History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 104

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?; Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey
Number of Pages: 1104

USA > Ohio > Summit County > History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio > Part 104

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replied that it was. The stranger then said, ' I am Rupert Charlesworth, but I pass here under an assumed name.' Charlesworth was informed of all that had taken place, and he immediately volunteered to go to Northfield and have the matter cleared up. On their ar- rival, a meeting of the township was called, and after a thorough investigation it was the unanimous vote, with one exception, that the man alleged to have been murdered now stood alive before them. It appears that he had passed a counterfeit $10 bill on Deacon Hud-

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son, and fearing an arrest he left the cabin of Viers suddenly, and soon afterward went to England, where he remained two years, at the end of which time he returned to the United States under an assumed name, and went into the backwoods of Michigan, where his real name, former residence and history were un- known. The name of the family was thus, al- most by accident, cleared of infamy and shame. This remarkable case is rivalled only by the celebrated case of the Bournes in Vermont."

The following is also quoted from Bierce's history :

" A more tragic affair occurred in Northfield, on the 24th of July, 1837. On the night of that date, some person or persons entered the house of Robert McKisson, a respected citizen of the township, and with an ax struck Mrs. MeKisson as she lay on the bed, splitting, or rather hewing, the right side of her head nearly away, and leaving the brain exposed or scattered upon the bedding. Lucinda Croning- er, Mrs. McKisson's daughter by a former hus- band, lying on an adjoining bed, hearing the confusion, raised up and screamed, but was in- stantly knocked down, senseless, with the ax. An alarm was given by some other member of the family. and the murderer made off. The neighbors collected and obtained from Mrs. McKisson, who, a few hours later, died, the statement that the murder had been committed by her father-in-law, Samuel McKisson. This was the dying declaration of the murdered woman, and the testimony of the daughter at the trial. Samuel McKisson was arrested that night at his own house. Suspicion immediate- ly attached to David McKisson, a brother-in- law of the murdered woman, who had been paying his addresses to the daughter, but who had been refused admission to the house by the mother. He had been lurking around for several days, during which time he had ob- tained several interviews with Miss Croninger, in one of which they exchanged rings. A few minutes after the murder, a person was heard running past a house toward the canal from the direction of the McKisson cabin. The next morning, at daylight, he was seen on the canal, about three miles from the place, getting a passage to Cleveland. A few days later, he was arrested on the Government works at the mouth of Mamee Bay, with the blood still on his shirt-sleeves. The father and son were in-

dicted for murder by the grand jury in Sep- tember, 1837, and soon afterward tried. The father was acquitted, but the son was convicted of murder in the first degree, and, on the 9th of February, 1838, was executed at Ravenna."

Abraham Cranmer, in 1824, built the first house in Macedonia. It was a hewed-log building, with the usual inconveniences and lack of attractions, and was located in the northeastern part of the village. This house stood until 1854, when it was taken down. Edwin Hutchinson built the second, just above the church, in about 1831. About this time, or soon afterward, George Shattuck and Eras- tus Beldin also built dwellings at the village. All these buildings were of logs, and some per- sons have insisted that the three buildings last referred to were probably erected some four years sooner than as stated above. The above, however, is given on the authority of Mrs. (Cranmer) Munn, who was living in the village with her father, Abraham Cranmer, at the time, and who is probably not mistaken. Sev- eral other dwellings were erected soon after- ward, and the citizens then began to suspect that a village was springing up around then. A few mechanics and tradesmen appeared, but no stock of goods was brought to the village until 1852, when Odell, Price & Co. placed about $4,000 worth in a storeroom that had been built by John Odell the year before. This partnership began a brisk business, selling or exchanging their goods to the surrounding country, and shipping farm produce, including eggs, butter and cheese, to Cleveland. The quantity of cheese handled by this firm was re- markable. They began slowly, like cautious and experienced merchants, feeling their way, until at last all hesitancy was thrown aside, from the steady condition of the market, and enormous quantities of cheese were purchased and shipped to Cincinnati and other points. The cheese and butter products of sixty dairies were handled by the partnership. Each dairy averaged one cheese of twenty pounds' weight daily, making, in all, 1,200 pounds that were shipped away each day, from the 1st of May until the middle of September. When the number of days are considered, it will be seen that about 175,000 pounds of cheese were shipped from Macedonia each season. During the same period, fifty pounds of butter were re- ceived daily from these dairies, and shipped off

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with the cheese, making a total of about 7,000 pounds handled per annum. In 1854, this firm was succeeded by Odell & Co., who con- ducted the same business even more extensive ly than the former firm. Either goods or money were given for butter and cheese. Two years later, Odell & O'Neil took charge of the business, but, at the end of about eight months, the senior partner bought the junior's interest, and conducted the business alone until July, 1857, when he failed and closed out his stock. Archibald Nesbitt took up the broken threads of this trade in 1858, and conducted a fair busi- ness until about the time the last war com- menced. After this, for a few years, the store- room was vacant. Michael O'Neil was in for a few months, during the latter part of the war. In 1866, Sage & Hine opened with a small stock, and, a year later, Hine sold his interest to Chamberlain, and, in 1869, Sage also sold to Chamberlain ; but, soon afterward, Darling & Drennan took charge of the store, increasing the stock until it was valued at $5,200, and handling, at the same time, the cheese of two factories. Lewis Lemoin became owner in the spring of 1875, but sold out at the end of a year to J. C. Johnson, who continued until the spring of 1879, when S. M. Ranney & Co. took possession and have continued since. It would seem by the constant change of owners, that the merchants were either novices at their call- ing, or that the mercantile pursuit in the vil- lage was as uncertain as it was unprofitable and unsatisfactory. Probably both of these reasons have contributed to the failures. O'Neil & Wilcox opened a store, with $800 worth of goods, in 1854, but, soon afterward, O'Neil sold his interest to his partner, who, a year or two later, failed with maledictions on his lips. Marvin Ford sold groceries for a short time about 1865. Lewis Lemoin bought him out, and after continuing eight months, with Palmer as his partner part of the time, sold his share to Mr. Stone, the latter selling to Alton Griswold a year later. In 1870, Palmer sold to Griswold, and, four years later, the lat- ter sold an interest to L. L. Palmer, who, at the end of a year, bought his partner's share, and continued alone until 1878, when the present firm of Munn Brothers assumed ownership. Merchants of Macedonia have surely experi- enced a checkered career. They spring up from all quarters, like mushrooms from a hot-bed.

L. G. Odell was the first Postmaster, receiv- ing his commission in 1852. Zedick Everest built an ashery in 1844, and continued the manufacture of potash until 1858, turning out a ton a week the year round, the most of the time he conducted the business. When the woolen factory at Brandywine was swept away in 1843, David Armstead and Carl Storrs bought a portion of the machinery, and immediately thereafter erected a fine saw-mill at Macedonia. They owned and operated the mill until 1852, when Alexander Nesbitt bought them out, and four years later a man named Griffith became owner. Stone & Buswell owned and operated it during the war, and did an enormous business. They sawed vast quantities of car and wagon lumber from oak, ash, maple and black walnut, which was shipped by rail to Cleveland. They made their fortunes and sold out when the war ended. Since then Woodbury, Lemoin, Barnum and others have owned the mill. Shields & Chapin have owned it since 1872, and are at present doing a large business for the car manufacture at Cleveland. David Armstead built a hotel in 1840. The " Riley House" was built seven years ago .*

It is probable, though not certain, that the first term of school was taught at Brandywine. A log schoolhouse was built there as early as 1817, and a Mr. Stiles was employed to teach the few children then in the village. He kept irregular hours and was paid at the rate of about $1 per scholar for the term. He taught several terms, prior to 1820, in the same house, which was occupied until about 1830, when a frame schoolhouse was built across the road opposite the old one. This building was used many years, and, though silent and deserted at present, is yet standing, a relic of pioneer times. The old log schoolhouse at Brandywine was well attended from 1820 to 1830. The children within a radius of several miles were sent to it without regard to township lines ; for it made little difference whence they came, provided they paid promptly their allotted subscription. Children from up nearly to the center were given their first schooling in this house, while, also, many of those who had attended the Stan- ford School while the old log schoolhouse was standing there, were sent to Brandywine when it was taken down. Everybody at that time looked upon Brandywine as an unusually prom-

*Given on the authority of Mr. Odell, of Macedonia.

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HISTORY OF SUMMIT COUNTY.

ising village, and for many years it was the center of education, religion and industry. The place was deemed so important, that its being situated partly in Boston and partly in North- field was regarded as a drawback to its im- provement and growth, and the result was that through the influence of the Wallaces and others, two lots were severed from Boston and attached to Northfield. The following action was also taken by the Trustees of the two townships at a joint meeting: "The second school district in the Township of Northfield is this day annexed to the second fractional school distriet in the Township of Boston, by the Trustees of the said townships, December 1, 1827."

It is thought by several, that the first school in the township was taught iu the Bacon neigh- borhood. It will be remembered that, in 1815, there were several families living there, cach of which comprised several children. Henry Wood, whose memory is now slowly failing him on account of age, but who is probably correct, says that school was taught prior to 1817 in a vacated log dwelling known as the Row- ley house. If this be true, it was the first in Northfield. A man named King was the first, or one of the first three or four who taught there. In about 1818 or 1819, a log school- house was built within a quarter of a mile of the cemetery which lies half a mile north of the Center. Henry Wood was one of the first teachers in this house. This was used until not far from 1825, when a schoolhouse was built at the Center, and another about two miles northwest of the Center. The following action taken from the records was probably the first relating to the division of the township into school districts : " At a meeting of the Trustees of Northfield on April 12, 1826, for the purpose of dividing the township into school districts, the following division was made : Commencing at the northwest corner of said township, thence south to the center line of said township, thence east along said center line to the road running north and south through the center of said township, thence south along said road to the south line of Lot 7, thence east along said line to the east line of said township, thence north to the northeast corner of said township, thence west to the place of beginning-said district containing twenty-four householders, and to be known as

No. 1. Also, commencing on the east line of said township and running east along the center line to the center road running north and south through said township, thence south along said road to the south line of Lot 47, thence east along said line to the east line of said township, thence south along said line to the north line of Boston, thence west along said line to the Cuyahoga River, thence north to the place of beginning-said district con- taining fifteen householders, and to be known as No. 2." The following is also quoted from the records : " We, the Directors, Maurice Cran- mer and Levi Leach, do agree to have two schools in District No. 1, to the best ad- vantage of the inhabitants, and the public money to be divided to the number of scholars each school affords as one school, April 5, 1828." This division was formally made on the 3d of the following May, the two districts thus formed being designated 1 and 3. Prior to the division of 1826, the township schools had been supported wholly by subscription. The houses had been built by everybody with- out regard to public or individual expense. The one built at the Center, as previously stated, was used until 1835, when a frame structure was erected to take its place, and was used until two years ago. Robert Smith, after- ward School Examiner, taught a select school in the Putnam storeroom after the latter sold out. He taught several terms of excellent school. He also taught in the town hall, which was built in 1848. Rev. Andrews also taught a select school in the Presbyterian Church. Esther Cranmer taught the first school in Macedonia. She went to Hudson for her cer- tificate, and was examined in geography, reading writing, spelling and arithmetic by Lawyers Humphrey and Kirkham. She taught a summer school of four months, and received ten shill- ings per week, and boarded around. This school was taught in about the year 1833. The old house was soon disused and a new one built, and another has taken the place of the place of the last. There are now seven school districts in Northfield.

There are four churches in the township. For many years prior to 1831, Methodists, Presbyterians, Baptists and Scceders held meet- ings in dwellings and schoolhouses, yet, so far as known, no society was regularly organized until the year mentioned. From Mrs. Bacon

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we learn that the Methodists organized a society on the 21st of July, 1831, with the following members : Abner Hurt, Charles Leader, Caleb Brown (the first minister), Betsey Hurt, Jere- miah Cranmer and wife, David C. Bacon and wife, Daniel S. Stanley and wife, Abram Cran- mer and daughter Esther, William Guy and his mother, Mrs. Duncan, Morris Cranmer and wife, Lyman Richardson, and one other whose name is forgotten, making eighteen members. The minister, Rev. Mr. Brown, preached his first sermon from the text, "Why halt ye between two opinions ?" etc. The society wor- shiped in a log schoolhouse at Northfield Cen- ter for some time, and in Mr. Stanley's house also. Mr. Brown, after organizing the church, preached but twice before going to Conference. He was succeeded by Revs. Alfred Bronson and John J. Steedman. The circuit at that time included Cuyahoga Falls, Ravenna, etc. The surviving members of the first organiza- tion are Mrs. Jane C. Bacon and Esther Cran- mer, now Mrs. Munn. Mrs. Bacon remembers a camp-meeting held in August, 1832, the next year after the formation of the church in Northfield, over in Hudson Township, at which Mr. Steedman preached one night from the text, " And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh ; go ye out to meet him." During the sermon a most terrific thunder-storm came up, and as the people sought shelter in their tents, the minister took the opportunity to make the storm an applica- tion of his argument-that if they did not have refuge in Christ, etc., etc., and following the application, he commenced singing in a tremendous voice the hymn beginning-

" He comes, He comes, the Judge severe, The seventh trumpet speaks him near,

The lightnings flash, the thunders roll." etc.

The whole scene made a lasting impression upon the congregation, and was the means of starting a great revival, which continued throughout the meeting.

About the year 1836, the society built a church edifice. There were several members who lived at Macedonia, which led to the organi- zation of a separate society there, and the use of the church at that place, or perhaps its undi- vided ownership was thus secured. This church was built in about 1835 by people who held a variety of religious opinions, among whom perhaps the Free-Will Baptists predomi-

nated. One of the greatest revivals ever in Northfield was conducted at Macedonia, in the old log schoolhouse, by Rev. Mr. Worrellow. It lasted five weeks, and sixty-five were con- verted, a portion of whom joined the Free-Will Baptists, others the Methodists, and still others the Presbyterians. The first services held by the Presbyterians in Northfield were by Rev. Mr. Hanford, who came over from Hudson and preached occasionally. A church was built by this denomination in 1834, which was used until about thirty years ago. when the present one was built. Among the early members of this church were A. Chapin, John and Matthew Wilson, Levi Taylor, Mrs. Ozmun, Mr. Hall and others. A Congregational society was early organized, mainly through the influence of the Taylors. A small church was built by them about the year 1844. Most of this society, however, eventually united with the Presbyterians, and their church, which was thus left vacant, was used a few times in which to hold select schools, and was then fitted up for a dwelling, and is still used as such. The follow- ing has been handed us by Rev. J. W. Logue, of Northfield : "The earliest members of the First United Presbyterian Church of this town- ship came from Ligonier Valley, Penn., in 1831. These and a few others that came in a short time afterward, numbering in all fourteen souls, formed themselves into a church society in 1833 by the election of William Lemmon, Ruling Elder. A short time afterward John Nesbitt, Jacob Leslie and John Phillips were elected to serve in the same capacity. Their first communion was held in a schoolhouse in the vicinity, the above number of communi- cants uniting with them. Their first settled minister was Rev. Joseph Banks, who com- menced his ministry among them in 1834, remaining some five years. Their first church building was a comfortable frame house, about 35x45 feet, and was erected in 1837 at a cost of about $1,000, and located near the center of Northfield. Their second settled minister was Rev. James W. Logue, who began his labors among them in 1843, and has continued nntil the present time. Their second church is a commodious frame building, about 40x60 feet, tastefully constructed and furnished at a cost of some $8,000. It was erected in 1871 on the site of the former one. This church, the strongest in the township, is strongly Calvinistic

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HISTORY OF SUMMIT COUNTY.

in its principles. It took an early and leading part in the anti-slavery reformation in this community, and has always been active in all moral reforms.'

In 1864, a cornet band was organized in the township, composed of the following members : Thomas W. Richey, William F. Drennen, Milton A. Van Horn, Joseph Wilson, L. Bliss, J. G. Alexander, George Richey and Charles Peck. These members, with their own means, pur- chased a set of second-hand brass instruments, and their subsequent efforts were crowned with moderate success. The band continued thus, with some changes, until 1872, when, through the efforts of A. W. Bliss and the liberality of many citizens of the township, a set of fine new silver instruments was purchased at a cost of $341. This was sufficient to arouse the mem- bers of the band to their greatest efforts, and the surrounding hills and dales echoed with music as sweet as that of Orpheus. Perhaps, also, the birds of the air, the fish in the streams, the wild beasts of the forest, and even the trees, rocks and hills, gathered around to hear the divine strains. The members of the band shared a fate almost as sorrowful as that of Orpheus. Three years after their new instruments were purchased, they disbanded, and their delicious music died out in plaintive echoes. In 1877, a new band was organized, composed in part of members of the former band. This is yet in existence. The members have furnished them-

selves with new brass instruments, and have recently made their appearance in a bright new uniform. The present members are George Bliss, Isaac Buskirk, Charles Peck, Frank Brower, John N. McConnell, Cass Proctor, J. L. Ranney, Henry Nesbitt, L. E. Stanley, W. L. Palmer, Frank Ruggles and Will Howe. The band is a credit to the township, and should be encouraged in a hearty and substantial man- ner.

A Lecture Association was organized in North- field in the winter of 1878, of which the following were the six original members : M. A. Van Horn, Dr. R. S. Hubbard, Lorin Bliss, G. M. Seidell, J. G. Alexander, Jo Harter, and afterward B. A. Bobinette was added. The first officers were M. A. Van Horn, President ; J. G. Alexander, Secretary ; Dr. R. S. Hubbard, Corresponding Secretary, and G. M. Seidell, Treasurer. It be- gan as a matter of experiment, and they hired their own lecturers, for which they paid out of their individual pockets. It proved a success. Lectures were held on Thursday evenings of each week, alternating in the different churches. The association has become self-sustaining by the sale of family tickets, memberships, etc., and is apparently on a firm basis. The present officers are Jo Harter, President ; B. A. Bob- inette, Vice President ; Dr. R. S. Hubbard, Cor- responding Secretary ; Lorin Bliss, Assistant Corresponding Secretary ; J. G. Alexander, Sec- retary and Treasurer.

CHAPTER XXV .*

NORTON TOWNSHIP-ITS PHYSICAL FEATURES-COMING OF THE WHITES-PIONEER INDUSTRIES -GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT-VILLAGES-CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS.

N TORTON TOWNSHIP was originally known as Town 1, Range 12, and was a a part of Wolf Creek Township, which com- prised all that territory now known as Norton and Copley, in Summit County, and Wads- worth, Sharon, Guilford and Montville, in Me- dina County. Wolf Creek Township was or- ganized in 1816, and, at an election held in April of that year, at the house of Philemon Kirkham, which stood on Lot 11, in Norton, Henry Van Hyning, Sr., and Salmon Warner

were chosen the first Justices of the Peace. Van Hyning lived on Lot 19, and Warner, just across the line in what is now Wadsworth Township. Philemon Kirkham was elected Town Clerk ; Nathan Bates, Jacob Miller and Abraham Van Hyning were elected Trustees. Twenty-two votes were polled at this first elec- tion in a precinct whose boundaries inclosed 150 square miles. In 1818, Norton Township was organized, with its boundaries the same as at present. It had been surveyed eight or nine years previous to this by Joseph Darrow and

* Contributed by M. L. Shook.

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NORTON TOWNSHIP.

others, and platted into lots half a mile square, numbering from one to one hundred, and be- ginning in the northwest corner of the town- ship, numbering from the west to east, thus : the west lots were 1, 11, 21, 31, 41, 51, 61, 71, 81, 91, to the southwest corner. It is bounded on the north by Copley ; on the east by Coven- try, part of which boundary is marked by the Tuscarawas River ; on the south by Franklin and Chippewa, and on the west by Wadsworth. Norton is not exactly five miles square, as are most of the townships on the Western Reserve, the reason for which we will endeavor to show. That part of the Reserve lying east of the Cuy- ahoga River, Portage Path and Tuscarawas Branch of the Muskingum was acquired of the Indians by the treaty of Fort McIntosh in 1785. It was surveyed in the years 1796 and 1797, by running the base line of forty-one degrees north latitude through from the Pennsylvania line to the Tuscarawas, where a mark was made on a tree, "56m," meaning fifty-six miles from the Pennsylvania line. This made eleven ranges and one mile over on the base line. The territory west of Cuyahoga River, Portage Path and Tuscarawas River was not ceded by the Indians until the treaty of Fort Indus- try, in 1805, after which the balance of the Re- serve was surveyed, and that part of Range 12, Town 1, or Norton, lying east of the Tusca- rawas, having been annexed to Range 11, Town 1, years before, was never transferred. An in- cident which occurred at the time the survey was made will not be out of place. Squire David Hudson, of the town of Hudson, being one of the original owners of Norton Township, concluded to go down and see how the land which he owned lay ; and also to ascertain how the survey was moving along. Arriving in Norton, he accompanied the surveying party several days, and, one day while looking around through the forest, he became detached from the rest of the party and partially lost, or at least did not know which direction to take to find his companions. The surveyors did not miss him until they heard some one making a terrible noise a little distance off, and at once made their way to the spot from which the sounds came. Here they found Hudson, 'with his arms closely clinging to a tree, which he was vainly trying to climb, and calling lustily for some one to "Shoot the bear !" It seems he had happened to surprise an

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History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 104

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?; Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848- Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey Number of Pages: 1104

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?; Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey
Number of Pages: 1104