois Bullock Carpenter, was an ad pt at handling the spinning wheel and loom. Her cheerfulness helped her greatly through the difficulties unavoidably met on a new farm in those days, and this trait never left her. She remained unmarried un- til past seventy years of age, when she became the second wife of Ahijah Haynes, Sr. The descendants of this worthy couple, at this time, num- bered 163. Mrs. Haynes died at the age of 83, at the home of her son Rufus, and was buried at Strongsville. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Car- penter located, with the exception of Caleb, in a few years, in other™pla- ces; William married and located in Michigan; Zachary married Maria Bennett; David married Lydia Carpenter and lived and died near Ben- nett's Corners. Robert married Lucretia Benton, and both died in Cleve- land; Rufus married Alzina Brooks; he was father of Horace Carpenter of Brunswick and of Mrs. Mason of Cleveland; Esther was Mrs. Moses Bennett of Minnesota; Huldah married Abial Haynes; Lois became Mrs.
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Peter Newton and afterwards married Mr. Brown, and became the step- mother of H. M. Brown of Cleveland; Bethia married John Miller of Al- bion.
CALEB CARPENTER, the fourth son of Josiah Carpenter, was born at Brattleboro, Vermont, and from 1818 was closely identified with the settlement and growth of Strongsville. In the Spring of 1820, he bought 75 acres of land, one half mile east of the Center, at $3.00 per acre. In 1821, he walked back to his old home, and remained one year, cutting cord wood. Returning to Ohio, he bought, at Hudson, some sheep most of which were killed, later, by wolves. By industry and good mar- agement, notwithstanding the scarcity of money and poor market, he paid for his land, and, as opportunity offered, added more acres until he doubled the size of his farm. Mr. Carpenter was always an advocate for good schools and improvements. His sympathies were ever with the un- fortunate and op pressed. During the time of the fugitive slave law his home was a station on the Underground Railroad. In November, 1823, Mr. Carpenter married Miss Susan Haynes, daughter of Ahijah Haynes, Sr. She was born Jan. 4th, 1801, at Brattleboro, Vt., and was one of Stongsville's early teachers. Mrs. Carpenter was a faithful wife and mother-with her wheel and loom clothing the family, and sometimes re- maining alone for three days caring for house and stock while her husband was gone to the Newburg gris, mill with a load of grain. On one occa- sion a bear visited the pig-pen, carrying off its contents, which sent back a farewell squeal. Mrs. Carpenter was a member of the 1st Congrega- tional Church. She died, where she had lived, April 10th, 1841, having been the mother of eleven children, among them three pair of twins. In 1843 Mr. Carpenter married Miss Beulah Dewey of Brecks- ville, who was mother to three daughters. Mrs. Carpenter died in 1896 at the home of her daughter, Mrs. J. W. Ogilvy. Mr. Carpenter's death occurred at the old home, January 20th, 1873.
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