USA > Ohio > Portage County > Portage heritage; a history of Portage County, Ohio; its towns and townships and the men and women who have developed them; its life, institutions and biographies, facts and lore > Part 39
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Fire Horses Wanted
After Ravenna was in existence as a village, first fire fighting organization was a "bucket brigade," set up in the 1820s. In case of fire a line of men stood from the point of the fire to the nearest well or cistern and buckets of water were passed along, hand to hand, to be thrown on the fire, if possible. Often there would be a line of women standing alongside the men they passed the empty buckets back to be refilled.
Following this came the hand pump, a contrivance with handles wide enough to permit work by several men on each side with a teeter action. With no regular firemen, spectators were pressed into action as pumpers (which kept many away). A leather hose, bound with rivets, was used. About 1870 a "modern steam- er" was bought. But as no horses were kept at the fire station and roads were bad, the steamer often arrived at fires too late to do any good. For a time there was a standing prize of $5.00 to the owner of the team first reaching the station to haul the steamer out. Not un- til a water system was installed, together with steam pumps, was there a really effective means found to put out fires.
Historic Highland Home
One of the historic homes of the county is the Highland Home Farms in Edinburg just below Campbellsport. It is located on an original acreage of 400 acres sold to Frederick Wadsworth by Gen. John Campbell. The house was built in 1824 of brick made in the neigh- borhood. It stands on basement walls of solid rock of great thickness. Some of the basement rooms are sealed so that there is no entrance which gave rise to stories that the place may have been used as an underground hideaway for runaway slaves. The owner ran into financial dif- ficulties and the place was sold at sher- iff's sale in 1846. The house was for a time used as a tavern on the Cleveland- Wellsville road. In 1864 the place came into the possession of Theodore Clark and was known as Clark's Hill. It is now owned by Mr. and Mrs. John Quin who have fitted it up in the style of long ago. The place has a fine view.
When Benjamin Tappan ran for gov- ernor in 1826, he received but 57 votes in Trumbull county and only seven in Portage which he had helped organize.
CHAPTER XXVI Freedom
(Compiled and written by Mrs. Fred Lorenz and Miss Lucille Dudley, with the assistance of many descendents of Freedom's pioneer families and early settlers).
"Lift the twilight curtains of the past And turning from familiar sight and sound, Sadly and full reverence cast A glance upon tradition's shadowy ground."
In all probability the history of Freedom township should begin and end as of up-to-date with the build- ing of a road. One year before this town welcomed its first inhabitant, David McIntosh cut a road through Shalersville to Freedom, the country at that time being an unbroken for- est. This was in 1817.
In 1956, one hundred and thirty- nine years later, a portion of Portage County's twenty-four miles of super- highway, the Ohio Turnpike, tra- versed Freedom township approxi- mately one-quarter mile north of that first stretch of roadway cut by Mr. McIntosh, known now as State Route 303.
IN THE WILDERNESS
An ancient letter, still extant, writ- ten by Mrs. Sarah (Battle) Heath of Tyrington, Mass., bears the following address:
To My Children in the Wilderness of Portage County, A Place Called Freedom
Those children's names were Mar- cus Heath, Pamelia (Mrs. Isaac C. Davis), Kesia (Mrs. Ransom Collins), and Harriet (Mrs. Joseph Calvin Davis).
When Mr. and Mrs. John Winegar
and their family moved to Freedom in 1828, it is said that Mrs. Winegar (Hannah Crocker Davis) looked a- round at the mud and its swamp land and said, "If this is the land of Free- dom, I would like to know what the land of bondage will be." But to many back in New England states, this lit- tle spot, originally known as Town 4, Range 7, the 215th township in the Western Reserve to be organized, was once referred to as "The Eden of the World."
With the exception of Streetsboro and Garrettsville, Freedom was the last of the townships of the county to be organized, the reason being that all the central part was a great swamp. Hunters in the surrounding towns had given out the word that Freedom was all swamp, not suitable for farming and never would be settled. With the section known as "an uninhabitable swamp," settlers nevertheless came into the township, among them being Enoch Drake, who bought nearly one quarter of the township and began the cross-roads settlement known as Drakesburg, in preference to a site in Ravenna. And while the community failed to live up to his expectations, and is still a "four corners", it has
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evolved into a fine productive agri- cultural township with good homes and a cluster of businesses and estab- lishments.
WAS NORTH ROOTSTOWN
The original proprietors of Free- dom Township were Ephriam Root and Thomas Lloyd of Connecticut, and it was once referred to as North Rootstown in honor of Mr. Root. He was a native of Coventry, Conn., and a lawyer of considerable note and rep- utation.
Up to 1825, this township was in- cluded in Hiram. In the spring of 1818, the first settlement in the town- ship was made by Charles H. Paine on Lots 31 and 41. He came from Hiram, but originally lived in Paines- ville, his father being General Edward Paine for whom that town was named. The settlement was approximately two miles north of Drakesburg be- tween what was known as the Warner Durkee-Percy Miller farm, now own- ed by George Winchell, and the Charles Nichols Corners.
In Hiram, Charles H. Paine mar- ried the daughter of Elijah Mason who had made previous trips to Hiram township, locating his land in 1802. Mason was from Lebanon, Conn. In 1817 was recorded the marriage of Charles H. Paine to Miss Parthenia Mason, daughter of Elijah, sister of David Garrett's first wife and half sister of Mrs. Zeb Rudolph, mother of Mrs. James A. Garfield. Charles Paine made his home with his father-in-law while erecting a cabin and clearing the Freedom woods. The family were the only inhabitants of the township for four years until 1822, when Thom- as Johnson, wife and eleven children came.
WOMAN NAMES TOWN
Amanda Paine, daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. Charles Paine, was born in Free- dom in June, 1828, the first white child born there. Another daughter, Emeline, born in 1818, died in Free- dom in October, 1820, being fatally scalded, the first death in the town- ship.
The Paines lived in Freedom six years, then sold to Willard Wads- worth and John Hickock. Much of the original farm has now been divided into residential lots.
On organization, it was left to Mrs. Paine (as history states) to name the township, having the honor of being the first woman resident. Being deep- ly patriotic, a staunch abolitionist and anti-slavery woman, she named the town "Liberty", but changed it to "Freedom" when she found there was another township in the state called Liberty.
Mr. Paine planted the first apple orchard in the township in 1820.
The road from the Hiram town line south to Drakesburg was once called "Vermont Street", because so many from that state settled on it.
In 1818, Freedom was the scene of a big "Army Hunt" in December. In this there were killed 23 bears, 7 wolves and 36 deer, besides scores of turkey and other game.
The Thomas Johnsons who had ar- rived in 1822, came originally to Hiram in 1809. Thomas Johnson was an Irishman who had first settled in Pennsylvania, but later moved to Trumbull County and then to Hiram. He was a genial soul and could tell a joke with true Irish flavor.
LOST IN WOODS
The year 1823 brought three ar- rivals into the township, namely; Newell Day, Enos Wadsworth, and Asa Wadsworth. All these came from Tyringham, Mass. Newell Day settled
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The classic lines of the Freedom Congre- gational Church have long attracted at- tention. The building is more than a century old.
two miles east of Freedom Center. Enos Wadsworth was a widower with three children-Asa, John, and Electa. Enos, the father, died from exposure when he became lost in the woods.
In 1824, came Rufus Ranney, Elijah Ranney (son), Myron Barber, Phineas Spaulding, Brigham Harrison, Daniel Brown, Ira Chamberlain, and Mrs. Hannah Wheelock.
Rufus Ranney was the father of Judge Rufus P. Ranney who once oc- cupied the bench of the Supreme Court of Ohio, and John L. Ranney, later a Ravenna lawyer. John Ranney was born in Massachusetts in 1815 and his educational advantages were lim- ited. He read law in Jefferson, Ashta- bula county, with his brother, Rufus, and Senator B. F. Wade. After being admitted to the bar, he settled in Ra- venna and became a leading lawyer. He was the Democratic candidate for Congress in 1855, and was long pres- ident of the First National Bank of Ravenna.
Another son, Elijah Ranney, was a mail carrier from Freedom to Hiram and it is said that he carried the mail in his hat, and traveled the road bare- footed. He was also the first school teacher at Drakesburg.
COME IN NUMBERS
Myron Barber settled on a farm once owned by Ira Strickland on the Nichols-Jones road. Mention is made that he drove an ox and a cow hitched to a cart when he and his family were enroute here and the cow furnished the milk during the trip.
Daniel Brown, known as Captain Daniel Brown, located on what was once known as the Arthur Stamm farm.
Mrs. Hannah Wheelock's husband, Amariah, died enroute here, making it necessary for her and the two children to come on alone. They set- tled south of Drakesburg.
Phineas Spaulding built the first dwelling house at Freedom Center, and 1825 brought in several ar- rivals: Paul Larkcom, Joshua Finch, Jeremiah Colton, Nathaniel Brown, Orvin Brown, John Baldwin, Horace Hopkins, Pardon Sherman, and Syl- vester Hurlburt.
Paul Larkcom was a former mem- ber of the Massachusetts Legislature. He was a soldier of the Revolution, having run away to enter the army before he was 15. Being too young for combat duty, he was commissioned as cook in George Washington's regi- ment and served many a meal to the General. His wife was a cousin of Noah Webster, the great lexicograph- er. He settled just north of Drakes- burg and was a farmer and carpenter.
In 1825 probably occurred the first marriage in the township, uniting William Sherwood and Harriet Ran- ney. the daughter of Rufus Ranney.
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Henry Humprey and Electa Wads- worth were married soon after.
When the township was organized in 1825, the first township officers were: Amariah Wheelock, clerk; Charles H. Paine, Alexander Johnson, and Asa Wadsworth, trustees; Phin- eas Spaulding, treasurer; Alexander Johnson, appraiser; Newell Day, and Thomas Johnson, overseers of the poor; Charles H. Paine, Asa Wads- worth, fence viewers; Benjamin Fen- ton, lister; Phineas Spaulding, Thom- as Johnson, and Amariah Wheelock, supervisors; Charles B. Miller, con- stable; Charles H. Paine, Alexander Johnson, and Asa Wadsworth, judges of election; Amariah Wheelock and Asa Wadsworth, clerks of election. The number of voters in the town at that time was 10, and each candidate had 10 votes.
The first state militia officers in the township were Captain John Wheelock, Lieutenant Daniel Brown and Ensign Alexander Johnson. Ama- riah Wheelock was elected Justice of the Peace, the first one in the town- ship.
FIRST BOY BORN
1826 brought in: Thomas Marcy, Arvillus C. Larkcom, Samuel Lark- com, John Bonney, Daniel W. Strick- land, and Albert Chamberlain.
On February 19, 1826, the first male child was born in Freedom, Charles R., the son of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Brown.
The first frame house at Drakes- burg was built in this year by Daniel W. Strickland on Lot 46. This build- ing was framed by Paul Larkcom.
In 1826, the first post office in the township was established, located north of Drakesburg. It was a log house with a blanket hung up at the door until enough lumber could be
obtained to build a wooden one. Eli- jah W. Ranney, who married Levana, daughter of Paul Larkcom, became its first postmaster. Before this, let- ters came via Shalersville.
Avarillus C. Larkcom, son of Paul, became a cabinet maker and com- bined that business with his farming.
In 1827 came: Reuben Daniels, Havelock Marcy, Mrs. Lura Marcy, Hiram Goodrich, William McClin- tock, Alanson Stanley, and Gary C. Clark.
Reuben Daniels married Polly Lark- com, daughter of Paul. Mr. Daniels built the second frame house. He was the grandfather of Mrs. Calista Dan- iels Taylor who wrote the "History of the Larkcom Family and their De- scendents."
SAW MILL SET UP
The arrivals in 1828 were: Samuel Johnson, Beman Richardson, Elihu Paine, Isaac Steadman, David Kellogg, Amos Hawley, Chauncey Bulkley, Harry Humphrey, John Wheelock, Ozias Hawley, John Winnegar, George W. Kneeland, Henry Hatch, Harvey Hawley and Isaac C. Davis.
When Amos Hawley settled in Free- dom in this year, there was not one house between Drakesburg and Gar- retsville. In 1828, Elihu Paine built the first saw-mill in the north part of town.
The first Church Society in Free- dom was organized February 9, 1828, at the house of Arvillus C. Larkcom, by Rev. Joseph Treat and David L. Coe, members of the Presbytery of Portage county, and was composed of the following persons: Origen Har- mon and wife, Alvin Brown and wife, Havelock Marcy and wife, Mrs. Lura Marcy, Horace Hopkins and wife, Reuben Daniels, Mrs. Elizabeth Marcy, Daniel W. Strickland and wife, Josh-
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ua Finch and wife, Samuel Larkcom and wife, Harvey Hawley and wife, and Mrs. Clarissa Wheelock.
The sermon preached that day was by the Rev. David L. Coe. Daniel Strickland was elected clerk of the church group and Origen Harmon, Havelock Marcy and Reuben Dan- iels formed the standing committee. Their meetings were held in the homes of the various members. A log meeting house was then erected at Freedom Center which was used until 1835, when a small frame church was built, now used as a township garage. Rev. Caleb Pitkin was the first stated preacher.
SERMON IS HEARD
Paul Larkcom in his early "History of Freedom", states that the first ser- mon in the township was preached by Rev. Alva Day, a Congregational min- ister, but no date is given.
In 1829, there were quite a large number of arrivals: Linus F. Larkcom, Alexander Johnson, Elijah Scott, G. G. Redding, Chauncey Hitchcock, John Hitchcock, Dennis Day, Orsam- us L. Drake, Daniel B. Bristol, Wil- lis Foot, Milo Foot, Hiram Kilborn, Daniel Millican, Harmon Barber, Rosewell Sage, Amariah Wheelock, Abral Haskins, and William Gardner.
Among those who came in 1830 were: John Johnson, David Scott, Libeus Manley, Enoch Drake, William Porter, James Porter, Ashal Hawley, John Hawley, Amos Foot, Charles Cranmer, Albert Sherman, Lorin Ham- ilton, Orin D. Nichols, and Ahimes Doud.
The census of 1830 showed the number of inhabitants to be 342. Also this year, Lorin Hamilton opened a joiner and furniture business at Drakesburg.
John Hitchcock built the first cider
mill and in 1830, sold 500 bushels of apples and made 63 barrels of cider from that first orchard planted by Charles H. Paine just ten years be- fore.
In 1930, Enoch Drake located at what is now Drakesburg. Some of his 1000 acres he disposed of to oth- ers. He erected five dwelling houses, and a large store at Drakesburg. He was a blacksmith and followed that occupation until past middle life. He allowed himself only four hours of sleep a night while carrying on a large business of manufacturing farm- ers' utensils. He amassed considerable wealth and was, in his later years, known as a seller of lands and a lend- er of money.
METHODISTS ORGANIZE
The year 1831 brought: Harris Webster, Willis Messinger, A. P. Fanning, Thomas Crocker, William Dennison, C. S. Canfield, Ira Gard- ner, Benjamin Wheeler, Isaac DeMaw.
In 1831, the first store was opened at Drakesburg with a stock of goods by Erastus Carter, Jr., and Cyrus Prentiss of Ravenna, in the barn of Enoch Drake. The number of inhabi- tants in the township now were 417.
The first Methodist Church Group in Freedom was organized in Septem- ber, 1831, by the Rev. Thomas Carr and B. O. Plympton, and consisted of nine members: Mr. and Mrs. Orsamus L. Drake, Mr. and Mrs. A. Hawley, Mr. and Mrs. Ira Chamberlain, Sarah Sherman, Chas. Cranner, and Mary Hawley.
According to Freedom's first his- torian, Paul Larkcom, the first quar- terly meeting of the group was held in the barn of Enoch Drake. Worship was continued for the next seven years by holding services from house to house.
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In 1832 came: William C. Moore, Abram Streator, Phineas Spaulding, Jacob Thayer, A. P. Wells, Austin Hubbard, Eber Judson, Jabez Smith, and Harley Smith.
By 1832, the number of inhabitants was 467.
In 1832, Jabez Smith opened a blacksmith shop at Drakesburg, and Erastus Carter built a store on the northwest corner of Freedom Center, but soon sold to D. W. Strickland. In 1832, Phineas Spaulding built the first dwelling house at Freedom Center. G. G. Redding built a saw mill.
STILL THEY COME
In 1833, those who settled were: Robert Johnson, Brown, Alex Johnson, Colby Loveland, Reward Brigby, John Baldwin, Mur- dock, Enoch Parker, Robert Isbell, Reuben Taylor, Orvis Foot, Lasell Birge, Simon Landfear, Joshua Bev- ington, William Gray, Chamberlain's son-in-law, Francis James, Lyman Griswold.
The number of inhabitants in 1833 was 558.
1834 brought in: Deacon Ranney, Benson Nash, Luther Cole, Chester Barber, Ambrose Chapin, John Rid- ing, Barber, P. Howland, Al- bert Robinson, Isaac Kneeland,
Halcom, Horace Haskins, Enos Chalk- er, Sadrack Dennison, Joel Sturde- vant, Henry Smith, Seth Jennings, I. Jennings, Nathan Odler, George Cur- tis, Ebbe Durkee, Joel Durkee, John Taylor, F. Daniels, Robert Johnson, Wells, G. O. Williams, and Philip Ballard.
The number of inhabitants, 659.
The year 1835 brought in the fol- lowing arrivals: H. Allen, Rev. W. Rockwell, Darius Noble, R. H. Miller, T. Miller, L. Atwater, Elias Bedford, W. Durkee, Jebiel Hitchcock, Dr.
Simon Birge, B. Barber, W. Sherwood, D. Doty, A. Goddard, Widow Synes, Ransom Collins, Charles A. Dudley, E. Dennison, Lyman Bryant, Jesse S. Shepherd, A. Harmon, S. Winnegar, and J. Runyan.
Says Larkcom in his history, dated 1830:
"As this township of Freedom in Portage County, state of Ohio, has made rapid progress in its settlement and in improvement and as there is no record kept of the same, and as I am one of the first settlers, I have thought of committing some things to writing for some information to the rising generation that our child- ren may know what their fathers have done for them in purchasing their land in this wild wilderness and con- verting into cultivated fields. Another thing, it has always been lamented that there has not been more care tak- en of making records in new settled places. I have thought it my duty to commit the following to writing as I am the oldest man in town at the age of 67, lacking a few weeks. This book is to be open for the inspection of any who desire to view it."
FIRST ORCHARD THRIVES
Many of the subsequent records of the township have in some manner been either lost or destroyed by fire and while this is most lamentable, every effort has been made to clarify and confirm whatever information could be obtained so that the "His- tory of Freedom" would not appear too sketchy in its context.
Going back to the year 1835, Colby Loveland made barrels of cider and sold 600 bushels of apples from the first orchard planted by Charles H. Paine in the year 1820. In 1835 also, there was cut on the North Road from Drakesburg to the Hiram line,
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400 tons of hay, and in the entire township, eight tons of cheese was made. The number of inhabitants in this year was 767.
Dr. Simeon Birge, who came into the township in 1835, remained until 1838 when he moved to Franklin. This township was without a resident physician until 1840 when Dr. James Webb located until his death in 1852.
When Ransom Collins established his residence on the Center Road, now in the north part of Freedom, he built a saw mill on "Black Brook", so called. A few rods below this he had a rake factory. The "R. Collins" brand burned into the rake heads was very familiar to the farmer boys of the area. His son Orson, came to Ohio with his parents at the age of seven. He continued the same line of work as his father. The last two or three years of his life, he engaged in the electric light business. In August of 1850, he married Amelia Norton, they had four daughters and one son; Dora, Orsie, Nellie, Lillie, and Victor O.
V. O. COLLINS
While Victor O. Collins was born in Hiram, he spent most of his life in Freedom. He was a lumberman, but in the early 1900s he began operating a threshing machine. He said his am- bition was to be running it when he was 80, and was still operating it on his 84th birthday. He was married to Carrie Cooper, whose two sons and two daughters, Richard of Garretts- ville, also in the lumber business; Edgar, who resides at the Collins homestead at Freedom Station; Mrs. Lillian Goodell of Mantua, who re- cently retired as Mantua's postmis- tress; and Mrs. Lulu Vine of Gar- rettsville.
The first school in Freedom, ac- cording to Mrs. Calista Daniels Tay-
lor, was in a log school house in the north part of town, then known as the Harmon district, later the Stamm. Laura Maxon was the teacher, and Lucy Robinson followed her. Mrs. Taylor also taught here.
E. W. Ranney taught the first school in Drakesburg in a log build- ing just south of the old Drake Tav- ern. At the Center, Thomas Lloyd of Connecticut deeded five acres of land for public use. On this was built the Congregational church, an academy, and a district school. The academy was often referred to as the "select school."
In 1854, Freedom was made into eight school districts as follows: Nichols Corners, Drakesburg, Free- dom, Stamm District, Limeridge, Summit Hill, and Hewins. These sup- ported separate schools until central- ization came in 1914, and at the same time, it went under county superin- tendency. In 1917 the high school was completed at a cost of $22,000, and a high school course was set up. Previously, high school education had to be obtained in neighboring towns. Freedom High School first held a three-year charter, which in 1935 was changed to a first grade status.
HIGH SCHOOL GRADS
The first graduating class (1918) included Ralph Mason, Audrey Park- er, Harold Clough, Paul King, Thel- ma Fuller, Roy Marvin, Linnie Chalk- er, and Ira Chalker. J. H. Conry was acting principal in 1915, classes being held temporarily in the Town Hall. The new building was dedicated April 14, 1916.
Serving as principals have been: Owen Walton, Joseph Fixler, Mrs. Miles Whitney, Carol Dewey, Chas. A. Weed, Mrs. Martha Gutenschen, Mrs. Eunice Reudi, H. W. Donaldson,
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Paul Ruckman, G. Emory Tarr, Ver- non Ward, Richard Kirker, Fred Cover, John F. Gardner, and Ralph McMillen.
The building was enlarged in 1939. Freedom school is now a part of the new Garfield district, with high school pupils going to Garrettsville. In 1932, the P.T.A. provided a new school library. The Home and School Association was the predecessor of the P.T.A.
The Freedom Congregational church has long attracted attention by the simple beauty of the structure. The pillars suggest a dignified Greek entrance and the effect of the whole is artistic. Many who have passed the church have been struck by its simple dignity and its austere purity. It is one of the landmarks of the early Western Reserve which should be pre- served as their classic features surpass anything being erected today.
TOLL BELL FOR LINCOLN
As stated previously, the church was organized in 1828 with a log building being soon put up. Many stories have been told about the proceedings and beliefs of the church and some are printed elsewhere in this volume. The Presbyterian service was first used and the first log church was super- seded in 1835 by a small frame build- ing. There was a good deal of con- troversy over retaining the Presby- terian forms and in 1836, the body entered the "General Association of the Western Reserve", but the dis- sension continued. In 1886, a state charter was obtained.
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The present church was finished in 1845 at a cost of $3,000, and 20 years later was re-decorated inside, and var- ious changes made later. In early days, the church bell was rung three times each day and tolled when a death oc-
curred. When Lincoln died, the bell was tolled steadily two hours. The present bell was obtained in 1872.
The Methodist Episcopal church was organized in September, 1831, by Revs. Thos. Carr and B. O. Plympton with these members: Mr. and Mrs. Orsamus Drake, Mr. and Mrs. A. Hawley, Mr. and Mrs. Ira Chamber- lain, Sarah Sherman, Chas. Cranmer and Mary Hawley. In 1836, it was decided that a permanent meeting house be built and in 1837, with do- nated labor and timber sawed in Strickland's mill, near the site, the building started. It was completed in 1838. Orasmus and Enoch Drake deed- ed the land and helped the building fund.
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