USA > Ohio > Lorain County > Elyria > Reminiscences of Elyria, Ohio > Part 2
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"Our mother she consented His companion for to be, And they lived in true friendship Till his death set them free."
The first death in the township was the wife of Enos Mann, who came from Becket, Mass., made the journey with a team called a spike team-a yoke of oxen and a horse as
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leader-attached to a stout wagon loaded with his family and household goods. He located opposite where Mr. Hamilton lives on Cleveland street, and was a manufacturer of wooden bowls, much used at that time. Soon after the birth of Henry Beach, a son was born to the Manns, the second child born in Elyria. Mrs. Mann proposed to Mr. Ely to name him Ely Mann, but he declined the honor, as he feared to establish the precedent of giving fifty acres of land to all sons named after him, fearing the land would not hold out. Mrs. Mann died the 9th of March, 1823, and was the first per- son buried in the Elyria cemetery. Her grave was marked by a plain sand stone slab, bearing the following inscription : "In memory of Mrs. Clamency Mann, who died March 9th, 1823, in the fortieth year of her age." The stone still stands, seventy-six years having elapsed since it was placed in the cemetery.
Great difficulty was experienced in finding suitable ground for a cemetery on account of wet soil, hence this was select- ed, which has been enlarged from time to time and to-day is filled with the graves of hundreds who have lived and died in Elyria. Unknowing and unknown "they forgotten lie" by the many who visit the city of the dead.
Among the very early settlers was Captain Festus Cooley, who, in August, 1819, came from Westfield, Mass., to take charge of the mills. He obtained the title of Captain in commanding a military company in the war of 1812 in Massachusetts. The following spring he returned for his family-his wife, one son and two daughters-and moved into the Beebe tavern, which they occupied until Mr. Beebe returned with his wife in 1820. The son, Festus, was for years an active business man in Elyria, accumulating a hand- some property. He removed to Kansas where he and his wife both died. Of their four children, the only one living is Mrs. Harriet Cooley Bronson, in this city. The daugh- ters, Mrs. Barnard and younger sister, both died in early
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Reminiscences of Elyria.
womanhood. Captain Cooley died in 1872 aged 86, his wife in August, 1876.
In 1821, Ezra Adams, of Canton, Conn., came in a one- horse wagon with his family. Martin Pond, a brother of Mrs. Adams, eleven years old, came with them. Mr. Adams was a harness maker by trade and was for a short time as- sociated with Mr. Beebe in carrying the mails, taking it west of Elyria, but he soon sold out to Mr. Beebe and resumed his trade. Mr. Pond learned the harness business and con- tinued it for years, and with a number of valuable patents and real estate dealings, which increased in value, made him one of the monied men of the town. He lived to be 80 years of age and died in the home he had so long occupied, leaving one only daughter, Lizzie Pond Bowen, the only rep- resentative of a family of four children. His wife died in 1887, Mr. Pond in 1897.
The writer is indebted to the Elyria papers in giving the biography of Mr. and Mrs. Artemas Beebe, who were the only ones left of the pioneers of Elyria.
Mrs. Pamelia Beebe, wife of Artemas Beebe, died June 26, 1878, aged 79 years. Two generations had come and gone since she first made her home in the wilds of Elyria.
"Oh the changes she had seen In her long and winding way. The graves that in her path had grown green And the locks that had grown gray."
During all the early years she endured the trials and pri- vations of pioneer life in the even tenor of her ways, quiet and indomitable, she followed out her course of life, helping many about her with a cheerful, hopeful spirit, and as her life was drawing to a close she made her preparation with perfect composure and Christian faith, leaving the helpless husband to the care of three loving children. She died full of the assurance of the Christian, the last member of the First Presbyterian Church established in 1824, which she had
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seen grow out of the log house to a fine Gothic stone church.
Mr. Artemas Beebe died March 29, 1880, aged eighty-six years and six months, the last of the pioneer band of six who came in 1817 to build a town in the wilds of Ohio. From the hamlet he had seen it grow to a city of ten thou- sand people, having in many enterprises assisted in its growth and prosperity. He was one of the original stock- holders and directors of the Lorain Bank in 1847, and was identified with it up to the time of his death. Of the officers who signed resolutions of respect on that occasion, John W. Hulburt is the only survivor. Mr. Beebe was a man of strict integrity, careful and ready to aid the cause of morality and religion, and a regular attendant at religious services, although he did not profess religion until 1866, when he joined the Congregational Church, to which, including the Sunday- school, he was liberal, giving a complete library at one time, helping to build and sustain the Old Stone Church and other causes, and any cause of interest outside. Mr. and Mrs. Beebe left two sons, Henry, at Put-in-Bay, and Artemas, who died in Elyria (and soon followed by his only daughter, Mary Beebe Williams, and later his wife). Mary, the eldest daughter, Sarah Turner, of Chicago, and Pamelia, residing in the old homestead. The majority of this family are on the other side.
The first celebration of the 4th of July was in 1819. Ar- rangements were made and carried out for celebrating the day in a manner becoming the sons of New England patriots so far as they had the means to do so. Invitations were sent to Grafton and Ridgeville, who responded with great anticipation of pleasure, it being the first general gathering of the settlers in the woods.
A blacksmith's anvil served to fire the morning salute, and during the day Eldridge Gerrey, of Ridgeville, was the orator of the day, whose patriotic speech was loudly applauded. David Gibbs, of Carlisle, uncle of Mrs. Harriet Wooster, led
WINTER SCENE-WEST FALLS
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the martial music. He was a good drummer and skilled on the fife and clarinet. What is more inspiring now than mar- til music? A sumptuous dinner was served at the tavern. A stuffed roast pig was at the head of the table with a cob of corn in his mouth as if captured before he could dispose of it, and there was roast venison and all available vegetables. Popular beverages, of which whisky was the chief ingredient, was the dessert.
In order to celebrate the day in a manner as near as pos- sible to the old-fashioned celebration, an old fowling piece was strapped on the back of John Gould, who served as a gun carriage by placing himself on all fours. When a toast was given, the gunner, with a lighted poker, discharged the gun. and the cheers from the crowd echoing and reechoing in the woods was fun and enthusiasm. Whether John Gould was a relative of Jay Gould, the millionaire, history does not say, but he could not have manifested his patriotism more effectually than did John Gould in 1819. The day closed with a grand ball in the old tavern, John Thaler, of Ridge- ville, being the fiddler. All went home satisfied with the 4th of July celebration of 1819. The Grafton men had to wait until morning to find their way through the woods with their ox teams and by marked trees. Though whisky was freely used not a drunken man was to be seen and there were no accidents. In all the towns military companies were formed and general trainings were given in the fall in Elyria. The captains wore blue coats with brass buttons, marching and countermarching to the music of fife and drum, giving orders, "forward, march; right about face." A fantastic company was organized, making a great display in peculiar uniforms with sashes on their shoulders and plumes sweep- ing to the steeds they rode. N. B. Gates, on his famous Bucephalus, commanded this company and obtained the title of Colonel, which was fittingly given him, a well grown Green mountain boy.
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Did not these early trainings have some influence in the education of "Our Boys," which was manifested in the ready response to the call of Abraham Lincoln in the war of the Rebellion for three hundred thousand more? This may be a fitting place to give a poem published in the Elyria Repub- lican in 1862:
The gallant boys of Old Lorain, At the President's call for volunteers, None rushed to arms with louder cheers, Than the gallant boys of Old Lorain.
Hating rebellion, treason scorning, Always ready at a moment's warning To march, thro' mud, snow and rain, Are the gallant boys of Old Lorain.
The first at Romney to charge with a yell Which caused the rebels to run pell mell So they dare not face our army again, Were the gallant boys of Old Lorain.
The traitors will find when they foot the bills The Yankees are something besides mud sills. And when the war is over we'll have peace again, We'll welcome the boys of Old Lorain.
Some of our gallant boys are sleeping in southern soil, some in our cemetery, whose graves are annually decorated. The long, solemn procession with flowers and with veterans in carriages who live to help commemorate this annual memorial service, is one in which children should take part and know the history of the Civil War and its cost of life, of which our beautiful monument is a constant reminder.
After the war of the Rebellion was over, it was said that no such response to a call to arms would be made again. But in 1897, as "Remember the Maine" was sounded through the land, this was refuted. The marching of troops was again seen, soldiers enlisted and left home and friends.
In 1862 the women all over our land banded together as aid societies to care for soldier boys in camps, hospitals and
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in the field, laying aside all usual avocations to give them- selves to this work.
We gave our boys the U. S. flag, said good-byes with prayers and tears, and gathered day after day in our room in the Beebe Block so generously provided for us.
Not only soldiers, but the families were visited and cared for by committees appointed to seek the needy and the sick. One good woman's remark so often recurs to mind when it was said " That family comes too often for help." "Well, they are not ' faculised,'" for now we have such. This last year has shown the ready response of the women of the present time who gathered day after day to repeat the work of 1862 with a few of the veteran aid society, filling boxes and barrels with comforts for soldiers of 1897.
The township was organized October 20, 1819. The county was formed in 1822, taken from Cuyahoga, Huron, and Medina. At the same session of the Legislature a com- mission was appointed to locate the county seat. In Febru- ary, 1823, after having visited Sheffield and Black River, Elyria was decided upon, and stakes were driven for location of Court House on the 14th of February, 1823.
Mr. Ely agreed to furnish suitable buildings for holding court and confinement of prisoners until county commission- ers built permanent ones, and agreed to pay $2,000 toward the erection of a new court house. A temporary court house, a one-story frame building, was erected on the corner of Cheapside and Main street, where Mr. Murbach's jewelery store stands. It was subsequently moved to a lot farther east on Main street, where Dr. Moysey's stable stands, and used for a meeting house, and later as a session room for Presbyterian church and private schools. When no longer needed for these it was moved to the rear of Snearer's for a work room. The fourth move was to Main, or Broad street, a second-story added, and was used as an implement store. It was burned in the destructive fire of 1893. A picture of
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this historic building was presented to the Historical Society by Mr. I. A. Webster, the owner, and is in their rooms.
The jail was built on the back part of the public square, opposite Mrs. G. Brownell's. It was a two-story frame build- ing, one part inside finished with hewed logs close together for confinement of prisoners, the other side for jailer. After the new stone jail was erected this building was removed to Third street and fitted up pleasantly for a dwelling house and occupied by many nice families; owned at this time by R. W. Pomeroy.
The first court held in Elyria was on the 24th of May, 1824. George Todd was the presiding judge, associates, Henry Brown, Moses Eldred, and Frederick Hamlin (grand- father of F. N. Smith of this town), Woolsey Wells was ap- pointed prosecuting attorney, Ebenezer Whiton, clerk. The first sheriff was Josiah Harris, of North Amherst. The first license to solemnize marriage was granted to Rev. McGee, of Dover. The first license to marry a couple in this county was to Rev. D. W. Lathrop in September, 1827. The first criminal trial was in 1825. Two men were indicted and found guilty of stealing hogs and fined $10 and costs. Since that time one person has been sent to the penitentiary for the same offense, showing the difference in the grade of crime of stealing shack, or Suffolk hogs.
The court house succeeding the little frame building was constructed of brick in the center of the square by Osias Long, of Peru, Huron county, who brought a number of me- chanics with him, some of whom settled in Elyria, engaging in different occupations. This house was built in 1828 and was of red brick with a cupola for the bell. The court room was on the second floor and the county offices on the first floor. This court house was torn down and was replaced in 1880 and 1881 by the elegant stone building now in the park with fine offices on first floor and court room on the second floor, and rooms in the basement used by the Lorain
THE OLD COURT HOUSE
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County Historical Society. The first court held in the new court house was in October, 1881, Judge Hale presiding. At present Judge Nye is filling this position satisfactorily. Many of our earlier judges reside and practice law in Cleveland, Judge Burke and Judge W. W. Boynton among the number.
The early settlers brought their religious customs with them from their New England homes. A log house for meetings was built in 1819 on the east side of the river on the top of the hill, which was very high at that time. It stood where Mr. Hobill's shop now stands. The settlers were punctual in attendance on Sunday. Mr. Ely read a sermon, Luther Lane and William Smith were the praying men. One morning when called upon to pray neither of these men responded. Mr. Ely, the leader, said, "Lane, pray there; pray quick; it's a good day to burn stumps." Calvin Smith led the singing, pitching the tunes with the tuning fork. Irene Allen, Mrs. Ely and Mrs. Beebe, who were members of the choir in Massachusetts, were the sing- ers. Father Taylor, of Dover, preached occasionally. The first sermon preached in Elyria was in the log boarding house on the 5th of February, 1818, by Rev. Alvin Hyde. Text, Jonah 2d chapter and 9th verse, "Salvation is of the Lord."
Some of the young people attended religious meetings in Ridgeville held in the log school house at the Center. A large gathering of people assembled there, as the town was settled before Elyria. . Deacon Joel Terrell and Samuel Eldred were the leaders of the meetings and Major Terrell led the singing, and hearty singing it was, too.
The First Presbyterian Church was organized in the log school house, November 25, 1824, with the following mem- bers:
Luther Lane, Celia Ely, Pamelia Beebe,
Hannah Brooks,
Hannah Johnson, Irene Johnson,
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Reminiscences of Elyria.
Abby Lathrop,
Julia West,
William Smith, Samuel Brooks, Hezekiah Brooks,
Pearl Douglas,
Ann Palmer,
Pamelia Manter,
Lydia Brooks.
Sophia Brooks.
Eight of these were from Carlisle.
In 1825, Rev. Daniel W. Lathrop became the pastor of this infant church. He was sent by the Home Missionary Society of Long Island, partly supported by it, and the rest by the church. His first home was in a house built by Mr. Kingsbery, owned by Mr. Ransom Braman and removed to the alley in the rear to make room for his new home built recently. Rev. D. W. Lathrop and Mrs. Lathrop were de- lightful people, filled with Christian love and interest in the people they ministered to. Subsequently they built a home on a large plat of ground between East avenue and the river, later known as the Hoyle homestead, now occupied by fine residences. The Lathrop home was removed to make room for Mr. Frank Foster's elegant home recently. Very many pleasant and many sad things were associated with this first pastor of the church in Elyria. A row of little graves in the cemetery are marked Lathrop, and one among them, Mary, sixteen years of age, a beautiful girl. Over the window of her room on that spring morning when she died, a white rose filled the room with its sweet perfume, which was so beauti- fully written of by Mrs. Sigourney, the poetess, in a poem to the dear mother. The white roses from this tree bloom in many lawns, but who knows from whence they came? Mr. Lathrop's health failing, he resigned the pastorate of the church, but lived in his lovely home cultivating flowers and fruits for a number of years. He returned to his eastern home. Once during Rev. Williams' pastorate he assisted in the church worship. But Mr. and Mrs. Lathrop passed on, where are all their children, members of his flock, to whom he ministered in their last hours, and said the words of com- fort at the grave in this his first charge and our first pastor.
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Reminiscences of Elyria.
In 1830, Rev. John J. Shipherd, a home missionary, min- istered to the Presbyterian Church. He was a native of New York, and his friend, Mr. Stewart, was said to be the in- ventor of the Stewart cook stove. He came to visit Mr. Shipherd in 1832, who lived on the corner of Second street and East avenue in a house owned by Edwin Hall in later years and has been a home at various times for different ministers.
Mr. Shipherd and Mr. Stewart were anxious to arrange for a community where a college could be conducted to edu- cate both sexes and the colored people. Many days and nights were spent in prayer in an upper chamber consulting the best plan. In a season of prayer Mr. Shipherd felt it was revealed to him. He said, " Come let us rise and build." On joining his wife he said, "The child is born, what shall its name be?" "It was Oberlin."
The first church erected in Elyria was Presbyterian and was dedicated on the 11th of February, 1834, for divine wor- ship by the Presbytery of Cleveland, and at the same time Rev. James Eells was ordained and installed as pastor. The sermon on the morning of the dedication was delivered by Rev. J. Keep, of Cleveland, and the dedicatory prayer by Rev. A. H. Betts, of Brownhelm, a home missionary; right hand of fellowship by the Presbytery with address by Rev. John J. Shipherd; charge to the pastor, Rev. Keyes; to the the people, Rev. D. W. Lathrop; closing prayer, Rev. O. Eastman. This church was a large frame building with gal- lery for choir, composed of the young people of the congre- gation, the leader for a number of years, B. F. Robinson, accompanied with bass viol by Norman Crandal, and flute by Albert Ely, made very acceptable music. The pews were comfortably cushioned and occupied by families. Up to this time the men sat on one side of the house and the wo- men on the other. Stoves burning wood and the pipes ex- tending to the farther end where the chimneys were. Col-
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lections were taken up in little green silk bags on the ends of poles which reached the farthest occupant of the pew. The church was on Second street and was large enough for the usual congregation, but when revival meetings, quite often held in early days, and when Professor Finney and others preached on the justice of God, the terrors of the law, giving thrilling descriptions of the punishment of sin- ners in the lake of fire and brimstone, the house was too small, and aisles and pulpit steps were filled. This church was occupied until the new one was built, then sold to Rev. Grosvenor, who fitted it up for a girls' school, and later made into a dwelling-house where Mrs. Grosvenor lived for years and died over ninety years of age. At present it is arranged and occupied as an Old Ladies' Home.
The beautiful Gothic stone church on the corner of Sec- ond street and Park was finished and dedicated on the 17th of May, 1848. The tall spire with its weather vane telling which way the wind blew, the sweet toned bell to call to worship, the clock to tell the true sun time, which, ringing out the hour was "all's well" at night, were some of the many outside attractions of this grand old church. Galleries were built on three sides, but the two north and south ones were removed later. One over the vestibule was used for organ and choir. The other end of the church was occupied by a finely carved pulpit where the minister could see, be seen and heard. It was the custom to turn and face the singers during the singing. Curtains of red repp were in front on wires to be drawn so only the faces were visible of the choir. This house cost twelve thousand five hundred eiglity- eight dollars and seventy-five cents. Brooks Brothers of Elyria were the builders, who removed to Cleveland and are not living now. Great sacrifices were cheerfully made to build this church, "for the people had a mind to build." Doubtless they thought it a fine legacy for those coming after them and a monument to the fathers. For fifty years
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
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the stone church was such. How well filled were the pews! How we recall the occupants! How sacred the place with its pleasant memories and Christian influence! Rev. Mr. Grosvenor was pastor when the church was dedicated and for some time after; Rev. Wilbur for a number of years. For twenty-four years Rev. E. E. Williams was the beloved pastor. He died in 1896, mourned not only by his own church, but by the community.
John W. Hulburt is the only officer living who was such when the church was built. The church celebrated its golden wedding the 9th of December, 1874. Rev. Wilbur and Rev. Williams were in the pulpit and officiated.
A pleasant stone chapel was built adjoining the church and used for social meetings and societies, enlarged and re- furnished by the women of the church. Both of these sacred buildings were well overgrown with ivy. Women did not speak in meeting, for St. Paul said, "let your women keep silence in the churches." But a great privilege accorded them by the brethren was to earn the money to help build the church and repaint the steeple when needed, change windows for better ones, recarpet, put in gas fixtures and new cushions, all cheerfully done. They held their own prayer-meetings in their homes in early times, later in parlor of chapel. A Constitution for members in 1824 of the female prayer-meeting is in the possession of a daughter of one of the members. But a change has taken place in social meetings, for the women can, with full consent of the brethren, conduct and sustain religious meetings (though the men may not be there to hear).
In early times Sunday began at sundown Saturday night. All labor ceased; no stitches were taken. Clothes were ar- ranged for Sunday morning, calf-skin shoes were oiled and set around the hearth to dry, as rubbers were not known; chil- dren could not go out to play until the sun had set. If per- sons ventured to go into the garden they were reminded that
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Reminiscences of Elyria.
in the Bible it was written, that when children mocked the Prophet Elijah and said, "Go up thou bald head," the bears ate them up, and it was just as wicked to break God's holy day, and the bears in the woods across the river could de- stroy the children the same way. Children went to church as a matter of course; were not asked if they would go. Sermons were long and they did not know what was preached, but the habit was good and the discipline good to sit still. Discipline was an essential part of children's edu- cation. Some good woman would bring dill or fenell and toss into the laps of little ones, which helped while away the long sermon time of an hour and a half. When the sun had set children would go out doors to play, neighbors visit each other, and to knit was all right, but at 8 o'clock would go home, for Monday came after Sunday, and it was an estab- lished washing day early in the morning. That "cleanliness was next to Godliness" was recognized one of the essentials. About 1840 many began keeping Sunday night and it soon became a general practice. Sunday schools were early or- ganized in all Protestant churches and held between morn- ing and afternoon service, as the second service was at 2 o'clock. Bible lessons were learned; one verse for each day in the week, was the custom, but optional to commit more. Children were familiar with the Bible, and could, when grown up, repeat much of this learned in Sunday- school. Sunday-school books did not come into use for a number of years.
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