History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 95

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 95

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Perhaps, the most interesting body of water in the township is the reservoir, a series of con- nected lakes and ponds, partly natural and partly artificial. It is situated in the extreme southern part. extending into Green and Franklin Townships and covers considerable territory. It was built in 1840 or thereabouts, and was designed to secure a sufficient quanti- ty of water for the use of the canal, which was at this time the principal outlet for the trade of Central Ohio. The great number of boats passing through threatened to exhaust the sup- posed abundant supply in Summit Lake.

A few items of the secret history of the Penn- sylvania & Ohio Canal, and " the bearings of which (as ' Bunsby' would say), are in the ap- plieation thereof." At the time when the Pennsylvania & Ohio Canal was projected, the route was located through Middlebury into Coventry, and following the Wolf Ledge Run was to have emptied into the Ohio Canal above the guard lock, by means of a lock, which would have helped to supply the deficiency on the summit level, for which the reservoir was con- structed at a cost of over $150.000 to the tax- payers of the State. But the Akron mill-own- ers perceived that if this canal could be brought into Akron on the line of the Crosby race (by which they were supplied with water-power) by enlarging it and running up to the Summit ba- sin by means of a lock located abore their sup- ply race, they would get the benefit of both the enlargement and of each lockful of water let down, eventually, from the summit level ; hence pressure was brought to bear and the route was changed. But the supply of water on the sum- mit level was not sufficient for both canals, and the reservoir was built. It is supplied by means of a race which starts from the Tuscarawas about a mile from the eastern boundary line, near the Steese coal bank, runs west along the hillsides which skirt the valley, to within half a mile of Long Lake where it turns south, still

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skirting the hills, and enters the reservoir near the 'Squire Freese farm. A huge embankment was built from this point across the lowland to the hills southward, and an extensive lake was thus formed. This discharges through an im- mense iron pipe (and runs into Long Lake when- ever there is need of water from this source), by means of gates which are raised to let the water into the sluice. Long Lake is likewise connected with Turkey Foot Lake, making it also a part of the great supply reservoir. These discharge through Long Lake into the Tusca- rawas, a little south of the center of the town- ship. This point was also made the terminus of the Portage path by the Indians, because the accession of waters from these lakes made the river navigable at all seasons to this point for their birch canoes. Being nearly on a level with the canal, a dam and a supply race or feeder were built, by means of which a never- failing supply was delivered into the canal.

These lakes, creeks, and the Tuscarawas, form a most complete system of drainage. Aside from some low lands along the natural depres- sion in which the township was located, the township is quite free from waste lands. The soil is generally fertile, and especially in the southern part, where it is considered the best wheat land in the Reserve. Along the valley of the Tuscarawas are beautiful meadows, and, in the spring and summer seasons, the rich verdure relieved by occasional patches of tim- ber left to remind one of what it was fifty years ago, forins as pleasant a sight as often meets the eye of the lover of the beautiful in natural scenery. In the northern part the soil is more inclined to clay, and is better adapted to gen- eral husbandry and stock-raising.

The geological structure presents many in- teresting features. The ridge or divide which crosses the township, anciently formed part of the beach of a great inland sea which extended over the entire basin now occupied by our chain of great lakes. One of several outlets to this sea, in all probability, cut through this divide and followed the lowlands to the Tns- carawas, which at that remote time conducted the overflow from the sea toward the gulf. At a more recent time, after this sea had receded toward its present limits, the Cuyahoga passed through this water gap into the valley of the Tuscarawas, until, becoming dammed up, it cut for itself a new channel toward the lake, making

the sharp curve in the river at this point. These facts are shown by an examination of the character of the deposits along this old channel. The surface is of drift origin, while underlying it we find the carboniferous forma- tion in full. The coal measures are overlaid with shale, while above this is sand rock. Im- mense quantities of coal are being mined in this township, and of an excellent quality. The vein averages in thickness about four and a half feet. There is some irregularity, how- ever, due, no doubt, to the uneven bottom of the old coal marsh, in which the vegetation it is formed of, was deposited, and when the overly- ing clays were deposited, the coal material lay between these ridges and irregularities which are now found to obstruct the progress of the miners, and are called " horse-backs," or " hogs- backs." A bed of hard iron ore is found over nearly all the measures opened, varying from a few inches to a foot in thickness. Peat bogs are also found, some of which are said to be from thirty to forty feet in depth. This, by a process of drying, is made into an article of fuel, which may develop into a possible future supply, in case the coal measures are exhausted. Mr. J. F. Brunot prepared some for market, but it has no more than one-half the heating power of coal, and cannot compete with it at paying prices. It is an excellent fertilizer, and is of great value to the intelligent agriculturist. Shell marl is sometimes found, which is one of the most valuable fertilizers in the market. Any one finding this should test it, and ascer- tain its value and reap a harvest from the cat- swamp or marsh, that will make a garden of the whole farm. These peat and marl beds are the filled-up lakelets that ages ago occupied their sites, and which became overgrown with weeds and grasses, until they finally disap- peared. Some of them are even good meadows, over which cattle have roamed for years. One of these dead lakes was discovered recently near Mogadore, on the route of the Connotton Railroad. All lakes with boggy or swampy shores, where one can shake the ground for rods, are in the first stages of progress toward the formation of peat bogs. Many granite bowlders are found, and the curious may won- der whence they came. These rocks are evi- dences of the powerful iceberg and glacial agency in the distribution of the surface rocks, and in the formation of surface features. They

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are strangers here, from the Laurentian hills of Canada, and tell the tale to the people of to- day of the wondrous changes and mighty forces that had played their parts in the con- struction of this continent.

Before the first waves of immigration, pre- cursors of an overwhelming tide that was soon to sweep away the last vestige of a erude and imperfect civilization began to throw upon these shores the scattered settlers who were to form the pieket line for the conquering race, there lived besides these lakes and streams bands of Indians belonging to the Delaware tribe. The territory over which these Indians roamed extended from the bend of the Cuya- hoga southward to the Ohio River. On the east was the country of the Iroquois family, or "Six Nations," while to the north and west lay the hunting-grounds of the Ottawas and Wy- andots. Thus we find ourselves on the borders of disputed grounds. The Delawares had been driven from the homes of their forefathers ou the fertile banks of the Susquehanna and Delaware, by the powerful Iroquois confederation, which extended from the Hudson to the valley of the Cuyahoga, some time in the middle of the pre- ceding century. After wandering through Pennsylvania and into Ohio, they finally set- tled down in the beautiful valley of the Tus- carawas and Muskingum. They belonged to the great Algonquin family, which included all the tribes east of the Mississippi and north of the Tennessee, except the isolated Iroquois be- fore mentioned. They all spoke dialects of the same language, while the Iroquois had a different language. The Wyandots and Otta- was were Iroquois, but spoke a different dialeet from the Six Nations, and were at bitter enmity with them, and frequently combined with the Delawares against their kinsmen. When in- cursions were made to the northward, their route was from New Portage (their principal village in the north) to the southern terminus of the Indian trail, by canoe, thence overland (often carrying their canoes with them) along this portage path, past the western border of Summit Lake, and over the hill past the pres- ent site of the house of Col. Simon Perkins, northward to the Cuyahoga at Old Portage, where they again embarked. These Delawares, or Lenni Lenapes, as they called themselves, were a brave and intelligent people. It is true they were at times cruel, and not very diserim-

inating in their judgments. Many of those venturesome persons who preceded the actual settler, styled Indian hunters, met with tragie deaths at their hands.

Hopocan, or Capt. Pipe, as sometimes called, a Delaware chief, had his village near New Portage, in Coventry Township, which was con- sidered of much importance on account of its being at the head of navigation. The whites looked upon it in a somewhat similar manner, for we find that, in 1787, an ordinance was passed declaring the Tuscarawas navigable to this point, and " forever to be kept open for the use of the United States." By the treaty of Fort McIntosh, in 1785, Coventry, with all the land east of this stream, and the Cuyahoga, was ceded to the United States by the Indians. The history of the " State of Coventry " begins with the downfall at this date of the "King- dom of New Portage," King Hopoean soon being obliged to move his headquarters west of the river, under the above-named treaty, which he signed with all the dignity of a born monarch, as " Hopocan, King of New Portage." This treaty remained in force, with only occasional infringements, until 1805, when the treaty of Fort Industry was signed, by which the west- ern boundary was moved further west, and the Indians, who remained in this territory for some years longer, remained by sufferance of the Government.

The Delawares were generally friendly to the settlers, except when on the war-path. Hopo- can led them in the battle in which St. Clair was defeated, and he afterward declared that he had that day " tomahawked whites until his arm ached." He was at Maumee Rapids when " Mad Anthony " broke the spirit of the Indians of the northwest, who had combined to drive the invaders from their chosen hunting-ground. In 1812, Hopocan and his tribe took sides with the British, and when the fate of war was de- cided against them, he signed the treaty of Greenville. After lingering for a time in the lands which they had chosen, but which was now rapidly filling up with whites, these Dela- wares bade farewell to the homes they had hoped would be permanent, but which, alas, had proved to them hut a transient resting-place in the in- evitable pilgrimage which fate had marked out for them, toward the setting-sun ! Successive removals followed, before the steady and re- lentless march of a higher civilization, which

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sweeps everything before it. The weak and broken remnant of a once proud and powerful nation was finally settled upon a small reserva- tion in the Indian Territory.

In 1806, Daniel Haines came into the un- settled wilderness of Coventry. He was from Pennsylvania, and settled on a piece of land near the northeast corner of the township, on what is now known as the Sumner farm. His log cabin was built in the midst of the forest, a little south of the site of the large stone house, which now occupies the sightly position on the hill back from the road. A small red house now occupies almost the exact spot, and thus keeps in remembrance the location of the first house built by the hands of the paleface in Coventry. "Uncle Dan," as the younger people of that day called him, built his cabin and cleared a small place, where he lived happily in his forest home for a number of years. Ariel Bradley, at Mogadore, Joseph Darrow, at Dar- row Street, and old Deacon Hudson, at Hudson, were his nearest and only neighbors for a year or two. When the Harts and some others came to Middlebury, in 1811, the neighborhood began to get too crowded for " Uncle Dan," and he sold out and went into the woods again. This time he settled in the central part of the town- ship, in a small ravine by the side of a spring, about a mile and a half from the north line, and about the same distance from the cast line of the township, on or near what is now the Elias Hartong place. There he built another cabin and lived in peace, and raised a goodly family of children, who figure largely in the history of the early settlement of this sec- tion. The next settler of whom we have definite record was Capt. Amos Spicer, who located just north of the Ilaines place, in the northeast corner of the township. He was a cousin of Maj. Minor Spicer, and came at the same time, in 1810 or 1811. They were near neiglibors, and were wont to go back and forth almost daily to see that all was well with the respective families. At this time there were a number of settlers in the vicinity, some at Middlebury, and a few in Portage Township, in the neighborhood in which Akron is now located, so that they were not so much alone in the world as " Uncle Dan" had been for some years before. Still they felt isolated from the world outside of their little settlement, and cut off from friends and acquaintances, and why

should they not feel so, for were they not em- barked in an uncertain venture, in a wild and untrained country ? Many anecdotes are re- lated of the skill with which the old Captain could avoid the difficulties of living in a region where men were obliged to depend upon their own resources and ingenuity in the emergencies that daily arose. One incident in which he figured as an actor was related to us by an old settler. It seems that an old bear made a raid on the pig-pen of Maj. Spicer, and carried off the squealing porker to the ravine in the edge of the cemetery, where he proceeded to make a meal. After satisfying himself, he left the re- mains for the morrow, and betook himself to his ramblings. But Avery Spicer, a boy of twelve, caught bruin in the act, and straightway ran to get Capt. Spicer to help to capture him. They soon matured a plan, which was to set a gun-trap, so that when he returned to get the rest of his pork (as they had no doubt he would), he would shoot himself. They loaded their muskets with big loads, putting in several balls, and placed them on forks driven in the ground, just high enough to be in range with the bear, should he get upon their strings at any point. Three of these guns were set with strings from the triggers, running over little forks to the dead hog. After having everything arranged, they retired to the house to await developments. In the night, they were startled by the report of one of the old muskets, and, on going out, they found the bloody trail of bruin leading down the ravine. They followed cautiously for some rods, when they came upon the dying thief. The old musket had sent its load clear through him. Such adventures formed the spice and variety of life to these old pioneers, and they enjoyed an occasional diversion from the routine of wood-chopping and clearing.

About this time, Jesse Allen bought out old Daniel Haines, and settled by the side of Capt. Spicer. This was also in 1811, and shortly after, Nathaniel Allen, his half-brother, came in south of them, and bought the farm that is now the Philemon Allen farm. Jesse Allen was the first Justice of the Peace in the town- ship, in which capacity he served for many years. In 1815, Israel Allen also came into the same neighborhood, and was also a Justice of the Peace for many years. Nathaniel and his good wife, "Aunt Massey," as the boys called her, planted the first orchard in the

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township, and some of the trees or stumps are still standing. They were not such finegrafted fruit as we have at the present time, but they were the best they could get, simply " seed- lings," raised in the garden from seeds gath- ered wherever they could get the fruit. Here, in after years, they had a cider-mill, the first one in the Section, where, whoever had apples, came to get cider made, and those who had none came and bought of the Allens, who had a large orchard. People came here from ten or twelve miles in all directions to get cider. Here, surrounded by their children, their broth- ers and families, they lived and died, after witnessing many wonderful changes that the next half a century produced on all sides of

them. Their sons and daughters grew up, married, and their children are among the peo- ple who to-day are performing the work allot- ted to this generation. Another settler in this part of the township was Maj. Hart, who bought what is at present known as the Stillwell place. Stephen Brewster settled just south of the Nathaniel Allen place, at an early day, on what is now the land of the Brewster broth- ers. The old coal-bank of Alexander Brewster was one of the first in the township, and has been in operation for many years. It was originally opened by a Mr. Whittlesey, who leased the place, but afterward the lease was bought off, and since that time it has been op- erated by Alexander Brewster or his sons. Stephen Brewster's sister married old John Bellows, and they settled near there at about the same time, and the two families raised their children here, where they lived for many years and died, to be succeeded by their descendants, who still own the most of the lands their fath- ers or grandfathers cleared. Ithamore Bel- lows, who is looked upon as an old settler, though a son of the John Bellows before men- tioned, when he reached manhood took up land in the woods, back to the westward of the Allen neighborhood. He married a daugliter of Daniel Haines, and a story is told of him that illustrates the methods of pioneer courtship. During the winter of 1815, two young fellows came over from Green Township to split rails for some settlers .in the neighborhood. One evening they followed young Ithamore through the woods to the log cabin of "Uncle Dan," where, unconscious of pursuit, he entered the house, and the spies secreted themselves so

that they could see the proceedings on the in- side as they transpired. Late in the evening, " Cupid " was making rapid strides toward match-making, and the curtain ought to have been down, when a laugh from the outside in- terrupted proceedings. Young Bellows seized his hat and gave chase. We are led to sus- pect that one or both of these fellows engaged in this shabby trick was smitten by the same fair face. But Ithamore came out winner. William Triplet lived west of the Brewster place, and opened probably the first coal-bank in the township. It was a thin vein, however, and was abandoned after the Brewster bank was opened. His father settled in Green Town- ship, and William came over into Coventry and settled, where he lived and died. Another of the boys lived farther south, but we could not learn the name ; but, after his father died, the mother came up and lived on this son's farm. She had a little house where she lived alone, not far from the log schoolhouse that used to stand near the Gregg farm. Here the school children went for water, but they were always quiet and orderly, for they were afraid of "Old Granny Triplett.'

Basil Viers, the ancestor of the numerous families of that name who still live in various parts of the township, located near William Triplett's place, west of Stephen Brewster. He was among the very first settlers, and is remem- bered only by the old, gray-haired patriarchs of to-day. Just this side of the little log cabin in which Dan Haines lived, Wheeler Heniman located, on the place now known as the " Beck Farm," on what might be called South Main Street Extension. Little is known definitely about him as to where he came from, but he is spoken of as a good neighbor, and was well thought of. Adam Falor settled in the northern center, just east of South Main street, in the hollow not far from the rolling-mill. He built and run a distillery, the first and, as far as we are able to find, only one in the township. It was located where the old stone house stood, through which the Brewster Coal Railroad cut its way just after passing under the track of the N. Y., P. & O. R. R. Here the sturdy old settlers came from all the country around to get the necessary material for raising barns and houses, as well as for running the husking bee, and other social gatherings. Here Adam and his wife Eve lived in peace, never dreaming of

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"temperance societies," " crusaders," or Mur- phy pledges. They raised a family, many rep- resentatives of whom are still living in that neighborhood. Abram Falor, a son of Adam and Eve above-mentioned, built a saw-mill on what is now known as Falor's Run, where he did a good business for many years. Chester Judd was another early settler who came into this same section some time before the year 1820, though that is the time at which we find him located just beyond the Adam Falor place. Peter and Moses Osburn, brothers, also lived adjoining, and near neighbors to Judd. Little could be learned in regard to them, as we find none of their descendants in the township. Thomas Granger, an old Revolutionary pen- sioner who lived like a king on the credit he got on account of his $8 per month from the Government, built his log cabin just beyond the railroad, on the present Moses Falor farm. Granger, with some half dozen other pensioners from neighboring townships, often congregated at the little store at Middle- bury, where they traded out their pension money, and had a gay time recounting the wonderful adventures in which they had par- ticipated to the gaping crowd of younger peo- ple, who are always eager to listen to anything that sounds of war. It is said that their stories rivaled those of Baron Munchausen in the mar- velous, and they themselves, like the old Baron, even came to believe in the truth of their won- derful yarns. In the northwestern part of the township several families had located at an early day, before 1820 at least, though the exact date could not be ascertained. Among them was Old Basil Cahow, a family of Roots, a large family of Hethmans, Seibert Dodge and Samuel Nash. One of the sons of old man Hethman was for a good many years Justice of the Peace. He was an old bachelor, and is remembered by many as an eccentrie but intel- ligent and well-read man. Samuel Nash kept a kind of tavern just beyond the Dodge farm. This was the first tavern in the township, and it consisted of nothing more than the log cabin of the settler and a stable for the horses, but they made the tired traveler welcome, and fed man and beast with the best the land afforded. In 1819, William W. Laird built himself a cabin on the banks of the Tuscarawas at New Portage, and began the construction of flat- boats to run on the river. Henry Chittenden,

of Springfield, Abram Norton, of Middlebury, and Philander Adams, of Tallmadge, at the same time became contractors and speculators in the produce of the country, which they bought up of the farmers all over the country and hauled to New Portage, and shipped on Laird's boats to New Orleans. This seems almost incredible to those who know the present Insignificant size of the river at this point. But such was the case, as we learn from the old people, who still remember this river as a turbulent stream, which, at certain seasons, it was impossible to ford, and which at all times was a goodly stream. Now, however, it has sadly fallen, and the little school-boys wade across its pebbly bed or catch the minnows which sport in its shallow waters. Shortly after the starting of this new industry and the opening of New Portage as a port, one Ambrose Palmer and a Dr. Clark settled in what they considered the future metropolis, and started a glass factory, the site of which is in that part of New Portage located in Norton Township. It was in operation for several years, and turned out considerable quantities of glassware. Its history, however, is more particularly given in the chapter on Norton Township. They finally abandoned the glass business, and Palmer left for the West, where he died, in the Mormon settlement in Utah. Talmon Beards- ley, who was for a good many years a resident of the township, and some twelve years its Clerk, and about the same period Justice of the Peace, has in his possession a quart bottle which was turned out from this establishment in 1822. It is large at the base, and has a long, tapering neck, with a peculiar flare at the top. The glass is a good article, but has a yellowish green cast.

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History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 95

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