USA > Ohio > Mahoning County > History of Trumbull and Mahoning counties with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, Vol. II > Part 68
USA > Ohio > Trumbull County > History of Trumbull and Mahoning counties with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, Vol. II > Part 68
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99
Lewis Clisby was the second settler at the center, arriving soon after Mr. Brown.
Jared Kimball, from Vermont, settled north of the public square in 1816, and here lived and died. None of his family now remain. His daughter, Mrs. Teed, also lived in Bloomfield. Mr. Kimball was the first justice of the peace, and a very worthy man. Of him the following is related: A poor man living in the township had rented a piece of grass land which he was to mow and have a portion of the hay for his work. He mowed the hay and stacked it. Soon after the owner of the land set a fire, which after working some time in the turf, at length reached the renter's haystack and destroyed it. The man sought to recover damages and the case was brought before 'Squire Kimball. 'Squire Brown made a plea stating the law applicable to the case, but 'Squire Kimball said, "Here is a law which applies," and quoted from the Bible, "If a man set a fire which catch in the stubble and destroy his neighbor's grain, verily that man shall make restitution." Judgment was accord- ingly rendered in favor of the poor man. 'Squire Kimball was a Presbyterian deacon and a firm believer in the doctrines of his church.
David Comstock, who came in 1815, worked for Major Howe, and was noted as one of the greatest wood-choppers of the time. He married a sister of William McClintock and settled in the northern part of the township, afterwards moving to the center. They had no children. Mrs. Comstock was a resolute woman, and prob- ably such a frightful creature as a mouse, which is now capable of frightening ladies nearly to death, had no terrors for her. In her husband's absence she kept house, and one day when a bear attacked a hog in the pen, she took down the rifle, went out and succeeded in driving the intruder away, though she could not kill him.
Amasa Bigelow, a brother of Mrs. Leman Ferry, settled near Ferry in 1816. His son Elijah made the first improvements upon the place. The four sons were Daniel, Timothy, Amasa, and Elijah. Amasa and Elijah did not reside per- manently in Bloomfield. Daniel and Timothy passed their lives here. One daughter, Jemima, married John Weed.
Samuel Eastman was an early settler in the northern part of the township west of the turn- pike. He married Sophia Meecham, of Greene township. He was a most eccentric character.
Jared and Cyril Green came to the township
387
TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.
in 1815, and settled on lot forty-six. Jared was then unmarried. Cyril married Polly Sherman, and she came with him. Cyril lived until 1874, when he died in his eighty-first year. He was favorably known as an enterprising, public- spirited man. Two years after the arrival of Jared and Cyril Green, their father, Jared Green, came out and settled. Besides the two above mentioned, his sons were Charles, Noah, Marcus, and Archibald. Charles returned East ; Jared, Jr., moved north ; Archibald is still a resident of the township. One daughter, Julia (Whit- comb), moved away.
In 1817 Thomas Howe, of Williamstown, Vermont, brought his family to this township, and settled in the southern part on lot eighty- five. He was born in Westmoreland, New Hampshire, in 1799, and in early life was a mer- chant. He carried on that business successfully a number of years in Williamstown. His wife, Clarissa, was born in Woodstock, Connecticut. Both were esteemed and honored throughout their lives. They had five children, all born in Vermont-Clarissa (Wilder), Thomas M., Dr. George W., Nancy (Green), and William H. Thomas M. and Mrs. Green are dead. The others all reside in Bloomfield. There was not a death in the Howe family until the youngest child was forty-six years old. Thomas M. lived in Pittsburg, and represented his district in Con- gress several terms. Dr. George W. has been a Representative to the Legislature, following in the footsteps of his father, and has held other honorable positions.
Hezekiah Howe came from Vermont in com- pany with Asa Works, in 1817, and settled on lot sixty-five, where he still lives. He is now In the ninety-sixth year of his age. None of his sons now reside in the township.
Asa Works settled in 1817, where his only son Nelson now resides, on lot sixty-four.
Aaron Smith, about 1816, settled in the south of the township. Soon after his arrival he built a frame house, the first in the township. It is still standing, but has been removed to Bristol. Mrs. Smith's only child, a daughter, married Leonard Osborn and lives in Michigan.
Mayhew Crowell settled about a half a mile north of the center in 1815. His wife, Mehit- abel (Howe) Crowell, died September 20, 1817, being the first death in the township. Her
daughter Harriet was the first child born in the township. The Crowell family included five sons and three daughters, who arrived at mature years. All are now dead. Their names were as follows: Willard, Obadiah, Henry, Thomas, Roswell, Mehitabel (Bellows), Mercy, and Mary (Butler). Charles Thayer settled in the north- west of the township about the year 1816. None of the family now remain in Bloomfield. One son, Hiram, resides in Bristol.
John Bellows, about the same time, located one mile northwest of the center. One of his sons, Dr. Bellows, now resides in Michigan. William moved to Chagrin Falls. None are left here. The elder Mr. Bellows engaged in brick- making quite early. His brother Benjamin re- sided a while in this township.
Mr. Proctor, whose first name is not remem- bered, settled in the northern part of the town- ship early. He was a strong Presbyterian and a good man. Two of his sons, Francis and Israel, lived and died in Bloomfield. Francis married Betsey Huntington, sister of 'Squire Brown's wife. She is still living. Mrs. Israel Proctor is also living.
Noyes Parker was a blacksmith and had a shop near Brown's mill. He made axes and scythes. One of his children was drowned in the mill-race about the second day after he came here to settle. Two or three years later an eight- year-old son was drowned in the river. This so disheartened the parent that he gave up his busi- ness and moved away.
This, we believe, about completes mention of the Vermont families who made the early settle- ment.
Later, a number of English families established homes in the township. This class now forms more than half the population. They are in- dustrious, thrifty, and excellent citizens.
Mr. William Haine was among the first of the English settlers of the township, and still re- sides here.
ORGANIZATION AND FIRST OFFICERS.
This township was organized by a special act of the Legislature, and received its present name in 1816. The first township officers were chosen on the 9th of April, 1817, at an election held at the house of Ephraim Brown and were as follows : Aaron Smith, chairman; Leman Ferry and Jared Green, judges of election; Cyril Green,
388
TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.
township clerk; Jared Kimball, David Comstock, and Leman Ferry, trustees; Mayhew Crowell and Timothy Bigelow, overseers of the poor; Leman Ferry, Jr., and Lewis Clisby, fence viewers; Jared Green, Jr., and John Weed, ap- praisers of property; Jared Green, Jr., lister; Jared Kimball, treasurer; Samuel Teed, consta- ble; Mayhew Crowell and Leman Ferry, super- visors.
ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS.
The following stories relative to early days in this township are taken mainly from a published historical sketch by Mr. George A. Robertson :
Many interesting incidents of early times are still remembered by the children of the early settlers, now gray-haired sires and grandsires, some of which deserve a place here.
The cows and hogs, while the settlers were commencing operations upon their farms, had nowhere to run except in the woods. The hogs were allowed much liberty during the summer, and in the fall as many of them as could be found were brought in and confined in rail pens to be fattened. But usually some of them would escape, and thus, in a comparatively short time, wild and ferocious hogs inhabited the forests; and when they had attained five or six years growth, their huge tusks and savage na- tures rendered them about as formidable as any wild beasts of the time. "Hunting the wild boar," the sport of the feudal and middle ages, so celebrated in the pages of song and romance, was occasionally revived here in the wilds of Ohio, and often many joined in it. Not un- frequently some unfortunate modern Adonis, would find himself too closely pursued and be compelled to take refuge in a tree to avoid de- struction.
Mr. N. B. Ferry relates that often, when a boy, while hunting for the cows his dog would start a wild hog whose squealing would arouse others and attract them to the spot; and soon they would collect in such force as to drive him to a tree for safety, while the dog used every effort to keep from being rended in pieces by his savage pursuers.
TREED BY WOLVES.
One evening when Mr. N. B. Ferry was a boy he was out hunting for the cows, and not return- ing as soon as usual, his father started out to find
him. Being unsuccessful in his search, he was re- turning to the house, and when within a short dis- tance of it he was startled by the howling of wolves. Fearing that he would not be able to reach his home, he climbed a tree and shouted for help. Several men who were boarding at his house each seized a gun and hastened to the spot. The wolves were easily frightened away. It was afterwards learned that they were not at first in pursuit of 'Mr. Ferry. Jared Green had killed a deer that day and dragged it home ; The wolves were following up the trail, and as Mr. Ferry un- consciously took the same course, they turned their attention to him.
TRAPPING A BEAR.
One night a cow belonging to Mr. Howe canie up without her calf, to which she had given birth during the day. She was fastened for the night, and in the morning loosed, and the boys were directed to follow her as she would be sure to proceed to the spot where the calf had been left. The cow, on being untied, went some dis- tance into the woods, and at length, coming to a clump of bushes, stopped and began lowing. This spot was undoubtedly the place where the calf had been left, but now it nowhere appeared. Traces of blood, and a trail where the calf had been dragged, pointed plainly to its fate. Fol- lowing this trail a short distance, the boys found a portion of the carcass placed between two trees and covered over with leaves. They returned and related what they had seen to Mr. Norton, who had quite a reputation as a bear trapper. According he set a trap near the spot, and awaited developments. The next morning the trap was sprung, but the bear was not in it. The remains of the calf were gone, too, and for some distance, no trail was found. Mr. Norton direc- ted that search be made in a circuit of some dis- tance around the spot, as he believed that the bear would carry his burden a short distance, and then drag it. He was correct in his knowl- edge of the habits of the bear, and soon the trail was found. After following it up, they dis- covered the remaining portion of the carcass where it had again been deposited and covered with leaves. Here Norton set two traps, at- taching heavy clogs to them.
Next morning young Howe found the ground around the spot torn up as though a drove of hogs had been there. One of the traps had
38g
TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.
been sprung, but the bear had managed to get his foot out of it. The other had gone and with it the clog. Following the course which the bear had taken a short distance, Howe soon heard the sharp clink of the trap against the stones in the creek bottom near by. Norton then came up, and put his dogs on the trail. Soon their barking was heard, and hastening on the hunters found the bear endeavoring to climb a tree with the trap on one of his fore paws. Hindered by this and by the dogs, he soon fell, shot by the rifles of the men. He weighed over four hundred pounds, and was well worth the trouble it had cost to capture him.
PRACTICAL JOKING.
In their hunting expeditions these pioneers would occasionally strive to make some new- comer the victim of their fondness for joking. A fellow had come to the township of whose courage a very poor opinion was entertained. He became at one time a member of a hunting party who engaged in a hunt of several days' duration, camping in the woods at night. It was determined to have a little fun with him, to pass away the time. One of the company ac- cordingly went quietly outside of the camp, and after all were quiet, began making strange, un- earthly noises. The men who were in the secret paid but little attention to the sounds, the most of them apparently being sound asleep. But the new member of the party became visibly alarmed, and enquired what the noise was. He was told that it sounded like the howl of a catamount, and at this, his fear and discomfort were so great that he requested that he be cov- ered with a large trough which was near the camp, so that the animal could not get at him. A day or two later he learned the cause of his alarm, and much of his cowardice disappeared.
HOWE'S DOG ARGUS.
In the spring of 1815 several settlers came to Bloomfield from Vermont. By their request Mr. Howe allowed a valuable dog belonging to him to accompany them. Argus was his name. But somewhere in New York State the dog deserted the men and they saw nothing more of him. Some months later Howe drove through with a horse and sleigh. On stopping at a tavern he was much surprised to find Argus there, who re- ceived his old master with every manifestation of
delight. On asking the landlord how he came in possession of the dog, the landlord insisted that he had raised him from a puppy. Mr. Howe, though surprised at this claim, said, "The dog belongs to me and I can prove it. Here, Argus, get into that cutter and watch it; and now, landlord, if you can remove anything from the cutter the dog is yours, otherwise he is mine." "All right," replied the inn-keeper, as he ap- proached the sleigh ; but by no amount of coax- ing or threatening could Argus be induced to al- low hun touch the robe or the whip. When Howe was ready to start he told the landlord that he should not try to call the dog along, but Argus needed no special request, and readily be- came the traveling companion of his master. He reached the new settlement and there be- came a general favorite, acquiring much renown as a deer and bear dog.
RESCUE OF SLAVES.
As the people of Bloomfield were returning home from church one quiet Sabbath afternoon in the month of September, 1823, a negro with a woman and two children was seen on the turn- pike. They appeared nearly worn out with much travel and almost ready to lie down and die. Those who saw them supposed, of course, that they were fugitive slaves, but communicated their suspicions to no one. About dark three men, the slave-owner, his son, and an attend- ant, rode up to the door of the tavern in the village, and inquired if the negroes had been seen. They were informed that they had gone on a short distance. The landlord advised the strangers to tarry with him all night, as they could easily overtake the ob- jects of their pursuit in the morning. Having traveled very far that day and being much wearied, they consented. The slave-hunters retired early, asking the landlord to call them as early as possible in the morning. When it be- came known in the village that slave-hunters were at the tavern, the greatest excitement pre- vailed. The will to have the negroes escape was strong, and 'Squire Brown, backed by the public sentiment of almost the entire community, devised a plan to effect this result. He sent his covered wagon and a party of willing men, under cover of darkness, to overtake the runaways. About twelve miles from Bloomfield, in Rome, Ashtabula county, they learned that the objects
390
TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.
of their search had been secreted in a certain house. They rode up to it, and on making known their object to its owner, were repulsed and ordered off his premises. Considerable ex- postulation and explanation ensued before he could be made to understand that their mission was a friendly one. But when satisfied of the sincerity of their intentions he allowed the Bloomfield men to take the negro family into the wagon. They then conveyed them south a short distance to a tavern kept by a Mr. Crowell, with a barn standing back of it in a field. Into this barn the wagon was driven and the doors securely closed.
Now let us go back to the Bloomfield tavern. Morning dawned, but for some inexplicable (?) reason the landlord and his family were not awake as soon as usual. In fact, the first to awake and arouse the household was the slave- owner. The landlord apologized; didn't know when such a thing as his oversleeping had hap- pened before; said he was much ashamed of him- self ; and so on. He tried to dress, but one boot was missing. After much scarch it turned up in some unusual place. Then he proceeded to the barn; the door was locked and he had left the key in the house. Back to the house and then to the barn; the key didn't fit, and much time was wasted in unlocking the door. At length this was accomplished, and the horses were led out. Another discovery-each animal had lost a shoe and besides the hoof of one of them was badly broken. The owners thought the shoes of the horses were all right the night before; at least they had not noticed that any were missing. But they were missing now-that was evident, and the services of the village blacksmith were required before the impatient Virginians could proceed on their journey. Mr. Barnes, the smith, was not at his shop, and it required some time to hunt him up. Usually he was at his post early a model of promptness. After he was found he had trouble in unlocking the door, and succeeded poorly in making a fire. He had not a nail in his shop, and used his last shoes in a job which he did the previous Satur- day evening. Nails and shoes had to he made, but the blacksmith appeared in no hurry. At last the horses were shod, and about 9 o'clock the slave hunters started off. About noon they drove up to the tavern in front of the barn where
the wagon and the fugitives were. Through the cracks in the barn the happy negro family saw their pursuers start on. A little later the covered wagon emerged from its hiding place and re- turned to Bloomfield. Under the direction of 'Squire Brown a shelter for the fugitives had been prepared-a rude camp constructed between the roots of two upturned trees. Here the negroes remained, being supplied with food by the kind- hearted people of Bloomfield until all danger was past. Then they were brought to a log cabin near the center, where they resided for some time, the man being employed by 'Squire Brown. At length they were put on a vessel at Ashtabula harbor and reached Canada in safety.
When the slave-hunters returned to Bloom- field, after a fruitless search north of this place, they were arrested on a warrant charging them with having run a toll-gate north of Warren. Supposing that the objects of their pursuit would take the State road to Painesville instead of con- tinuing on up the pike, they had paid toll only to the former road. They were fined five dollars each and costs. The village tavern-keeper re- fused to admit them, or to teed their horses. Some malicious mischief-maker removed the hair from the tails and manes of the horses while the owners of the team were at 'Squire Kimball's house, and pinned to one of the saddles a notice containing the following lines :
Slave-hunters, beware ! For sincerely we swear That if again here You ever appear, We'll give you the coat Of a Tory to wear.
This slave rescue was the first of a series of similar acts in which prominent citizens of Bloomfield took an active part. After the under- ground railroad was put in operation, it received sympathy and support from the good people of this region. Though there was hostility to the Abolitionists, and though liberal rewards were offered for the return of slaves to their owners, there never was, so far as known, an instance in which a runaway was betrayed.
EARLY EVENTS.
The first child born in this township was Har- riet Crowell. The first male child was Charles Thayer.
The first death was that of Mrs. Mehitabel
391
TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.
Crowell, in 1817; the second, that of Mrs. Hannah Brown, April 28, 1818.
The first marriage ceremony was performed by Lyman Potter, Esq., of Bristol, in uniting John Weed and Jemima Bigelow.
The first sermon was preached by Mr. Cole, missionary, in Ferry's cabin in 1815. Mr. Bad- ger, Congregationalist, preached soon after. The first sermon by a Methodist minister was preached in 1817 by Rev. Ira Eddy, in Mr. Thayer's house. Before any church was organ- ized persons of different denominations united in holding meetings, where professors of religion offered prayer, and in the absence of a minister sermons were read and hymns were sung by those attending.
MILLS.
Aaron Smith was the first carpenter in the township, and in 1817 built for Ephraim Brown a saw-mill on Grand river, about two miles from the center. In 1819 a grist-mill was built upon the same stream, and managed by Leman Ferry, Jr., the first miller. This mill was in operation many years, with many changes in its ownership. It was in a bad site, and the cost of keeping up a dam was considerable.
Asa Law built for Mr. Brown a saw-mill on Center brook at an early day, about a half mile from the center.
William Haine's mill, in the northern part of the township, was built for him in 1855 by N. B. Ferry.
THE FIRST STORE
in the township was started by Ephraim Brown in 1816. He brought on a stock of goods from Boston, and having more than he could sell dis- posed of a part of them at Warren to Mr. Bentley. He built the store in Bloomfield, which is now French's shoe shop, and continued the mercan- tile business a number of years. Indians were sometimes his customers, trading venison for whiskey, tobacco, and other articles. A gallon of whiskey would purchase a side of nice venison.
William A. Otis was the second merchant. He made a good start here, removed to Cleve- land and became a prominent and wealthy man. He came to Bloomfield about 1823. His son, Hon. Charles Otis, is an ex-mayor of Cleveland.
THE VILLAGE HOTEL.
In 1818 Samuel and John Teed undertook
the building of this house, but as they had not the money to finish the work, they sold out to 'Squire Brown, who moved in and kept the house a year or so, while his own residence was building. In 1823 Milo Harris succeeded as landlord and remained several years.
THE POST-OFFICE
in Bloomfield, now known as North Bloomfield, was established about the year 1817, with Eph- raim Brown as postmaster. Mail was carried to and from Warren once a week by a horseback rider. Judge Eliphalet Austin, of Austinburg, Ashtabula county, was the first mail contractor on the Warren and Ashtabula route.
EARLY SCHOOLS.
The first school-house was a log structure erected on Leman Ferry's farm in 1817. The first school was taught in that house by Chester Howard in the winter of 1817-18.
A school-house of logs was built at the center quite early. The first term of school, however, was taught in Lewis Clisby's log cabin in the winter of 1819, by Noah M. Green. Elizabeth M. Huntington, now Mrs. Proctor, also taught school in the same cabin. She is now living, over eighty-eight years of age.
Chester Howard was a brother of Major Thomas Howe's wife, and during his lifetime taught forty-two winter and twenty-six summer terms. Some of his pupils, now gray-haired old men, still live and hold him in grateful remembrance.
REPRESENTATIVES.
This township has sent the following men to the Legislature in the order named : Thomas Howe, 1819; Ephraim Brown, Augustus Otis, George W. Howe, and J. K. Wing. Some of them served several terms.
PHYSICIANS.
Soon after the settlement of the township Dr. Reynolds, of Mesopotamia, came here to prac- tice. The population of the township being small, he found this an unpromising field and removed after a short stay.
Dr. Benjamin Palmer next came, as early as 1824, and practiced twenty years or more with distinguished success. He was a New Hamp shire man, well educated. The surrounding townships having no physicians, he had a wide field for usefulness, and built up a large practice.
392
TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.
He left here having gained quite a large property for a country doctor.
The next physician was Dr. Hartman, now of Baltimore, Maryland. Other physicians have been quite numerous, as there has always been a doctor in the township since Dr. Palmer lo- cated.
Dr. G. W. Howe practiced in Bloomfield from 1847 till 1867. At the latter date he was ap- pointed surgeon of the Pittsburg & Boston Min- ing company, and went to Lake Superior. Dr. A. O. Huntly assumed his practice, and is still continuing it successfully.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.