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 45
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Silica (called "Hell's Hollow" in days gone by). It took thirty teams, con- sisting of oxen, horses, and mules, to move the building. A new build- ing was erected across the road in Windham Township and dedicated in 1920.
HAVE EARLY ACADEMY
The first school opened in the town- ship was taught by Hannah Baldwin in 1804 in a log cabin located at the Center. The bell with which she called the children is at the present time kept in the trophy case in the James A. Garfield High School building. In 1816 a frame school building was erected at the Center. It was used as a meeting place for the township trus- tees; elections were held there (if not in a private home), and it was in de- mand for church services of all de- nominations. The first record book of the township clerk is extant as well as many old school records.
A library association was formed in 1820 with the Rev. Benjamin Fenn in charge. Expenses were paid by as- sessment. An academy was mentioned as being in existence as early as 1833. In 1835 school districts were laid off by the township trustees; the people elected the school board members in each district; they, in turn, elected the township board members who contacted the county and state. Names of 375 district school teachers are mentioned in the old records.
The Nelson Academy Association was permanently organized Jan. 6, 1852. The building was erected on the site of the old academy building and paid for by popular subscription, and directed by a board of trustees. Eleven teachers were listed in the clerk's book. Two of these, Oscar C. Fox and Miss Amelia McCall (who later taught in Mt. Union College) were beloved
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by all. Each teacher was responsible for damage done to the building and had to pay for damages he could not repair. Among the subjects taught were: literature, arts, science, and the virtues. A hand-written school paper "The Students' Weekly Museum" was published by the students, which not only gave the news but also gentle admonitions. There was
trouble among the stockholders of the acad- emy concerning fraud in the keeping of the records, and although the rec- ords were proved to be above re- proach, no peaceable adjustment was ever made, and the last minutes of the association were recorded in 1876.
CODE IS RIGOROUS
In 1885 "The Mezzoramia Literary Society" was organized. The object of the society was "the propagation of literature, morality, and friend- ship." The constitution that these young people drew up was stern and rigorous. Topics were debated at each meeting, some were: Resolved-That the right of suffrage should be con- ferred upon women. - That foreign labor in the U. S. is detrimental to the laboring class. - That wealth is more useful than education. A debate on the spot "What is the greatest evil?" resulted in a decision that "Idle- ness is the greatest evil".
In 1887 a public high school was set up with Edward Truman as super- intendent. He supervised the district schools on Monday and held high school Tuesday through Saturday. The first class to graduate consisted of one member-Henry Pritchard, in 1889. In 1890, eight graduated-two of whom are living in 1955: Col. Charles Stodter of San Diego, Cali- fornia, and Blanche Knowlton Robey of Lincoln, Nebraska. All of the mem- bers of the 1899 graduating class are
O. N. Hartshorn, Nelson native who founded Mt. Union College
living and reside in this area: Elsie Burke Cartwright, Mabel Nicholson Bancroft, Nellie Mills Randall, Alice Fuller Chapman, and Ella Barnum Parkhurst.
In 1900 the district schools were discontinued and the township schools were centralized, again using the Academy building which housed the high school. The children were trans- ported to school in "Kid Hacks" which were furnished by the drivers. In 1914 a new brick school building was erected to meet state requirements and the Academy building was pur- chased by the township trustees and converted into a Community House.
The school system has been further centralized; in 1948 the state revoked the school charter and it became a part of the James A. Garfield school system with the high school conven- ing in Garrettsville.
Teachers in the Nelson grade school in 1955-56 were: Michael Furillo, principal; Charles Zeiter, Richard Humphries, Treva Witherstay, Mrs. Lanna McCullough, Mrs. Sarah Buell, Mrs. Fern Sebastian and Mrs. Gertrude Barlow.
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R. B. Newcomb is Nelson's repre- sentative in the James A. Garfield consolidated district board of educa- tion.
An incident of some importance in Nelson was the conviction of Chester M. Day in 1889, on charge of poison- ing Verdie Beardsley. A penitentiary sentence was imposed.
The monument at the Square was purchased after the Civil War at a cost of $1,225. The "Square" replaced the four-corners about 1890 and the monument was removed from the northeast section to the center of the Square. The trees in the park were planted by families who lived in Nel- son at that time. Many of the trees had to be replaced after the devastat- ing tornado which struck Nelson in 1924. The War Memorial located in front of the Community House was dedicated in 1944. Nelson furnished 109 soldiers for the Civil War; 4, for the Spanish-American War; 39, for World War I; 127, for World War II; and 24, for the Korean War.
LEDGES ARE FAMOUS
The Nelson Ledges represent the west bank of a pre-historic river which carried the run-off from a melt- ing glacier sheet which covered this section of the country. The east bank of this river was the Kennedy Ledges. The Ledges consist of 175 feet of pebbly conglomerate, the debris of quartz boulders picked up south of Hudson Bay and carried here by the glacier.
Many nature lovers come every spring to see the profusion of wild flowers and plant life that grow all over the rocks, and to see and hear the many kinds of birds that migrate and nest here. In 1870 there was a gold rush at Nelson Ledges, but the
gold proved to be iron sulfide, or "Fool's Gold". One large cave has been called "Gold Hunter's Cave" since that time.
The "Cascade Falls" above the "Old Maid's Kitchen" disappeared in 1955, possibly because of much blasting in the vicinity. A collection of Indian relics made by Cornelius Baldwin, which he found in the Ledges, was given to Hiram College. There is an old hotel building on the east side of the road. The original building called the "Grotto" was located on the opposite side of the road. After it burned the present hotel building was erected as a two-story building during the Civil War. A few years later a third floor was added for a ball-room. This old inn, known as the "Cascade House", did a flourishing business in the horse and buggy days. Many prominent names were written in the old guest book which is still extant.
In 1920 the State of Ohio purchased 40 acres of land from the Industrial Silica Co., which at the time owned the Ledges. In 1940 the state pur- chased 20 acres behind the hotel, and in 1948 it purchased 101 acres, known as the Kennedy Ledges, making a total of 161 acres which is called "Nel- son Ledges-Kennedy Ledges State Park".
The Nelson Township picnics were held at the Ledges continuously from 1904 to 1921. Picnic dinners were spread on the ground everywhere, games and contests were carried on in the middle of the road, and all wanted to use the swing which was so high it gave a bird's-eye view of the affair as it swung out over the road. The Parkman Band was usually asked to give a concert, and there was dancing in the afternoon and evening.
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This gave the young people a chance to learn the current popular tunes.
WAS CATTLE DEALER
Nelson has always been an agri- cultural community. A record book dated 1835 lists the "marks" which were placed on cattle to signify own- ership, and men were hired to be "fence-viewers". Cornelius Baldwin was perhaps the best-known cattle dealer in these parts. He made several trips to Holland to buy Holstein- Friesian cattle for dairy farmers.
The early days also found a chair factory, saw mills, blacksmith shops, a cheese factory, a cheese-box factory, and two stores, which also served as post-office between 1830 and 1901 when Rural Free Delivery came to Nelson.
The following doctors are known to have lived and practiced in Nelson: Dr. Hezekiah Palmer Hopkins, Dr. Sweeny, Dr. Guy Warren (grand- father of Mont Collins), Dr. Roberts, and Dr. Charles A. Witherstay (father of Treva Witherstay and Mrs. Lanna Mccullough). The Garrettsville Wat- erworks are located in Nelson, a hatchery and several smaller poultry farms, and three fire-brick companies and one sand company which are making use of the Sharon Conglomer- ate. Many families live on small farms and commute to factory or mill work in the great Mahoning Valley.
One of the active organizations in Nelson is the Grange. It was organ- ized in 1896 as the Garrettsville Grange but was transferred to Nelson in 1922. The Literary Musical Club (better known as the L.M.C.) was or- ganized in 1908 by Olive Howell Lewis, its purpose being to better the community. This it has done through-
out its existence: it has been the main force in remodeling the Community House, it has helped to repair the five cemeteries, making them usable again, and the members have been instru- mental in keeping a fine community spirit alive.
The Nelson High School Alumni Association has continued to function since it was organized in 1895, adding the names of the local graduates each year. The Nelson School Picnic was organized in 1937, holding the annual picnic at the Ledges the last Sunday in July. Other organizations at the present time are: Boys' and Girls' 4-H clubs, Boy and Cub Scouts, a pre- school P.T.A., Methodist Women's So- ciety of Christian Service, Methodist Youth Fellowship.
Some of the important people who have lived in Nelson are: Orville Nel- son Hartshorn, who founded Mount Union College in 1846 and served as its first president. In 1923 Mount Union erected a monument to him in Nelson on his hundredth birthday; Jedediah Cole, County surveyor whose maps and surveys are still in use; Amelia McCall Brush, a professor at Mt. Union College; Almeda Booth, a professor at Hiram College; George Colton, a professor at Hiram College; Harriett Taylor Upton, who wrote a history of the Western Reserve; Col. Stodter, a graduate of the U. S. Mili- tary Academy; Henry J. Robison, a judge who has held important offices in both the county and state. Nelson has been the home of several mission- aries, ministers, teachers, and other professional people.
Township officers in 1955 were: Trustees-Harland Bell, Harry Clapp and Noble Hopkins; Clerk, Earl Goodsell.
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Fate Opened Presidential Path
Fate played the principal hand in the round of events that sent James A. Garfield to the presidential chair. In 1859 Garfield was the 28-year old principal of the Hiram In- stitute. He had no great interest in politics and was devoid of political ambition. But he had spoken from pulpits and platforms all over the county and people liked him.
In 1859 it was time to nominate a Republican candidate for state senator in the Portage-Summit district. Summit had no particular candidate. Able, popular and wealthy Cyrus Prentiss of Ravenna was being pushed forward in Portage County. His nomination and election seemed assured.
During the summer Garfield had been on an Eastern trip, ignorant of what was going on. On his return his train stopped at Mantua and he was greeted by an old friend. Said Garfield, in his journal dated Aug. 22, 1859:
"Dr. Squires came to the cars to tell me that Prentiss had died suddenly and that the leading citizens of Ravenna had requested me to allow my name to be put in nomination. I came to Hiram and during the week conversed with the teachers and some of the trustees and found it compatible with my duties to be absent the required time and so on last Sat- urday went to Ravenna and on examining into the state of affairs, allowed my name to be used. Since then, I have made but one visit in reference to it (at Windham). The caucus was held last Saturday evening and tomorrow the delegates assemble in convention in Franklin (Kent) to nominate a candidate. I am little skilled in political conventions and cannot predict with confidence the result, but so far as I am able to see, there is a strong probability that I shall receive the nomination. Many frinds have been active in my behalf and prominent among them is Hon. O. P. Brown of Ravenna. In entering upon the work I told my friends:
1 .- I would make no pledges to any man or measure.
2 .- I should not work for my own nomination, other than to let my friends know my name was up.
3 .- I ran at their instance, not mine.
Now I feel a desire not to be defeated and shall take all legitimate measures to avoid it. (James, keep your balance.)
"Aug. 23, 1859-From Ravenna, went to Franklin to attend the nominating convention. Found the candidates there, all at work for the nomination. My competitors were Lyman W. Hall, editor of the Portage County Democrat (who withdrew before the convention); Mr. Wadsworth, banker, of Ravenna; D. L. Rockwell, Franklin; Dr. Isaac Coles, Palmyra. I solicited no man of all the delegates. The Portage delegation then held a private caucus. Garfield led and on the 4th ballot had a majority over all. Hence he was Portage county's candidate. In the convention he was nominated by acclamation.
"I am aware that I launch out on a fickle current and am about undertaking a work as precarious as men follow-and one of which a writer has said, 'It is the most seductive and dangerous which a young man can follow'. "
The convention was held in the old township hall, still standing on Gougler Ave., Kent. Garfield won the election.
Twice after that, fate steered Garfield's political course. In 1863 he was a general in the army. As the result of an inter-party quarrel among 19th District Republicans Garfield was nominated for Congress-a move of which he had been in ignorance.
In 1880, after 17 years service in Congress, Garfield went to the Republican national convention in Chicago as manager for Senator John Sherman, Ohio's favorite son. The convention was deadlocked and the delegates turned to Garfield and nominated him.
CHAPTER XXXI Palmyra
WRITTEN FROM MATERIAL COMPILED BY ROYAL BIGELOW AND OTHERS
Palmyra was not the first town- ship in Portage County to be settled, but it is included in the group of several "seconds", where migrants ar- rived in June of 1799. It was in that month that David Daniels and fam- ily arrived from Grattan, Conn., with a deed for 100 acres of land one and a half miles south of the Center. The land was a gift from the first pro- prietors, clearly for promotional pur- poses.
These first owners, living in Con- necticut, were Elijah, Homer and David Boardman, Elijah Wadsworth, Jonathan Giddings, Zepaniah Briggs, Stanley Griswold and Roderick Wol- cott. As far as known, Elijah Board- man was the largest owner. None of these men came to Ohio, at least to Portage County, but the first years of the Daniels family here were years of want and hardship.
The forest was subdued and crops planted. It is told that Daniels car- ried a bushel of wheat on his back to a mill in Poland for grinding, and carried the flour home, a distance of 30 miles. Other mills were nearer. Apparently Daniels did not know of them.
Ethelbert Baker was another arrival in 1799, but he came alone, taking up land half a mile west of the Cen- ter. William Bacon reached Palmyra the following year and in 1802 both Baker and Bacon brought their fam- ilies. The southeast corner at the Cen- ter was cleared off in 1803.
ON GREAT TRAIL
The township was located along the well known Great Trail of the Indians, leading from Fort McIntosh to Sandusky. Traces of this trail can still be seen today. In 1804 came James McKelvey. Palmyra seems to have had an unusual number of "char- acters", one of whom was McKelvey. He was noted for his hatred of snakes, particularly of rattlesnakes, then abundant, and he spent much time trying to exterminate them. His mother before him also hated snakes. Amasa Preston was another who "hat- ed snakes". In one summer he killed 120 rattlers.
In 1805 there was a large migra- tion from the East. Among these were the John Tuttle family, the Baldwins and others. Clearings were made, cab- ins went up and fruit trees set out. In 1807 Capt. Jonathan Baldwin opened a tavern which he operated until 1825 when he moved to Toledo. Capt. Baldwin also engaged in mer- cantile operations. It is said that he and David Waller went to Cleveland and brought back a load of salt which they sold at $20 per barrel-a good profit. It was a five-day trip.
Many of those who came to live in Portage County had been soldiers in the Revolution. For some reason Pal- myra had an unusually large propor- tion of them. In the list were includ- ed Capt. Jonathan Baldwin, Truman Gilbert, Elizor Parks, John Tuttle, Zachary Fisher, Benjamin Garrison,
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Traces of Indian Great Trail can still be seen in Palmyra today
Elijah Canfield, Amariah Daniels, Na- than Muzzy, Noah Smith, Capt. Ebe- nezer Trowbridge and Amos Thur- ber. Capt. Baldwin was an early Port- age County commissioner. His son, John, was a steamboat captain on Lake Erie many years.
Truman Gilbert arrived in 1806 as did the Noah Smith family. Smith figured in an unusual incident. The family brought with them a young colored girl who they raised as a mem- ber of the family. For this Smith was prosecuted for holding the child in bondage. A fine was imposed but be- fore punishment could be inflicted a higher court decision nullified the judgment.
Another unusual character was Artemas Ruggles, noted not only as a hunter and trapper but as a black- smith, machinist, handy man and part time dentist. As a dentist he used a
home made instrument which he called his "turnikey."
CHAMPIONED HOME STATE
David Gano, who came from Vir- ginia in 1807, was also a little out of ordinary. He gained fame as a bear trapper and wolf killer. If anyone aspersed the name of Virginia in his presence, he was ready to fight and on one occasion took on a dozen men in defense of the Old Dominion.
The first white child born in Pal- myra was Emmeline Cutler, to Mr. and Mrs. E. Cutler.
The first marriage occurred in 1805 when Benjamin McDaniels and Betsy Stevens pledged their troth.
The first frame house was erected in 1807 and in the same year Palmyra had its first post-office. The first frame building at the Center was put up in 1824 by a man named William Shakespeare. A distillery was estab-
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lished in 1808 by John Tuttle and in 1810 a tannery was started by Parrott Hadley.
The first store at the Center was started in 1813 by Walker Canfield and David Waller.
James Briggs came in 1807 and James Bales in 1808. Dr. Ezra Chaffee came in 1810 as did Jemson Palmer and his sons, Jesse and Sam. In 1814 came the unusually strong and muscu- lar Zuhariac Fisher who was also strong in character.
Jabez Gilbert, who arrived in 1811, was noted for his determination and iron will. Known far and wide, he was a bridge builder, mail and freight contractor. He built about all the early bridges in the locality and hauled steam boilers from Pittsburgh to Cleveland, which was a tremen- dous task considering the condition of roads and bridges. He carried the Pittsburgh-Cleveland mail, running a two-horse coach once a week at first. Later it was twice a week, then daily. When roads were impassable he car- ried the mail through on foot. Be- cause he usually swore "By Moses", he became known as Mose Jabe Gilbert, with fame far beyond the county's borders.
FOUNDER OF METHODISM
Another man of importance in Pal- myra's early days was Rev. Henry Shewell, who is called the founder of Methodism in Portage County. Shew- ell, a learned and saintly man, was a typical "circuit rider", who was a "powerful" preacher in the sense that he was zealous and emphatic in ex- pounding the Word. He worked all over Portage County, partly in as- sociation with Rev. Shadrach Bost- wick, the minister-physician from Deerfield. The first church established in Palmyra was in 1813 by Rev. Nath-
an Darrow, a Presbyterian who had appeared there previously.
Worth noting, also, is the fact that another Palmyra man, Thomas Bige- low, set up the first Universalist Universalist church in Portage Coun- ty. He came in 1814.
The first road tax was laid in 1822. School districts were also started.
The history of Palmyra is incom- plete without some facts about the Welsh people. It is not known just when the first Welshman arrived but there must have been quite a number here in 1830 when the Welsh Fair was organized. A Welsh Regular Baptist church was organized in 1862. This probably was when the Welsh began to arrive in greater numbers for coal mining required trained men. The church was know as Soar, or Stone Chapel.
Until March, 1810, Palmyra had been a part of Deerfield township. On that date the county commission- ers issued an order making the change. First officers elected were: Trustees- Amos Thurber, Wm. Bacon and Dav- id Calvin; Clerk-David Waller; Treasurer-David Daniels; Appraiser -Silas Waller; Overseers-Jabez Gil- bert, John McArthur; Constable- Charles Gilbert; Lister-James Mc- Kelvey; Fence Viewers-Truman Gil- bert, J. T. Baldwin; Justices-David Daniels, Joseph Fisher; Supervisors- John Stevens, Artemas Ruggles, Zebu- lon Walker, Gibson McDaniels.
The first school taught in Palmyra was by Betsy Diver, daughter of a Deerfield man. The school was located in the south part of the township, probably about 1805. Later teachers were Sophia Hubbard, John Barr, Nathan Boice, Mattie Ruggles and Lewis Ely. Barr was first to teach a school at the Center. Adelina Wales
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of Windham taught the first select school. It was in 1842.
While coal seams had been found early in Palmyra, it was not until after the Civil War that mining was de- veloped to any extent. By 1880 there were four one-shaft mines in opera- tion. These were the Palmyra Coal Co., W. B. Wilson, manager; The Black Diamond Coal Co., Samuel Kimberly, owner; The Scott Coal Co .; and the Hutson Coal Co., H. T. Hut- son, owner. Each shaft produced a hundred tons or more daily. To help operate these mines, and those in ad- jacent Deerfield, many more Welsh people came from over the sea. It is said that the first mine was opened by Wilson. A strip mine was opened in 1948. Several small slope mines are still worked.
HAD AGRICULTURAL FAIR, TOO
About 1880 Palmyra people wanted an agricultural fair of their own and started one. It ran as a two day meet- ing but lasted only a few years.
Of considerable more importance is the May Fair, or Welsh Fair, estab- lished about 1830 and run every year since. It is always held on the first Monday in May and is now more in the nature of a home coming, or re- union, of Welsh people, their de- scendents and friends.
In the Civil War, 59 soldiers who were or had been Palmyra men, saw service, and of this number, eleven gave their lives.
Palmyra men listed in the Union army included J. H. Parker, George Davis, M. G. Grate, Robert Hutson, John Bacon, John J. Hume, John A. Phillips, John B. Phillips, Edward Davis, John F. Evans, Andrew Eng- lish, Newton Hazzard, John A. Rich- ards, Jas. Stuart, Stephen S. Thomas, David Force, Curtis Grate, Dr. Frank
Hawley, Jas. Wilcox, Jas. McCul- lough, Simeon Pegg, Meredith Evans, Thos. C. Evans, Israel Fagley, Jona- thon C. Giddings, John Gilbert, Ed- win Gilbert, John Jones (Welsh Jack), Thos. G. Jones, Wallace Edwards, Isaac D. Spaulding, John C. Thomas, J. Harvey Tuttle (Chap), F. Rennin- ger, Wm. Walter Kale, Cyrus Brain- ard, Morris Bebb (Sailor), Alonzo Cramer, Orlando Campbell, E. Edgar Tuttle, Geo. Evans, Joseph Fisher, Ed- ward Hollister, Andrew Hume, Sam- uel Hawk, Smith Hazzard, Milton Hazzard, John Jewell, John D. Jones, Isaac D. Jones, John B. Morgan, George Simms, John J. Thomas, Isaac Williams, David Williams, Horace W. Willard and George Frank.
Serving in the Spanish-American War were Royal Bigelow, Floyd Thomas, Fay North, David Williams and Cary Gilbert.
In World War I, these Palmyra men saw service: Frank Davis, David B. Evans, Roy Lewis, Carl Gilbert, Floyd Burnett, Tom Lewis, Albert Lewis, Raymond Merwin, Osborne Lewis, Merle McGranahan, Tom Evans, Roy Hutson, Ray Harris, John Harrison, David E. Jones, Ray Johns, Reese B. Jones, Dan Jones, Jesse Jenk- ins, Walter Keeler, Andrew Keeler, Carl Mckenzie, Howard Jones, Carl Thomas, Harvey Ruggles, Herbert Sibson, Winfield Sickel, Frank West- over, Harvey Williams, Edwin Wil- son, Bert Fields, Evan Evans, Emmett Shellanberger, Earle Jones, Reuben Kale and Anson Smith.
Of the physicians who have served Palmyra the number includes "Old Dr." Rose and Dr. Luther C. Rose (Young Doctor Rose), Dr. W. G. Smith, Dr. Harry Nealy, Dr. Ben Davis, Dr. William Jenkins, Dr. P. M. Bell, and Dr. Alva Baldwin. Dentists
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