History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 113

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 113

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about 1840. A limited quantity of light cloth was manufactured, but in about ten or twelve years the Marshalls retired from the pursuit, and the building was transformed into a lath factory. The grist-mill west of Ghent was erected early, and has been one of the best in the township. It has changed owners various times, and has done considerable merchant work. Several other mills have been built and operated along Yellow Creek and its branches ; and it may be said that on no other stream in the county, of the same size, has there been so many mills and so good ones. Dams are easily built from the stone and timber along the creek, and owing to the narrow bed of the stream and the narrow valley, short dams, strongly built, furnish splendid water-power. We will now leave the imperfectly treated subject of mills and notice the growth of villages.

Unlike other townships, Bath's Center never grew to the dignity of a village. A small shoe- shop, opened there at quite at an early day, was about the only attempt toward village- making. Shoes were taken to this shop for re- pairs, but probably before this was opened, the following circumstance occurred : One day, Alonzo Coffin, his little sister and another girl of about her age, none of whom were older than ten years, were sent to Brandywine to have their shoes mended. The families lived near there at that time. The shoes were mended, but by this time darkness had thrown her sa- ble curtain over the earth. Just as the chil- dren were about to start for home, the wolves were heard howling dismally in the woods, through which they must pass, and Mr. Mc- Clellan, the cobbler, declared he would not go through the woods at that time for anything, and told the children they had better stay all night. But Alonzo said he was not afraid, and told Mr. MeClellan to " get me a torch, and I'll go." A large torch of hickory bark was procured and lighted, and the three little chil- dren started ont through the darkness for home. They had no sooner reached the woods than the wolves surrounded them with angry howls, but kept at a respectful distance on ac- count of the fire. The children hurried on, keeping close together, and the wolves con- tinued to follow them until they were within a few rods of home, when the savage animals, disappointed at not getting the expected feast, ran off through the dark forest. It was custo-

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mary, in early years, for cobblers to travel around from house to house to ply their craft, often furnishing everything and making shoes for the whole family. Three villages proper have arisen in Bath-Hammond's Corners, Ghent and Ellis' Corners. The Hammonds were probably the first residents at the former. It is thought that Royal and Horatio Ham- mond brought the first stock of goods to the village, but the date is indefinite. If there at all, they probably opened up before 1830. John Rhodes was there with a small stock soon after 1833. Reison Randolph sold goods there for many years. Joseph Whiteraft is there at present, and has been doing a good country store trade for quite a number of years. Him- self and store are highly spoken of. A few others have sold goods in the village. Among other industries may be mentioned the wagon- works of Clem Jagger. This man has followed the occupation for many years. A post office was secured at the Corners in about 1838. Prior to that date, the office had been at the Center, where Phineas Nash, Theodore King, and probably Lewis F. Lane and others, had served as Postmaster. Various parties have held the office at the Corners, the present one being Mr. Whiteraft. Dr. Hutson, who came to the township in about 1819, was the first practicing physician in the township. His res- idence and office were a short distance north of the Center. He was a kind old man, and would preach to the settlers in their dwellings, or in the schoolhouses. Some time after 1833, Dr. H. A. Robinson came to the township, and for many years he prescribed for the temporal dis- orders of the citizens. He was quite skillful with ague and the typhus fevers, and secured a lucrative practice. Ghent has had a different experience and a different growth. In 1818, there were three or four families living at what is now Ghent. Mr. Boughton opened a small store about the same time, placing his goods in a small, rough, frame building that is yet standing, though altered and remodeled, on the east side of the Center road, near the bridge. This man had considerable money, which was invested in young cattle. The ani- mals were herded in the woods and along the open spaces near the streams. The forests fur- nished abundant food for the cattle. The rich browse was abundant, and was eaten in large quantities with excellent results, as the ani-

mals gained rapidly in weight, until at last they were driven to the Eastern markets. Oth- ers engaged successfully in the same pursuit, Mr. Boughton did not continue his store but for about four years. As near as can be ascer- tained, the village, after he left, was without a store for a number of years. Moses MeFarland was in with a stock of goods in 1844, and had probably begun as early as 1840. Mr. Leggitt was connected with him in business, and, in about 1848, bought MeFarland's interest in the stoek and store. A few years later, he sold to Francis Husong, who probably had about $1,500 worth of goods. Finney & Fairchild succeeded Husong, but closed their store after a few years. Thomas Pierson sold groceries about thirty-five years ago. Henry Pardee opened a store during the last war. This he conducted until 1881, when he sold out to James Green- leese, the present storekeeper. Mr. Pardee kept a good store, and has been an energetic and respected citizen. The oldest woolen fac- tory in the State is located in the village. It was first started in 1832, by Allen & Bloom, but, three years later, was sold to Alpheus Bab- cock, and soon after this to Spafford Brothers. These men failed in business, and the property fell into the ownership of Johnson & Fuller. In 1861, the factory was purchased by its pres- ent owner, Alonzo Coffin, who has conducted it, with the exception of five years, ever since. As high as 10,000 pounds of wool have been bought in one year. Yarns, flannels, satinets, fulled-eloth, cassimeres and other kinds of cloth, have been manufactured. Five or six years ago, Mr. Coffin removed to Akron, and the factory was idle. It is now in operation again. Soon after 1850, Thomas Pierson be- gan making barrels, buckets, kegs, etc., and do- ing a general cooper-wook, which he continued some twelve or fifteen years. James Myers conducted a small grist-mill (or " pepper-mill," as it was significantly called) in the village, in about 1828. Whether he built the mill is not stated. It was finally destroyed by fire. Mc- Farland & Leggitt were conducting an ashery at Ghent in 1858. Archibald Hubbard owned and condneted it before them. How early he began is not remembered. James Root is said to have built the first house in Ghent. This was the Boughton store-building. In 1846, there were about twelve families living in the village. It may be stated that Mr. Pardee was

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connected with the woolen factory for a few years, perhaps about 1858. He is now en- gaged in manufacturing water-proof goods, ac- cording to some new and valuable recipe. Thomas Pierson was very likely the first Post- master at this point. Mr. Pardee assumed control of the office about the time Mr. Lin- coln went into the White House. The mantle of Government position looked well on Mr. Pardee. However, he did not become afflicted with aristocracy on that account, nor did he believe himself a prospective candidate for said White House, because he had been honored(?) with an humble position under Uncle Sam. James Root is thought to have laid out the original survey of lots at Ghent. The date is indefinite. Some say that James Myers named the village, but why the particular name Ghent was selected is not known. Dr. Cooley lived and practiced in the township before 1820. Dr. Darling and Dr. Chaffee were in the township at an early day.

Mr. Latta's tavern was the center around which the citizens of Latta's Corners congre- gated in early years. This man probably erected the first building in the village. Other tavern- keepers were Mr. Ellis, Parvin Delong, Milo Fnl- ler, Moses McFarland, James Moore, Carter Smith, and others. Orrin Walker was selling goods in about 1835. After him were Frank Smith, Mr. Doolittle, Archibald Hubbard, Fred Nash, N. D. Hanson, A. R. Damon and Albert Beach. All these, except Walker, were east of the hotel, and some of them kept excellent stores. Morris Lyon is the present merchant. The village was at first Latta's Corners, but when Mr. Ellis became the central figure it gradually assumed the name, Ellis' Corners. Dr. Humphrey Robinson located at the village not far from 1830. He continued to practice until his death, about thirty years ago. He was succeeded by Dr. Robert McNeil, who also died a short time before the last war. Dr. Sales was the resident physician just before the war, as was also Dr. Merriman. Dr. E. King Nash located perma- nently in the village, and began to practice his profession in 1865. He served the coun- try during the war in the capacity of As- sistant Surgeon of the One Hundred and Fortieth Regiment, but at the close of the war came out as Surgeon. Dr. Merriman practiced in the village after the war, and until four years ago. Among the indus-

tries that have been conducted was an ashery at an early day by Mr. Ellis. Also a wagon- shop by Burris & Son. This, in outline, has been the growth and decay of business indus- tries. A post office was secured at an early day, and letters came directed to Montrose.

Schools are the offspring of civilization. They are unknown among barbarous people, and are found numerous and perfect in the degree of the removal from the savage state. The ignorant, those who willfully and persist- ently remain unlettered, triumphantly quote, or rather misquote, "Ignorance is bliss ; 'tis folly to be wise." They assert that extended educa- tion only opens the eyes and heart to disap- pointments and defeats, and that nothing but absolute ignorance of the great majority of surrounding circumstances can give satisfaction and the resulting happiness. That mode of conduct, carried into effect by actual experi- ment, would reduce man to the savage state, and lead to the utter extinction of the race. Knowledge does not end with a revelation of cares and defeats. It reveals countless paths of happiness to he traversed, and points to the cultured a ready means to avoid those spots on the journey of life, over which the dark clouds of sorrow and sin pass. Knowledge is the shield that wards off the strokes of unpropi- tions surroundings. At the same time it pro- tects the shrinking form of humanity from the bitter blasts of adversity. It amplifies the vision of the intellect, widens the moral and social capabilities, and elevates the enchanted observer to mountainous heights, from which countless glittering domes of beauty and excel- lence are seen. It multiplies the sources of enjoyment, divides those of sorrow, and adds to the happiness of human life. It is highly necessary for the preservation of the American Government that the people should foster and protect schools as they would their jewels. The nature of the government and the pecu- liarities of its institutions should be taughtin every school. Too many young men, and even those in maturer years, know comparatively nothing of the aim of the government as out- lined in the constitution. There is seen the strange paradox of citizens voting for officials to administer laws, the nature of which, though vitally important to them, is almost wholly un- known. The wonderfully rapid growth of educational advantages insures to the masses

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of the people a speedy and practically perfect knowledge of the fundamental principles of the government. Millions in money are annually expended in rearing that unpretending temple of learning-the schoolhouse. The standard of scholarship is steadily rising in the United States among the great body of the people. This is the only salvation for our government, but the people must learn to control their excesses, or the nation we all love so well will go down in darkness like Rome. The morals must be educated, the appetites must be con- trolled, the passions must be checked, the desires must be directed to proper objects, pur- suits and practices must be elevating in their tendencies, and together with all these people must acquire wisdom.

The first school in Bath was taught in the northeastern corner, in a log house that had been built in 1810, by Aaron Miller, one of the few first settlers in the township. The building was about sixteen feet square, and the first teacher's name was Maria Lusk. The first term was in 1811, and after that date schools were held quite regularly in the neighborhood, sometimes in one house and sometimes in another, depending for location on their prox- imity to the homes of the greater number of children. In truth, the schools for many years continued to follow the scholars, going as near as possible to where the greater number lived. Alfred Wolcott was one of the early teachers. It is related that on one occasion, that genius of mischief. the school-boy, in the absence of the teacher at intermission, fortified the chair of the latter with pins bent in a fiendish man- ner. The result was a sudden bound, and the following reverent exclamation : " Who, in heaven's name, has been meddling with this chair ?" Such questions were often asked in early years, but seldom answered. So far as known, Mr. Wolcott shared the same fate as other early teachers. There were several years when no school was taught in northeastern Bath, but the scholars were sent to a well- attended school in northwestern Northampton. A very early school was taught in Mr. Ham- mond's house. Mr. Lucas was one of the first teachers in that neighborhood. Schools were usually taught by subscription, and at stated times teachers were accustomed to send in their bills for collection or settlement. Although it seems unaccountable, yet it is asserted that

the first schoolhouse in the northeastern part was not erected until after 1830, but that schools continued to be held in dwellings and abandoned houses. This house was a frame, about 16x16 feet, and the first teacher, as near as can be as- certained, was Edward Brown, a nephew of John Brown, whose soul is yet supposed to be marching on. This house was used for some twenty-five years, when the present one was built. A school was taught very early at Mr. Vallen's residence in the southeastern part, but unfortunately nothing definite could be learned of it. It may be said, in general, that all schools, prior to 1820, were held in buildings that were temporarily devoted to that use. It is probable that the first building erected for a school- house was either near Hammond's Corners or at Ghent, although both the dates and the facts are uncertain. School was taught as early as 1816, at Latta's Corners, and at Ghent a few years later. In 1820, the citizens living at Ghent sent their children to school in a log house that had been built about thirty rods from the present residence of Mr. Spitzer, by William Wood. Mr. Wood had abandoned the house, which was then devoted to educational purposes. Henry Root was one of the first teachers in this honse, and the following circum- stance is related of him by Benjamin Bishop : The teacher started one cold morning for his schoolhouse, and while on his way through the woods was confronted by a large, gaunt, hun- gry-looking wolf. The animal, evidently ren- dered desperate by hunger, advanced with open inouth and glaring eyes upon the apprehensive teacher, who, having no weapons save a jack- knife, caught up a heavy club, and backed against a rail fence as the wolf continued to ap- proach. When the animal was within reach, Mr. Root struck at its head, but only succeeded in giving it a partial stroke. The wolf caught the end of the club in its teeth, and for some moments Mr. Root was unable to withdraw it for the purpose of delivering another blow. Several blows were struck, all of which the wolf avoided, but finally a fortunate stroke disabled the animal, which was then quickly dispatched by repeated blows on the head. How many teachers would now enjoy such an encounter ? Do not all speak at once. Mr. Root then dragged the dead wolf to the school- house, where it remained during the day. The historian is also compelled to record that the

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teacher complained of the confusion and whis- pering in the schoolroom, and of the almost universally imperfect lessons on that day. A young lady named Eveline Hall taught in this same building as early as 1818. School was early taught in Mr. Rice's house. There have been three different schoolhouses at Ghent, the last one being built a few years ago. In the Hurd neighborhood, in a building that had been vacated by Mr. Banks, school was taught as early as 1828. The next year a schoolhouse was erected near by, and one of the first teach- ers was Robert McNeil. The building was used as a meeting-house, but after a number of years it took fire and burned to the ground. Two other houses in the neighborhood have suc- ceeded it. The township was first divided off into two school districts, and some alterations were made in these annually, until, at last, another one or two were added. Many disputes arose in consequence of the shifting of the dis- tricts. All desired schools within a few rods of their own dwellings, and when this was found to be impossible, the vials of their wrath were freely poured upon the naked heads of all opposers. The districts continued to be divided and subdivided. until they at present number ten.

Religious societies took root in the township in early days. It is always the case in a newly settled country, that the citizens, many of them, are members of churches in the land whence they came, and having experienced the bless- ings and reality of religion, are desirous of renewing their devotions. This state of affairs would result in numerous meetings at the set- tlers' homes, where either a local preacher or an itinerant one would be called upon to pre- side. The Presbyterians and Congregational- ists built a log meeting-house on the " accom- modation plan," at the Center, in about the year 1818. This building afterward became famous for its revivals. It saw continual use until about 1834, when a frame building was erected in its stead. The frame was used until 1870, and was then remodeled and converted into a town hall. The following is quoted from the church records : "At a meeting previously appointed to be held at Bath, November 24, 1823, present Caleb Pitkin, John Seward and Israel Shaler, missionaries, the meeting was opened with prayer by Brother Seward, after which Robert Bell and Mary, his wife, from the

church in Stow ; William Jones, from the church in Randolph ; William and Hannah Smith, from the church in Sandsfield, Mass .; Mrs. Mary Heater, from the church in Can- field ; Mrs. Mercy Hall, from the church in Glastonbury, Conn .; Laura, wife of William Jones, and Samuel Peters and Esther, his wife, from the world, presented themselves with the request to be organized into a Church of Christ. As a preparatory step, the council proceeded to an examination of these persons respecting their doctrinal and experimental knowledge of the Christian religion, and their views of the duties and privileges of a Christian Church. Being satisfied on these subjects, the council proceeded to organize the church. Brother Pitken preached from the text, " Jesus answered, . My kingdom is not of this world,'" etc., after which Brother Seward read the confession of faith and covenant to the persons above named, and proceeded to constitute them a church, regularly organized and entitled to all the priv- ileges and ordinances of the Gospel, and solemnly charged them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to work worthy of the high calling. Being thus organized, the church was put under the care of the Presbytery of Huron, as the First Congregational Church of Bath. Their confession of faith, covenant and articles of practice are the same that have been prepared and presented by the Presbytery in this section of the county (signed) Caleb Pit- kin, Clerk of Organizing Committee." Al- though not so stated in the report of the meet- ing, the session was held in the old log house at the center of the township. The following persons joined the church June 30, 1832 : Ward K. Hammond and wife, Royal Hammond, Robert MeNeil, Nancy Smith, Aurora Piper, Elisha and Ann McNeil, Mary and Jane Ful- ton, Sarah Nash, wife of Phineas Nash, and Lavina Banks. Phineas Nash joined in Decem- ber, 1823. It is stated that James Root gave nearly $3,000 as a permanent fund for the use of this church. The truth of this is left to the reader. The church since its organization has not always been in good working order. Al- though there is no church building at Ellis' Corners at present, the United Brethren have a society there. Among the members are Will- iam Reed, Abraham Spitzer, Lot Watson, Mor- ris Lyon, Samuel Briggs and N. D. Hauser. This society purchased a Methodist Church,

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FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP.

located at Stony Hill, and moved it to the Cor- ners a short time after the last war. This was used by the society for a number of years ; but the building was subsequently sold for $50, and is now devoted to other uses, and the mem- bers assemble in the schoolhouse. Rev. William Whitney is prominent among the membership. A Methodist society was instituted at Ghent as early as 1818, some of the members being Messrs. Hoadley, Bradford, Seakins, Rice and Frost. They assembled in dwellings for a few years, and finally the organization was dis- solved, or, perhaps, as some say, it finally started up again, and became the foundation of the present Methodist Church in the northern part. Their building was erected many years ago, and is known as . Moore's Chapel." It cost some $3,000, and is the best building of the kind in the township. This church is well attended and prosperous. There are many Germans living in the eastern part, and this section of the township is familiarly known as " Germany." Many years ago, an Evangelical society was organized, and soon afterward a small church was built in "Germany." Here

this industrious class of citizens meet to con- duct their religious ceremonies in their char- acteristic way. The United Brethren started up at an early day, and first began holding meetings in the schoolhouse near Hurd's Cor- ners. Here they assembled for some time, shifting their location, finally, to neighboring schoolhouses, to be as near as possible to the greater number of members. After a few years, this state of things became somewhat ob- noxious, and the propriety of erecting a small comfortable church was discussed. Several objected, saying that the tax was greater than they desired to sustain. At last the voice of majority was in favor of building such a church, which was accordingly done, at what is known as Hurd's Corners. Although there are but four churches in the township, the religious element is not confined to these alone; for at Ellis' Corners is a society, and a large portion of the citizens in the western part belong to a Disciples' Church, which is located in Granger Township, Medina County. The churches and schools throughout Bath are up to the standard of those in the country townships in the county.

CHAPTER XXIX .*

FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP-PHYSICAL FEATURES_COAL AND OTHER MINERALS - SETTLEMENTS OF THE WHITES-CRANBERRY GATHERING-INDUSTRIAL GROWTH-VILLAGES -EDUCATIONAL AND RELIG OUS INSTITUTIONS.

THE charms that cluster like gems around the mysteries of the silent past do not end with the beginning of authentic history, but linger with multiplied beauty around the strange myths and fairy tales that come to us through the lapse of unknown centuries. Through the medium of ethnology, archaeology and philology, a wonderful vision of past years is revealed to the present age-one that haunts the inquiring mind of the historical in- vestigator like the face of an angel, instead of like the dismal shadow that shook its gory locks at Macbeth. The vision reveals that, thousands of years before the Christian era- unknown centuries before a means of recording human events had been invented-the human race lived a quiet pastoral life in Central Asia. *Contributed by W. A. Goodspeed.

Seen through the mists of years, their homes and haunts became the source of many a legend or poetic tale, that had its creation on the bold summits of the Scythian hills, or in the fertile valley of the Oxus or the Jaxartes. Every known field has been carefully searched to clear up the darkness that antedates recorded history ; but the sacrifice of time and labor by the assiduous inquirer has been almost wholly fruitless, and has met with continued disap- pointment and rebuff, and the early mythical traditions are believed to be an imperfect ac- count of what actually transpired in pre-his- toric times. Since the origin of writing, the most valuable invention ever given to the hut- man race, remarkable strides have been made in intellectual and moral advancement, and in all that makes a people great. During the

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History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 113

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