History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 97

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 97

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On or about the 1st of March, 1806, Alfred

' Wolcott, John Teale and Samuel Ewart ap- peared in Boston, and immediately erected a rudely constructed log shanty, about eight feet square, and of barely sufficient height on the interior to insure safety to the heads of the in- mates. This building was erected on the pres- ent site of the Boston Village cemetery, and was intended to be occupied only until the men had time to build better dwellings on the farms. Teale was a single man, but the other two had wives, and, perhaps, children, who were left at Hudson until suitable cabins for their occu- pancy had been erected by the husbands. These three men " bached" and did their own cooking, except bread, which was brought by one of their number about once a week from Hudson, the nearest settlement. No difficulty was experienced in procuring venison, wild tur- key, squirrel, and occasionally a delicious piece of bear steak. Within about two months, Wolcott, with the assistance of Ewart, who was in some way connected with him in business, had built a large round-log cabin, about one one hundred rods northeast of Boston Village. It seems that Wolcott had purchased the farm soon afterward settled on by Stanford, but his wife, whom he had just married, objected to locating on the farm, stating that she was ap- prehensive of sickness from the proximity of a disagreeable swamp lying just south of where the cabin must be built. This objection in- duced the fond husband to reverse the injune- tion of the bridal vows, and to exchange his farm for one owned by James Stanford, the latter being willing, as, notwithstanding the presence of the swamp, a fine spring of pure water was discovered on the premises. Wol- cott immediately erected a cabin on his new farm, and was soon as comfortably situated as could be expected. On the 23d of March, 1806, James Stanford, William and Adam Vance, and Abner Robinson, a nephew of the Vances, came to the township. The Vances were Irishmen and old bachelors, and brought with them their niece, a young lady named Eleanor Ashcroft, who came out to keep house for them. One cabin was erected, in which all these relatives resided. James Stanford owned land on Lot 41. This was sold to a man named David Cohoon, who, so far as can be learned, did not reside in Boston, although he owned land there. These were the first set- tlers in the township. After this they con-

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tinned to come in about as follows, although the dates are not absolutely correct : Henry Post, Isaac and Jacob Ozmun, Moses Cunning- ham, William Beer, Aaron Miller, Andrew Johnson, Robert Guy, Timothy Bishop, Jona- than Iddings, Lancelet Mays, James Jordan, John Cunningham, Andrew and Robert Don- aldson, John Duncan, Capt. Abraham Miller, Joseph Breen, John Galloway, Moses Decker, Jacob Morter, Samuel and Abraham Miller and John G. Mallet came prior to 1810; Samuel Brown, William Brown, Jonathan Williams, Erastus West, William Craney and others by 1812 ; Elizur Loveland, John Britt, William Brannan, Robert Wallace, John Robinson, James Dean, John Menough, Abial Hovey, Watrous Mather, Ephraim Moody, Nathan Drake, Alexander Metlin, James Fitch, Uriah Singletary. came prior to 1820. and the most of them about 1814. There also came in previ- ons to 1830 the following : Jesse Thompson, William Collier. Daniel Collier, Joseph Lamb, Ichabod Lindley, Thomas Carter, Edward Coyn, John L. Butler, Samuel Coffin, W. L. Rich- ards, John A. Ackley, William Downs, Elisha Mather, William McCreary, Ilenry Burnam, H. T. Avery, Thomas Whelen, Nathaniel Parsons, William McBride, James Brown, J. A. Clapp, Benjamin Wait, Elisha Burnett, Stephen N. Sargent, Henry Wetmore, Talmon Bronson, Don C. Mathes, William Brannan, Herman Bronson, Alonzo Dee, Benjamin Randall, Mar- tin Morton, James Rumage, Billings Robinson, Amos Fletcher, Caleb Carpenter, Joshua Lilli- bridge, Samuel Ilogue, Thomas Owens, Philan- der Carpenter, George Levery and others.

The township was first organized in 1811. Upon the solicitation of the citizens, the Com- missioners of Portage County, of which Boston was then a part, ordered an election of town- ship officers to be held at the residence of Tim- othy Bishop, on the 15th of January, 1811. The following action taken on that occasion is found the township records : "The inhabitants of the township of Boston, having met at the dwelling of Timothy Bishop in said township, by order of the Commissioners of Portage County, for the purpose of electing two Justices of the Peace and other officers, and having chosen Capt. Abraham Miller, Chairman, and Timothy Bishop, Lancelet Mays and Jonathan Iddings, Judges, and Alfred Wolcott and Will- iam Beer, Clerks for the Justices' election, and

Andrew Johnson and Isaac Bacon, Judges of the township election, and after being sworn as the law directs, the following gentlemen were elect- ed : Alfred Wolcott and Moses Cunningham, Justices ; William Beer, Clerk ; Aaron Miller, Andrew Johnson and Timothy Bishop, Trust- ees ; Jonathan Iddings and Isaac Bacon, Over- seers of the Poor; Lancelet Mays, Treasurer ; and James Jordon, Constable. Although this election was held in accordance with the order of the Commisioners, yet the term of office could run only until the following April, at which date the following additional officers were elected : Alfred Wolcott and James Stan- ford, Fence Viewers ; Moses Cunningham and William Beer, Listers ; Aaron Miller, John Cunningham, James Stanford and Isaac Bacon, Supervisors ; Robert Donaldson, Constable. and John Duncan, Treasurer. When Boston was first created, and its earliest officers duly elect- ed, Northfield and Richfield were attached to it for election purposes. This will explain why some of Boston's first officers really resided in those townships. The propriety of creating Boston into a separate township began to be discussed as early as 1807. It was about this time that James Stanford, Alfred Wolcott, Samuel Ewart, John Teale, William and Adam Vance, and a few others, when together one day, began casting about them for a suitable name for the township, which they anticipated would soon be created. Mr. Ewart modestly suggested Ewartsville ; Mr. Wolcott thought Wolcottsburg a much more euphonious cogno- men ; the Vances, Stanford, and the others were silent, though it was clearly perceptible that no name yet proposed was satisfactory. Finally Mr. Stanford said : " Suppose we name it Boston. after old Boston in Massachusetts." This prop- osition seemed to please all present, and the name was adopted. Thus the township had its creation and first settlement, and now its growth and improvement remain to be noticed.

It may here be stated that Boston, in com- mon with almost every portion of Ohio, was first inhabited by wandering hunters, who loved no society except that afforded by the forest, and who thought the country was becoming too thickly settled when a dozen families lived within as many miles. The result was that the settlers above referred to caught but a momen- tary glimpse, as it were, of these roving hunt- ers, as they shouldered their rifles and moved

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HISTORY OF SUMMIT COUNTY.

farther out into the depths of the forest. Prob- ably the most noted hunter ever in Boston, or perhaps in Summit County, was Jonathan Will- iams, who lived for short periods in several of the townships. He was remarkably skillful and successful in his hunts, but perhaps the most distinguishing element of his character was the intolerable, murderous hate he bore the In- dians. He lost no favorable opportunity to shoot them down without a moment's hesita- tion, and, in consequence, was feared and shunned by them. His constant companions were his two dogs and a long-barreled rifle that carried a ball weighing nearly an ounce. His dogs were so thoroughly trained that they obeyed the slightest sign from their master, and were of great assistance to Williams in bloody conflicts with bears and other dangerous animals. Physically, Williams was a remarkable man. He was six feet in height, and his movements were as noiseless and graceful as those of a pan- ther. It was a sight to see him in the forest in pursuit of game of more than usual size or ferocity. He knew no fear, and would pene- trate the deepest swamps, no matter what they contained. He went dressed like an Indian, with leggings and moccasins, and always took pains to have his clothing so harmonize with the color of the forest that the Indians or game could not easily see him. He wore a buckskin blouse, serrated in front and bordered with a fringe of otter skin. He was swarthy-complexioned, and it is reported that Indian blood ran in his veins, and this was generally believed by those who knew him, though undoubtedly incorrectly. He had a wife and family, who were supported by his rifle. To account for his hate for the In- dians, the tradition is that all his relatives were murdered by the Indians before he came to Ohio, in consequence of which he is said to have sworn " to kill them just as long as he lived." These reports are all incorrect. On one occasion some trouble arose between the Indians and whites at Deerfield, Portage County, regarding a horse trade that had been made. An Indian, to retaliate for some real or sup- posed injury, shot Daniel Diver in such a man- ner as to put out both his eyes without other- wise injuring him. The Indians fled to their camp in Boston, but were pursued by the infu- riated friends of the injured man. The latter were joined by Jonathan Williams when they reached Boston. The Indian culprits discov-

ered their pursuers and continued their flight westward, but were overtaken in Bath and one of them named Nicksaw, a harmless and inno- cent old Indian, was instantly shot by Jonathan Williams.

Other incidents will be found in this work of his hostility toward the Indians. One night, Williams, with his two dogs, went to watch a deer lick in southern Boston. He remained there all night without meeting with the desired success. Just as the gray light of coming day began to steal through the forest, his dogs be- came nneasy and restless, and eyed a small thicket near by, in such a manner that Will- iams knew that something more than usual was concealed there. He peered cautiously through the leaves, and, indistinctly, saw the shadowy form of some large animal crouching behind a small bush. His dogs remained obediently at his side, and raising his rifle he fired at the animal. A thrilling scream rang out on the morning air, and the animal bounded off through the woods, swiftly followed by the dogs, which had been told to "go." The animal ran up a tree, and Williams, hurrying forward, discov- ered a large panther crouched on a limb about thirty feet above his head. He had lost all his rifle balls except one. This was discharged at the panther, but only a slight wound was made, as it was yet quite dark, and the animal was partly concealed by the limb. The hunter, at first, was at a loss what to do ; but, finally, he ent a branch that would about fit his gun bar- rel. The limb was cut up into plugs about an inch long, and with these hastily-improvised bullets, Williams continued firing at the pan- ther. A settler, named Carter, living near by and hearing the reports, started out to ascer- tain the cause. He came to the spot, and, handing his rifle to Williams, who was standing in a favorable position, he told the latter to " bring it down." One shot was sufficient, and the panther fell dead to the ground. It proved to be one of the largest of its species, and is said to have measured eleven feet "from tip to tip." Its hide was cut in numerous places by the wooden bullets fired at it by Williams. Thomas Owens was another noted hunter, and often joined Williams in his hunts. When these two hunters "put their heads together," they rarely failed in killing whatever game they desired. Owens had no particular antipathy for the Indians, and the Indian hunting branch

Lewis Milli

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BOSTON TOWNSHIP.

of their sport was turned, without question, over to Williams. These two hunters often went on long expeditions to sections of the country that were wholly unsettled, and, when they re- turned, they were loaded with valuable hides and furs. Their families were the sufferers on these occasions.

It was in this township that the Indian chief, Seneca, erected a wooden god, which was worshiped by his followers for many years prior to the advent of the settlers. When the Indians removed farther West in about 1812, this god was taken with them. It was probably their god of war, as they held feasts and war-dances to propitiate his favor, just before starting on their marauding expeditions. On these occa- sions, an offering of tobacco was hung around the neck of the god, and as soon as the Indians were gone, some of the settlers whose taste for tobacco was stronger than their respect for the Indian deity, would steal forward and appro- priate the dried leaves of nicotiana tobacum. It is said to have been excellent tobacco.

In 1814, the township was quite well settled. Cabins arose along the valley of the river and on the neighboring highlands, and the forest was disturbed by the busy hum of human life. Forests went down with a rapidity, which, if continued a few years, would entirely disrobe the land of its primeval covering. Wild animals became fewer and fewer, and soon none but stragglers remained. Those who were depend- ent on the products of the chase for subsistence were compelled to abandon the township, and depart for homes farther westward. Roads were laid out and cleared, that, in after years, were to be pressed by the feet of distant de- scendants of those who first worked them. The years rolled slowly by, fraught with mingled pleasures and privations.

Malinda Wolcott, daughter of Alfred Wol- cott, is said to have been the first white female child born in the township. Her birth occurred April 14, 1807 ; she married Sherman Oviatt, and lived for many years in Hudson. The first male child born was Andrew J., son of James Stanford, his birth occurring March 27, 1806; and Alexander I., his brother, was born May 21, 1807. It had been generally thought that Henry Post, Jr., whose birth occurred April 8, 1809, was the first white male child born in Boston, but this is a mistake, as shown by the dates. Mary Ann Post was the first

one to die in the township ; her death occur- ring June 9, 1808. Henry Post raised the first crop of wheat in the township; this was in 1807. On July 29, 1812, William Carter and Elizabeth Mays were united in marriage, it being the first. Soon afterward, during the same year, Israel Ozmun, of Boston, was married to Susan Mallet, daughter of John Mallet, of Richfield. Abner Robinson was what was known in early years as " a poet." He could compose " poetry" on all occasions and subjects, and took special delight in immortalizing any wrong doing, in verse. Two of his neighbors were guilty of stealing hogs ; and this fact, coming to the public ear, induced some young men to hang a hog's skin at the door of one of the men, and a hog's head, with eyes protruding, at that of the other ; whereupon Robinson evolved the fol- lowing :

" There is a man on Furnace Run, Who keeps a dog, but not a gum. In hunting hogs he takes great pride, He lives by the sign of 'the hog's hide.'

" Another neighbor lives close by, And has the sign of 'the pig's eye.' ' Hog's hide' to 'pig's eye' thus did say ; ' We will steal hogs while others pray.'

On another occasion, in a trial before Justice Chaffee, when Judge Bliss was opposing coun- sel to Abner, the latter gave the following im- promptu adverse decision :

" My name is Billings Chaffee, In Boston I do dwell- There's not a neighbor in the town, But wishes me in hell.

" They say that I am partial, And all such stuff as this, That I've no judgment of my own. But follow that of Bliss."

On yet another occasion, when Jacob Morter, whose reputation for honesty was on the wane, asked Abner Robinson and Robert Mays, the " poet," of Richfield, to compose some verses on the occasion of his presentation to them of a gallon of metheglin, they responded as follows:

" Abner Robinson and Rob Mays Are truly worthy of great praise : For what a neighbor does that's wrong, Like two d-d fools, they'll tell in song.

"Thus, Jacob Morter, it is said, Steals all the corn that makes his bread ; And while his neighbors are asleep, He prowls about and steals their sheep,"

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HISTORY OF SUMMIT COUNTY.

Morter paid the gallon of metheglin, which was relished by " the poets" far better than the former relished the " poetry."*

Boston was for many years notorious on ac- count of a band of counterfeiters who made the deep, inaccessible gullies and ravines of the township their headquarters. Not only was silver coin counterfeited, but State bank notes, especially those of Indiana, were turned out by the bushel. Some of the most influential citi- zens of the township were induced to engage in the unlawful business, and it is even stated that a certain aspect of respectibility was con- ceded to this occupation. In 1832, the coun- terfeiting reached the zenith of its power and circulation, and at that period is said to have been "the most extensive banking establish- ment in Ohio, if not in the Union." There were branch offices or "banks," in Cleveland, in Rising Sun, Ind., in Vermont and in other sec- tions of country. Coins of some heavy mate- rial were first manufactured and then covered with a thin film of silver; or the coin was first prepared in plates and then stamped with a die of the denomination of money desired. Some of the dies used are now at the county seat. So successful were the counterfeiters in manufacturing and passing their money, that they contemplated visiting the Old World and even China, where they expected to exchange their money for the products of those countries. These products they expected to ship to dis- tant points to be sold. Their anticipations, how- ever, were doomed to encounter reverses and rebuffs. They proceeded as far as New Orleans, where they were detected and arrested. One of the men died in prison in the latter city; an- other escaped, and, like the Wandering Jew, began an unending pilgrimage on the earth ; another was tried by the United States Court and sent to the penitentiary for ten years, but was pardoned by President Taylor. The last- mentioned offender was a resident of Boston and was one of its most intelligent and influen- tial citizens. Several of his descendants are yet living in the county, and are highly moral and upright people. Another one of the of- fenders died in the Ohio Penitentiary in 1838. Still another was sent to the same place from Liverpool Township, Medina County. He also died there. Others were prosecuted in differ-

*From Historical Reminiscences of Summit County by Gen. L. V. Bierce.

ent parts of the State, many of whom suffered the extreme penalty of the law. The gang was at last broken up and it members scattered over the country to repent at leisure for their misdeeds. It is stated that some of the most honored men in the county and in Cleveland were so connected with the unlawful business as to share its profits without incurring any of its liabilities. For many years after the gang was broken up, dies. counterfeit money, and various implements used in the manufacture were found in the ravines, and even in the houses of some of the citizens. There was scarcely a res- ident of the township who was not tempted to pass the coin and bills. On one occasion, a man with a valise came to Mr. Wait, now living in the northern part of Northampton, and asked him if he would purchase counterfeit bills on the State Bank of Indiana, at the same time opening his valise and showing it packed full of those bills. He offered them for sale at 25 cents on the dollar; but Mr. Wait informed him that he had come to the wrong man, and the fellow departed to try his scheme on some other per- son. About twenty-five years ago, when a house belonging to one of the most respected citizens was torn down, a small leather bag filled with counterfeit coin in dollars and half- dollar pieces, amounting to more than a hun- dred dollars, was found concealed under the edge of the roof. In the eastern part of the township are numerous sandstone ledges, which arise from the surrounding level in various forms and positions. Several deep, dark clefts or caverns are thus formed, and it is said that in these caves the counterfeiters were wont to ply their violations of the law. Evidences of their fires there are yet to be seen, and a few iron implements. evidently used in counterfeiting, were found a number of years ago. A great many other interesting incidents might be nar- rated, if lack of space did not prevent.

It is said that, as late as 1860, an old orchard which had been planted by the French or Indi- ans was yet standing near Boston village. The trees were quite large, and were bearing when the white settlers first came to the township. How long they had been planted is not known. Of course, the fruit was none of our grafted and improved varieties, but was no doubt produced from seed obtained at some of the frontier settlements. This was the oldest orch- ard in the county.

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The settlers, when they first came in, usually drove a few head of cattle, hogs, and, perhaps, sheep ; but the latter were found too tender to withstand the trials brought upon them by a home in the wilderness, and usually died- those that did not furnish a repast for the wolves and bears. A team of horses was usu- ally brought, although many a settler came to the forests of Ohio with nothing save his rifle and his ax. When Abial Hovey appeared in the township he had no horse, and was told that he could have one by purchase from Will- iam Beers. But Mr. Hovey told Mr. Beers that buying the horse was impossible without money. " You may clear land for me and thus pay for the horse," replied Beers. "But I have no time," responded Hovey. "Make a ' bee,' and get your neighbors to help you,' suggested Beers. This seemed feasible and to the point, and Hovey at last consented. The day appointed for the "bee" came and went, and the land was cleared, and the horse paid for. Some time afterward, when Messrs. Beers and Hovey, whose land adjoined, were fixing the line between their farms, the land as above cleared was found to belong to Horey. The two men stood looking blankly at one another for about a minute. The silence was at last broken by Beers, who quietly remarked to Hovey, " Let's take a drink." All controversy or dis- pute was prevented by the " devil-may-care " influences of King Alcohol. How different would be the course pursued to-day ! A knock- down would be very likely to occur, followed by law-suits which would swamp horse and land, and create everlasting enmity. In after years, William Beers was a great friend of the escaping slave, and assisted many of them in reaching Canada. One named Lewis Boler came from Kentucky, and not fearing pursuit hired out to Beers, with whom he remained a year or more. Finally. his master appeared, but meeting with decided rebuffs from Beers, he resorted to the plan of coaxing his slave to return with him to Kentucky. But the wily slave could not be deceived by promises, and was, in consequence, a few nights afterward. forcibly and secretly taken and hurried toward his former home in the "Sunny South." Mr. Beers, upon learning of the act, summoned a few neighbors, and together they pursued the master, and despite his protests returned to Boston with Boler. The latter was told to

push for Canada, which he accordingly did, arriving there in safety. Another escaping slave named Sandy came to Beers and obtained employment. His master came on and made all sorts of promises to induce him to return to the South, offering to make a " boss " or over- seer of him, and to make him a present of a dog and a beautiful white pony. Sandy could not resist all these offerings, and returned with his master.

In 1824, a dreadful fever (probably typhoid) visited the country along the Cuyahoga River, and swept off about a score of old settlers- those who had reached advanced ages and whose physical vitality was on the wane. With the exception of a few cases of this kind, the township has ever enjoyed good health. In the year 1830, there were living in Boston five persons of about one hundred years of age. These were Henry Brown, Andrew Johnson, Thomas Brannan, Eleazer Gillson and Eleazer Mather, the first three being Irishmen. Brown died at the age of one hundred and three years. In early years, there was raised an oc- casional crop of what was known as "sick wheat." Animals that ate the grain in quan- tity died, and persons, upon eating a small quantity, were taken with violent vomiting and made deathly sick. No one is remembered to have died from this cause.

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History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 97

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