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 40
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A Sunday school was organized in 1849; the Epworth League in 1880; the Junior League in 1893, and the Ladies Aid Society in 1877.
In September, 1951, the church was badly damaged by fire. The decision was to build a new one. The site chos- en was on Route 700, just south of the school. The new building was consecrated September 6, 1953, by Bishop Werner. The old church, long a landmark, was dismantled.
HAVE TWO CEMETERIES
The Full Gospel Church, located just east of Drakesburg, was organ- ized in July, 1937. Worship is held in the re-modeled Drakesburg district school building.
Up until 1888, there was a small Disciples church east of Stamms Cor- ners. This was organized in 1840.
Freedom has two cemeteries-the West Cemetery located on the Nich- ols-Jones road just north of Route 303; and the East Cemetery at Drakes- burg. There were earlier burials, how- ever, in the northwest Freedom on the farm originally known as the Capt.
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Daniel Brown place. Other early bur- ials were made on private ground throughout the township, where from one to a half dozen persons sleep to- day.
Freedom Township Grange No. 147 was organized in 1873, disbanding in 1896. But in 1903, Freedom Grange No. 1576 came into being, but the charter was surrendered in 1936. This organization had its own building and it is now used as a Town Hall.
First paved roads came in 1914 when pavement was laid from the Garrettsville town line to Freedom Center, followed the next year by paving of the four-mile gap to the Ravenna Township line. Paving to Windham came in 1918.
Fidelity Circle No. 10, B.U. (H.F.) C.A. No. 98, reorganized in 1853, was one of the earliest associations in the township.
There was a Literary Society in 1887, and at that time the township had several dramatic clubs.
In 1890, the Chautauqua Reading Circle was popular and in 1892, had 12 members. M. G. Freligh and his sister, Ida May, were well known artists. The latter was also a talented musician. Other musicians included Mrs. Fannie Phelps Martin and John King. Clifton Moore was an organist and choir master. Mrs. Miles Whitney was a concert pianist. Leland Sturde- vant, a radio man, installed the first radio station in Alaska.
PLAZA ESTABLISHED
Plimmon H. Dudley became an in- ventor and was one of the most fam- ous consulting engineers in the coun- try, specializing in railroad operation. He wrote several technical books and was the recipient of many special hon- ors here and in Europe. The story of his life is in the biography section.
When the new Ohio Turnpike was completed in 1955, two elaborate ser- vice "plazas" were constructed off Limeridge Road. They have been giv- en the names of Brady's Leap Plaza and Portage Plaza.
The township also is the location of a television tower which was erect- ed in 1950 and its tall structure is now a landmark in the western part of the township.
DRAKESBURG
Drakesburg, tiny village where State Routes 88 and 303 intersect, was once the busy stopping off place for the stage coaches on the Ravenna- Warren line. Still standing today is the old tavern where many a weary traveler quenched his thirst and sought a night's lodging. Orsamus Drake, who came to Freedom in 1829 from Massachusetts, built the tavern in 1836, and became its proprietor where the best of spirits were sold over a rough hewn bar. It is said that as many as 40 horses were stabled here at one time. Orsamus Drake was known as Colonel Drake, being col- onel of the militia cavalry. He was also Justice of the Peace for 24 years, and a County Commissioner.
The old tavern still standing today is now a family residence. Orasmus Drake died in 1886 at the age of 80 and with him went the old tavern. The Inn had long two-story porches on both the north and east sides and above each porch was displayed a large sign on which was painted in huge letters, "Freedom House".
Another landmark at Drakesburg was the large two-story store of Frank E. George, a Ravenna merchant. The local Grange which had been recently organized, held its meetings in the up-stairs hall and also the Freedom Tent of the Knights of Macabees, an-
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other new organization of that time, had their headquarters there. On May 5, 1904, this building was burned to the ground. It was then occupied by A. E. Conrad as a general country store.
FREEDOM CENTER
Freedom Center, in the late 60s, had a two story academy, the upper floor being used at one time by the Knight Templar's Lodge. Two ladies who at- tended there when it was referred to as a "Select School" were Mrs. Nora Quinn Beardsley, mother of Mrs. Archie Stamm of Shalersville Town- ship and Mrs. George Hopkins, moth- er of Mrs. Fred Lorenz.
In the northwest corner was a cab- inet shop operated by Harvey Bur- roughs. Across the corner was a small building used as a store and postof- fice. Directly across from the Congre- gational Church was the home of Joshua Atwood and his carriage shops.
The Mandeville Hotel was located on the north side of the road between the Clifton J. Moore residence, now the Papiska home and the former Newton Curtis-James Derthick-Julius Papp store and house.
Many of the old industries are gone, but the Congregational Church still carries on in practically it's original condition and appearance, a monu- ment to the sturdy pioneer heritage of the founders of Freedom Township.
FREEDOM STATION
The "Station" originally known as Kent, was changed to Freedom Sta- tion on May 26, 1864.
Bion C. Rathbun, now deceased, a retired Freedom mail carrier and at one time in charge of the water supply system for the later called Erie Rail- road, recalled when the first train ran through there, when he was a boy of six.
Two of the station agents were George Sage and Chas. Brown. George J. Rinehart was an R.F.D. mail car- rier on Route 22 from the Freedom Station postoffice. He began his rural service March 2, 1903. His route em- braced the southern portion of Free- dom and the eastern portion of Charlestown. The route was 23-5/8 miles long, serving 124 families and 500 patrons.
Freedom Station Postoffice was es- tablished August 18, 1863, under the name of Kent. The name was changed to Freedom Station in 1864. Postmas- ters were: George Sanford, Emory Sanford, George A. Hine, Coleman Young, Frank P. Chapman, Arthur H. Scovill, William Schick, Arthur H. Scovill, James C. Adair, Guy W. Hulburt, Sage Hulbert, Benoni T. Brown, Oliver F. Gorrell, Hugh M. Parker, Samuel St. John (acting), Mrs. Adeline E. St. John, Miss Mild- red A. Cain, and Mrs. Frances M. Pesicek.
Besides Drs. Birge and Webb, men- tioned previously, Dr. C. Bennett prac- ticed medicine in Drakesburg in the old Frank George house. Also in Drakesburg around 1895 was Dr. Stough.
Other Freedom physicians remem- bered now included Dr. J. L. Beving- ton, Dr. Seth Sloan, and S. L. Sloan, Dr. A. H. Tidball, Dr. Charles Knee- land, Dr. Alfred F. Hassan.
Dr. Martha (Robinson) Canfield was born in Freedom and became pro- fessor in a Cleveland medical college. Dr. Lincoln Wheelock, later at New- burg, was a boy in Freedom. Freedom- born Dr. Geo. W. Shepard became a Navy surgeon, now retired. Dr. W. W. Richardson, New Philadelphia, once lived here. Dr. Ray T. Odell was born in Freedom .He lives in Mantua,
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his practice being limited to eye and ear. Dr. Sidney Marvin was born here and entered Army service. He is now at Walter Reed Hospital, Washing- ton. Fred J. Dutter of Freedom Sta- tion was a veterinarian.
TRADES AND INDUSTRIES
In the early days, the sawmill was important. In 1828, Elihu Paine built one in Freedom, located in the north part of the township. In 1832, G. G. Redding operated one at Freedom Center and Daniel Strickland built one at Drakesburg around 1835.
Ransom Collins had a saw mill and rake factory on the Hiram Road. Syl- vaneous Hart, for many years oper- ated one and had a rake factory on Nichols-Jones Road. Frank Yonker had a water-powered sawmill on Streeter Road.
Henry Niles had one on the Gar- rettsville road, and Morris Parker op- erated one for a number of years both at Drakesburg and Freedom Center.
Before the days of "store bought" shoes, the bootmaker plied his craft. Hiram Robinson was a tanner and bootmaker. When Lyman Bryant first came to Freedom in 1835, he built a log cabin and shoe shop. He held many township offices also, and was postmaster at Freedom Center for 26 years. He was elected Treasurer of Portage County in 1856. Bryant was a distant relative of the poet, William Cullen Bryant.
A tannery was located at Drakes- burg on a plot of ground just east of Charles Miller's residence. Still can be seen the reddish brown earth from the tan bark.
On the road to Garrettsville, the Drakes and the William C. Moores owned a mill for the manufacturing of wooden window shutters.
Freedom being primarily an agri-
cultural community, farming has been and still is, its chief activity. The usual crops were raised, including fruits and grains. Freedom was long a lead- ing maple syrup and sugar producer.
Butter-making was pretty much left to the women and practically all of the early pioneer homes boasted a cheese house or at least a cheese room until dairying became more commer- cialized.
Freedom had several cheese fac- tories. One was located south of the cemetery at Drakesburg and owned by Oliver Burrows.
Sam Olds, S. C. Olds, and Oliver D. Olds operated a cheese factory east of Drakesburg.
The one on Limeridge Road south of Route 303 on the Floyd Thompson farm was owned by Straights. Byron Hatch was the "boss" cheesemaker and at times had women assistants, Miss Hatch and Miss Hoy.
Another factory was located on the Durkee farm, now owned by George Winchell. Elman Caldwell had one south of Hiram Station, later moving it to his home on Poulson Road.
There was one at Freedom Station built by George Harrison, who first made Dutch cheese then moved south of the tracks, operating as a creamery. It was operated by Ward Everett and Clint Dutter. Caldwell's was the last creamery to close.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
There were several locally owned blacksmith shops in the township. It is recorded that Jabez Smith opened the first one at Drakesburg in 1832. Others down through the years have been: Atwell Bryant, Silas Crocker, Rufe Gray, O. Phelps, Burt Joiner, Rufe Gray, Ed. Fowler, Harrison Hat- field, Louis Hingle, William Evans, Floyd Thompson and Homer Neff.
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There were two barbers at Freedom Station, one a colored man who lived at Drakesburg and later went to Free- dom Station, and Jesse Vine.
Charles Dutter had a carriage and paint shop at Freedom Station. Free- dom Center had a carriage shop owned by Joshua Atwood. At one time this was the largest carriage shop in the state of Ohio.
Harvey Burroughs operated a cab- inet shop at Freedom Center.
Arvillus C. Larkcom was a cabinet maker and casket maker.
Loren C. Hamilton opened a furni- ture and joiner shop at Drakesburg in 1830.
Coal was mined on the farm of Wil- son Davidson and the Henry Brown property at the foot of Summit Hill off Route 88 on King Road. It was about 22 inches thick and known as coal No. 3. Strip mining was also at- tempted on the McCandless farm east of Drakesburg by Abraham Goldman.
A good grade of lime was obtained from the lime kilns south of Route 303 on Limeridge Road.
Mrs. Enoch Parker who came to Freedom in 1834, was a straw braider, sewing it for ladies bonnets. The Gro- venor sisters, who lived at Drakesburg, were milliners.
Carpet weavers were Mrs. Silas Strickland, Miss Susan Goodrich, Mrs. John Dennison, Dora Stacey Wilson and Mrs. William Brown.
Seamstresses were: Maria Kellog and Sarah Gray.
Mrs. William N. Williams, who came from Massachusetts, was a tail- oress who worked at her trade many years. Mrs. Maria Booth was also a tailoress.
Mrs. John Dennison, commonly re- ferred to as "Grandma Dennison", who lived at Drakesburg, adminis-
tered to the aches and pains of the residents for many years. All had great faith in her herbal remedies.
GARAGE AND TELEPHONE
Greenhouses in the township were owned by Mrs. Dan King, Chris and Maria Gardner and people by the name of Kendall.
Earl Mack was probably the first garage operator. He built one at Drakesburg, and lived upstairs. In 1932, Ray Long, from Bellaire, opened a garage business there. The building was burned and in 1933, Mr. Long located at Freedom Center. In 1946, Henry Cain built a garage on the southwest corner of Routes 303 and 700 and combines with his garage business, a farm implement sales and service.
The Winchell Engineering Co. was started in 1943 by George Winchell, Sr. and his son, George, Jr. They did machine design and development, also sub-contract work for Goodyear Air- craft during the war. In 1946, they added a motorcycle and out-board mo- tor business. George Winchell, Sr., died in 1946.
Harry Reynolds carries on a restaur- ant business at Drakesburg.
The feed mill at Freedom Station was built by Frank E. George, who had a store at Drakesburg. The first telephone in Freedom was his pri- vate line from the store at Drakes- burg to the feed mill at the Station. The mill was subsequently owned by Sage and Guy Hulburt, George Sey- more, Arthur Scovil, who bought it from Mr. George. In 1911, it was pur- chased by Morris Parker, who bought it from Hitchcock.
There have been during the years quite a number of "general store" keepers and merchants.
Erastus Carter Jr. and Cyrus Pren-
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This new television tower near Freedom-Shalersville line can be seen for miles around.
tiss of Ravenna opened the first store at Drakesburg in 1831. However, an- other account of early days states that Elijah Ranney bought a lot at Drakes- burg about 1828, built a store, put in goods, moved his family into a room in the back part of the store, and lived there until 1835.
In 1832, Erastus Carter started a store on the northwest corner of Drakesburg, then sold out to Daniel W. Strickland in 1833. This store was later owned by Enoch Drake.
In 1860 or '61, Marquis G. Streator, originally from Windham, opened a store at Drakesburg which ran for a time.
Other merchants at Drakesburg through the years were: Harry Howe, Brad Harrison, F. E. George, A. E. Conrad, Mrs. O. F. Hitchcock, Oscar
Hunt, Morris Parker, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. H. Brone, Mrs. John Oberg, Mr. and Mrs. L. H. Chappellear, and John Murvey.
At Freedom Center: Lyman Bryant, Addison Norton, and Mr. and Mrs. Julius Papp. At Freedom Station: George Sanford, Emory Sanford, George A. Hine, Coleman Young, A. H. Scovill, William Schick, James C. Adaire, Guy Hulburt, Sage Hulburt, Benoni T. Brown, Frank Gorrell, Hugh Parker, Samuel St. John, Henry Cain, James Pesicek, Hugh Wilson, Oscar Hunt, Frank P. Chapman, New- ton Thorpe, and George Rinehart.
Oscar F. Hunt, grandson of Colby Loveland, was proprietor of a store at Freedom Station for thirty years. He and his wife also had a store at Drakes- burg, moving to Freedom Station around 1917. He operated a horse drawn grocery wagon selling apples to farmers throughout the district.
Every major war in which this coun- try participated has had men from Freedom enrolled in service. Six sol- diers of the Revolutionary War later lived in the township or are buried there today. Three men of the War of 1812 lived later in Freedom. There was one man in the Mexican War and of course, many in the Civil War, 16 of whom lost their lives in service. Two Freedom men were in the Span- ish-American War and in World War I, 26 were under arms. In this war Joe Kolar died in France. In the Sec- ond World War, 125 Freedom young men were called to the colors. Of these, three gave their lives-Elmer Watters, James A. Wilson and Wil- liam Kubinec.
Others were called to service for the Korean War or for national defense.
The coming of the Turnpike has meant much to Freedom today, in ad-
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dition to the change of the landscape. The State Highway Patrol maintains a station along the Pike at the Gar- rettsville Road, equipped with radio communication. Here fifteen men are stationed, who provide protection throughout the Mahoning-Trumbull- Portage and Summit county section. It is known as the Hiram Post.
When the U. S. Arsenal was estab- lished in 1940 about 900 acres of land in Freedom was bought from local owners and made part of the Arsenal grounds. All this land is in the south part of the township.
Freedom has fire protection today through a contract with the Garretts- ville Fire Department.
The Ghost of Edinburgh
Various localities in the county have had their ghosts and ghost stories. None of these attained so much notoriety as the one in Edinburg. Home of this ghost was sup- posed to be in a square frame house south of the Center at the corner of present Route 80 and Giddings Rd. Originally purchased by Edmund Bostwick from Richard Hart, it was later sold to Hiram Stilson. The story is that on a cold winter night in 1852 a hunchback peddler sought shelter there for himself and his horse. The horse was put in the stable, the peddler went to bed and that was the last seen of him. His horse was still there. Officers and neighbors hunted for the peddler to no avail. Then the horse disappeared and soon people were telling of a ghostly white horse coming back at night in search of its master. Strange noises were heard, ghostly in character, also music. George Folck and William Willsey were later owners and after 1906 the place was vacant. Newspaper stories were printed about the supernatural events. The stories grew and people came to look. One reporter stayed in the vacant house all night but failed to see the ghost. Curiosity seekers came in droves. Finally, in 1923, the house burned to the ground, the result, so people said, of a bonfire started in the yard by some of the visitors. This ended the ghost story for ghosts cannot endure fire.
License Without Authority
Many years ago in Brimfield, Miss Electa Brobst was to marry H. A. Ewell. At that time it was not necessary for the parties to appear in person in obtaining marriage licenses. Mr. Ewell and Miss Brobst gave a dollar to a boy named Brockett to go to Ravenna for them to get their marriage license. The boy was much excited over the dollar. He got the license but the names on it were those of Miss Brobst and Mr. Brock- ett. The original couple used the license to marry and the mistake was not noticed by any one at that time. The names shown on the county record remained there for many years until the mistake had to be cleared up in order to provide authority for a government pension for Mrs. Ewell about 1920.
Indian Summer Days
Although most of the original forests are gone, Portage County is one of those communities were autumn foliage pro- vides one of Nature's most brilliant pan- oramas. First settlers here brought the expression "Indian Summer". To them this meant the first bright and warm period following the first freeze, or snow, and not any pleasant fall day as many use it. The cold snap had to come first. The first snow usually followed by warm days, was called "Squaw Winter".
In 1921 an Akron couple danced so violently at the Brady Lake dance hall that the girl's bare legs became visible. For this the couple was ejected from the hall. A protest was made, a fight followed and the man was jailed.
CHAPTER XXVII
Garrettsville
By GEORGIA LEE ALFORD
In 1803, when Ohio became a state, the entire Western Reserve was Trum- bull County and few settlements ex- isted between Warren and Sandusky. There was still no Portage County when in September, 1803, John Gar- rett of Christian Hundred, Delaware, purchased 300 acres of land in Nelson township for $1,313.00. It was stipu- lated in the deed that if the area did not include the water power of Silver Creek, such power was to be part of the territory conveyed. Silver Creek had been named by Mason Tilden of Hiram because "of the limpid color of the water."
The party starting from Delaware in 1804 was composed of Col. John Garrett, his wife Eleanor and five children, David J., John Jr., Elisha, six, Elizabeth, 4, and Joshua, two. He also brought with him two slave girls, a negress of ten, and a mulatto of six. Slavery was "forever forbidden" in the Northwest Territory and it was necessary to make special provision to bring these girls with him. With the Garretts also came Abraham Dyson, his wife, a Quakeress, and two sons, John and James, and daughter Mar- tha.
John Garrett came armed with a permit, written in beautiful long hand in Delaware by Isaac Stevenson, "No- tary and Tabellian Public." This treas- ured document, yellowed with age, is still intact and is now framed and on exhibit in the Garrettsville Library. It reads as follows;
STATE OF DELAWARE
I, Isaac Stevenson, Notary and Tabel- lian Public of and for the said state, by lawful authority commissioned and qual- ified, residing in Wilmington, do certify that the bearer hereof, John Garrett, Esq., now of Christian Hundred and County of New Castle in the state afore- said, with whom I have been acquainted for a number of years past and have known as a good and orderly citizen, and who is about to remove himself to the State of Ohio with his family and two waggons-and who takes with him a negro girl aged about ten years, and a mulatto girl aged about six years, who are both his slaves-and who by his re- moving them to said state of Ohio will by their laws be free at the age of eigh- teen years, which will accord with his wishes, he having refused to transfer them for life in this place and ought not to be interrupted by any person in his travelling to the state aforesaid with the two girls.
QUAD ATTESTOR
May 17, 1804
Isaac Stevenson, Not'y and Tbn. Public.
One of the negro girls married Thomas Henes of Mantua, and they made their home there. Of the other there seems to be no record, but pre- sumably she died young.
GARRETT DIES EARLY
For some time the little party lived in the covered wagons which brought them on land that is now Main St. while they erected cabins and cleared the wilderness. They also built a grist mill. Garrett's cabin stood on the west
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bank of Silver Creek near where the Buick garage now stands. Dyson's cab- in stood just beyond the Paul mill on Water St., but he soon erected another on North Ave. near Maple Ave. Abra- ham Dyson was a blacksmith and gun repairer, who was of great use to the surrounding settlements and is said to have had considerable patronage from the Indians in repairing fire arms. His daughter married Ira Hulet and they lived many years in Nelson.
John Garrett himself was a man of courage and energy. He lived less than two years after reaching here, his death occurring in January, 1806, when he was 46. There was no one to bury him until the two inen came back from Pittsburgh where they had gone for provisions. He died the very day the mill was to have started opera- tions and the men brought two mill wrights from Pittsburgh for this pur- pose. The 1874 Atlas of Portage Coun- ty says of him, "He was a man of strong sense, culivated mind, an hon- est man and a devout Christian."
Soon after the arrival of the Gar- retts a saw mill was in operation and soon after that, the grist mill. Garretts mill was known and patronized by the early settlers living fifteen or twenty miles about.
Col. Garrett's will left a provision for a lot on which to build a Baptist church and a plot of ground for a "grave yard." The youngest boy, Josh- ua, died in August, 1805, and Col. Garrett the next year. These were the first white burials in Garrettsville, then Nelson Township. Their graves, appropriately marked now with prop- er markers, but still identified by the pretty old grave stones, may be found in the old cemetery. On Mrs. Garrett's stone is the inscription, "A sinner, saved by Grace alone."
OBJECTS TO "DESECRATION"
Eleanor Garrett was an exceptional woman. Upon her husband's death, she assumed responsibility for the set- tlement and her home was the stop- ping place for all. She survived her husband by 45 years, living to be 96. A cheerful welcome was extended to all newcomers, and often the hospital- ity of her home as well. She was a small woman, possessed of great ener- gy and by her neighbors was called "Mother Garrett." Like most pioneer women she longed for "back home" and twice made the trip to Delaware on horseback, with only her young son for company. She was an ardent supporter of the Baptist faith and a prime worker for the erection of a house of worship. Some time after the erection of a "meeting house," the choir leader introduced a bass viol. Upon the first sound of that instru- ment, Mrs. Garrett left the meeting house, expressing great surprise at the "desecration." She also served as the town's first postmistress. This was in 1834, when mail came once a week.
Up to the War of 1812 there were few arrivals of settlers. In fact, at the time of Perry's victory on Lake Erie, practically all settlers here were poised for flight, fearing invasion by the Indians who were allies of the British.
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