USA > Ohio > The plan of union: or a history of the Presbyterian and Congregational churches of the Western Reserve; with biographical sketches of the early missionaries > Part 18
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18
Western Reserve College, like all valuable products, and institutions that aim to elevate and form public sentiment, rather than pander to popular prejudices, grows slowly and amid difficulties. But its course is upward; and when other fast institutions shall be viewed according to their true merits, in the light of a higher general culture, this will more and more be esteemed and resorted to by those who seek thorough and compressive education.
The following statistics show the porgress of the College during President Pierce's administration :
The Catalogue of 1835 showed a President, four Professors and one Tutor.
Faculty. Theol Stud'ts.
Seniors.
Juniors. Sophomores. Freshmen.
1835
6
3
5
8
7
14
1842
11
20
9
13
16
19
1848
12
22
13
17
13
14
.
244
THE PLAN OF UNION.
The whole number of Alumni in 1848, was 153; and of these, 43 had entered the ministry.
An efficient Preparatory Department or Classical Academy has also been constantly maintained.
A Medical Department was also organized at Cleveland, in 1844, which yearly graduates very large classes.
OBERLIN COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE.
The Hudson Institution was the offspring and organ of the Churches embraced in the Plan of Union.
The dissenting and radical Congregationalists of the region, also originated an Institution to represent their peculiar views of theology, education and social philosophy. In this effort, they were much more successful than in the establishment of ecclesiastical bodies ; yet, by dividing the educational inter- ests, resources and sympathies of the Reserve, they caused two half fed institutions to struggle for a subsistence, where there should have been one, efficient and well endowed.
The principal agent in establishing the new Institute, was the Rev. J. Shipherd. Five hundred acres of land were con- ditionally pledged for the Institution, by Messrs. Street and Hughes, of New Haven, Conn. Upon this land the College buildings now stand.
In the winter of 1832, a voluntary Board of Trustees held their first meeting, in a small Indian encampment, upon the chosen site, which was otherwise a dense, unbroken forest. The land was level and wet, almost inaccessible by roads, and the prospect for a settlement forbidding in the extreme.
" The requisite surveys having been made, the first tree was felled March 15, 1833, by P. P. Pease. April 3, he came on
245
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.
with two men. Ax in hand, they cut a road for their ox- wagon, through the forest, fixed their home on the south-east corner of the public square, leaned some boards upon a pole, resting upon forked posts, built their watch fires, and here,
surrounded by owls and wolves, they spent their nights." A cabin was soon built, into which Mr. Pease moved his family ; and thus began the Oberlin Colony.
The name, Oberlin, was adopted from regard to the memory of Rev. J. F. Oberlin, a benevolent minister of Waldbach, Switzerland, who died in 1826.
Other families soon arrived, zealous to engage in the work of building up the new Institution. Religious services and a Sabbath School were, at first, held under the trees, upon the spot where the Church now stands.
Oberlin Hall was erected during the first summer, and in December, 1833, a school was opened by a Mr. Scoville, from the Western Reserve College, having forty scholars.
A Charter, with University privileges, was obtained in the winter of 1833-4. Permanent instructors arrived in May fol- lowing. They were, Professors Waldo and Dascomb, and Mr. Daniel Branch, with their wives. President Mahan came in the Spring of 1835; in June of the same year, Professors Finney and Morgan, and, later, Professor Cowles. The first College class was organized in October, 1834, consisting of four members ; this class grew to twenty-eight, who graduated in 1838. In 1835, an advanced class of four members en- tered, who graduated in 1837. The year 1835 was one of great enlargement. The buildings were hurried forward un- der great difficulties, and at great expense.
21*
246
THE PLAN OF UNION.
The character and. peculiarities of the Institute may be gathered, in part, from the following published statement of
THE OBJECTS OF THE INSTITUTION.
1. To educate youths of both sexes, so as to secure the development of a strong mind in a sound body, cnnoected with a permanent, vigor- ous, progressive piety ; all to be aided by a judicious system of manual labor.
2. To beget and to confirm in the process of education, the habit of self-denial, patient endurance, a chastened moral courage, and a de- vout consecration of the whole being to God, in seeking the best good of man.
3. To establish universal liberty by the abolition of every form of sin.
4. To avoid the debasing association of the heathen classics, and make the Bible a text book in all the departments of education.
5. To raise up a church and ministers who shall be known and read of all men, in deep sympathy with Christ, in holy living, and in effi- cient action against all which God forbids.
6. To furnish a Seminary, affording thorough instruction in all the branches of an education for both sexes, and in which colored persons, of poth sexes, shall be freely admitted, and on terms of equality and brotherhood.
The Institution, planted upon this basis, soon became the peculiar favorite of a large class of people, and the object of distrust, grief and abhorrence to another class.
Taking a prominent position in the varied social reforms that occupied the public attention, and particularly in the anti-slavery agitation; and at the same time making very prominent some doctrinal peculiarities that are rejected by most of the Presbyterians and Congregationalists of the coun-
247
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.
try ; and assuming an aggressive attitude toward the churches in connection with the Presbyteries of the Reserve, which led in many cases to divisions and strife ; it was not strange that Oberlin soon attained a very extended notoriety. The con- ceited Young Americanism of the students, most of whom went abroad as imitators of the leading Professors, and zeal- ous propagandists of their sentiments ; Graham dietetics ; and the poculiar respect shown to negroes, added to their notoriety.
The opposition made to the Greek and Latin Classics, and the consequent light esteem in which those languages were held, at one time came nigh destroying the Institute, by a withdrawal of its Charter. But it is believed that the radical and eccentric features of the Institution, have been considera- bly modified. That it has accomplished very much for popu- lar education cannot be doubted ; though it is questioned whether the students have generally attained that thorough mental discipline which a College should afford.
It has been called the " People's College ;" and it is such, in that it has entered largely into the sympathies, and brought itself down to the sentiments, and intellectual standards, of the community. And there can be no question, that this is the way to secure speedy popularity in a western settlement. Probably Oberlin is, on the whole, the best exponent of crude, western society, that has yet appeared. It is a perfectly in- digenous product of the Reserve; and could not fail to be popular with the masses, particularly the radical portion, and those who desire cheap education.
But is it the true mission of a College to popularize educa- tion ; or to lower itself to the sentiments of a new and half-
248
THE PLAN OF UNION.
formed society ? Is it not rather the object of such institu- tions to erect a beacon, high above common standards, and to endeavor to raise the sentiments and educational standards of the masses ? Is a popularity desirable for such an institution, which is won and held by sectarian, sectional, social, political, or merely Theological peculiarities, and not by its known abil- ity and facilities for securing the very highest mental disci- pline, and literary and scientific attainments?
Acknowledging, therefore, the success of Oberlin, in win- ning popular favor, and doing much for the education of the youth of our country ; and admiring, also, the liberal senti- ments and high moral tone of its Trustees and Faculty ; ap- proving, moreover, the philanthropic spirit manifested for the colored portion of our citizens; the historian can not but re- gret that they have not maintained a higher standard of intel- lectual culture ; and that they have made their social, denomi- national, and political peculiarities so prominent as to alienate most of the wholesome, conservative portion of society ; and have sent forth so many conceited and noisy declaimers, and so few thoroughly educated, substantial, working scholars.
At the same time, there is reason to believe that as society improves, the policy of the Institution and its constituents will be favorably modified ; indeed this has already been done to a very encouraging extent. We will therefore rather hope for what is to be done, than complain of what is not yet done.
It can not be regarded as otherwise than unfortunate that two Colleges should have been started so near together, and the feeble energies and limited resources of the friends of sound education, have been divided ; and thus two weak and
249
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.
crippled institutions have been nursed along, instead of one strong and well sustained College, that might have done far more than many weak ones.
Will sects and parties and partizans ever learn to consult the true interests of society, and exercise that mutual charity and concession, without which there can be no effective co- operation and true progress in any of the great interests of our race ?
Oberlin, as well as Hudson, has secured, of late, a comforta- ble endowment, and we may hope will be still more liberally patronized. There is, however, this difficulty : the endowment obtained has been secured by selling scholarships at so low a rate, that it is to be feared the number of students will greatly exceed the facilities for instruction, necessitating either too large classes, and inferior instruction, or the employment of more instructors than the endowment will support.
The plan of raising endowments, by the sale of scholarships, seems to be a necessary evil in founding Colleges in new coun- tries. But the evil ought to be always reduced as much as' possible, by putting the permanent scholarships high enough to prevent the Institution from being burdened, and the value of the instruction neutralized by an excessive influx of non- paying students.
The number of students at Oberlin has always been large, particularly in the primary and preparatory departments, and the female Seminary. The number of graduates and advanced students, has been fair, though small compared with the whole number on the Catalogue. The following statistics, as also many of the preceding statements, are taken from an article in the Oberlin Evangelist, published in 1853 :
250
THE PLAN OF UNION .
The first Theological classes were formed in 1835. They were Senior and Junior, thirty-five students.
The whole number of different students from the beginning is Young women 2,163
Young men. 3,310
5,473
Of these, 137 completed a Theological course, 230 a College course, 109 the Ladies' course. Thirty-two ladies have graduated from Col- lege. Of these, the first entered in 1837. Three graduated in 1841.
The proportion of ladies has been increasing since the second year. The ratio is as follows :
1834 .. 37 per cent.
1339
33 per cent.
1835 26
1843 37
1836 30
1848 40 66
1838 42
1852 45
Of those who have completed a course of study, there have died - Theological students. 11
College ....
14
Ladies' Course
7
College Ladies 2
Of College graduates, 128 out of 198 have entered the ministry, or are now studying for it, being sixty-five per cent.
Twenty-two are Professors in Colleges or Principals in High Schools. Eleven have entered the profession of law, or are preparing for it. Seven are medical practitioners or students.
Of the thirty-two Ladies who graduated from College, all are mar- ried but five. Of these four are teachers, and one a public lecturer. They are the more recent graduates.
Of the married, nineteen married ministers; three, teachers; two, physicians ; one, an artist, and one a farmer.
Of the Board of Instruction, there have been twenty-nine holding permanent appointments. Twelve of these are now on the ground. All are living except two - Prof. Cochran and Mrs. Cowles. These died after leaving their posts.
251
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.
Twenty out of the twenty-nine pursued a part or the whole of the course of study here. This is true of eight out of twelve of the pres- ent incumbents.
The Trustees are regularly twelve in number, besides the President of the College. These have numbered thirty-seven. Four deceased. Three of these were members of the original Board.
Thus have we traced the growth of the Presbyterial and Con- gregational Church of the Reserve, till, with half a century's growth, it has developed all the institutions and fair fruits of a mature society.
The stranger who speeds along our many Railroads, and notes the numerous villages, each with church spires point- ing heavenward, as exponents of the faith of an enterprising Christian people ; who notices the thrifty farms and numerous evidences of comfort and wealth and culture, will find it diffi- cult to realize, that half a century ago, a few immigrants were here struggling with poverty, wild beasts, and savages, in dreary wildernesses : and Christians, contemplating the amaz- ing changes of the time, despite all that we have found to regret, can but exclaim -" The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad."
CHAPTER VII.
BENEVOLENT OPERATIONS.
MISSIONARY SOCIETY OF CONNECTICUT.
We have seen that the work of planting churches and sup- porting missionaries on the Western Reserve, was begun and prosecuted mainly by the Missionary Society of Connecticut. That Society conducted its benevolent operations for many years, without having any of its officers, or any auxiliary or- ganization in Ohio. But in February, 1826, in accordance with a recommendation of the Trustees, the missionaries upon the Reserve met at Aurora, and organized themselves into an auxiliary Board, " for the purpose of reducing to system, di- recting and superintending the missionary operations of the Reserve." Mr. Seward was appointed President and Mr. Hanford Secretary of the organization.
The Reserve was then divided into three districts, in each of which was a district Board, whose duty it was to superin- tend the missionary operations of the district, receive quar- terly reports from all the missionaries within it, and report to the general Board. A committee of six, two from each dis- trict, were appointed to act during the recesses of the Board.
(252)
253
BENEVOLENT OPERATIONS.
This general Board were, moreover, to act only as the agents of the Trustees of the Missionary Society of Connecticut, re- porting annually to them, and seeking counsel and co-operation from them, relative to all important business.
This plan worked successfully for a few years, but in 1831 considerable dissatisfaction appeared in certain quarters, and it began to appear that a general Board, composed of all the missionaries, could no longer acceptably superintend the work. In January, 1832, Mr. Hanford resigned the office of Secre- tary to the Board ; in September following, Mr. Seward re- signed that of President. Rev. Myron Tracy was appointed Secretary, and Rev. G. H. Cowles, President.
The proposition was now entertained of appointing a Board of Directors to superintend the operations of the Society, but it was difficult to determine who should appoint them. The Trustees referred the appointment to the missionaries, some of them advocated the appointment of the Directors by the Synod of the Western Reserve, others objected, and finally the Board referred the matter back to the Trustees of the Society of Connecticut.
The matter was satisfactorily adjusted in October, 1834, when " the Synod, at the request of the Missionary Society of Connecticut, appointed six ministers and three laymen, to su- perintend the operations of the Society on the Western Re- serve."
At their first meeting, the Directors appointed Rev. J. Treat, President, and Rev. Mr. Tracy, Secretary of the Board. At the request of the Directors the Trustees forwarded a series of rules or instructions to the Board, which, with some addi-
22
254
THE PLAN OF UNION.
tions suggested by themselves, formed the basis of their action ever afterward.
Under this policy, the Society quietly and efficiently prose- cuted its mission, aiding feeble churches so far as applied to, within the limits of $1,800, until the year 1843, when the amount was reduced to $1,200 per year.
The operations of the Home Missionary Society, however, became so extensive upon this field, that in 1851 the Trustees intimated a purpose to cease operations upon the Reserve, as soon as the way should be clear, and expend their means upon more destitute fields, further west. This design was executed in 1853.
We take an affectionate farewell of the Society that planted and nurtured the church of the Reserve, extending its foster- ing aid over more than half a century of her history.
AMERICAN HOME MISSIONARY SOCIETY.
In 1824, a society was organized to conduct Home Mission- ary operations upon the territory covered by the Western Re- serve Synod, which embraced Northern Ohio and Michigan. It was called the Western Reserve Domestic Missionary Society.
In 1830, this Society entered into co-operation with the American Home Missionary Society, which had been organ- ized in 1826. The Rev. Daniel W. Lathrop, who was Secre- tary of the Western Reserve Domestic Missionary Society, was also appointed agent of the American Home Missionary So- ciety, and efficiently conducted the Home Missionary opera- tions of the region for several years.
In the year 1830, over fourteen hundred dollars were col-
2
BENEVOLENT OPERATIONS.
lected and eight Missionaries sustained by this branch Society; and forty-six additional Missionaries were supported by the American Home Missionary Society.
The next agent of the American Home Missionary Society, was Rev. O. P. Hoyt, who afterward took that part of the field included in Michigan, when a separate agency was established for that State.
Rev. W. F. Curry succeeded Mr. Hoyt, in the Reserve Agency, occupying this field from 1839 to 1841.
The ecclesiastical difficulties that arose between 1834 and 1840, and the organization of other Missionary Boards, greatly interfered with and retarded the operations of the American Home Missionary Society.
Rev. Myron Tracy first began to labor as Secretary of the American Home Missionary Society in 1842, and as soliciting agent in 1843. His first Report, for the year: 1842, shows that the receipts were only five hundred and eighty dollars. This was partly the result of an experiment to do without a travelling and soliciting agent. During the last six months of that experiment, only one hundred dollars were received from the whole Western Reserve. The Society then requested Mr. Tracy to visit the churches, as far as possible, and the result of the first year's effort was over two thousand dollars.
Under Mr. Tracy's judicious and indefatigable labors, the receipts of the Society from this field, gradually increased from year to year, until 1854, the last of Mr. Tracy's agency, when the collections for this cause amounted to between five and six thousand dollars. Considering the adverse influences brought to bear against the American Hame Missionary Society, by
256
THE PLAN OF UNION.
what is called the " Free Mission" Advocates, the above result is most gratifying ; and speaks volumes both for the Society's hold upon the churches, and for Mr. Tracy, its devoted and successful agent.
Mr. Tracy literally wore himself out in this service. He resigned his agency January 1, 1855; and died, beloved and lamented, March 27, 1855.
The American Missionary Society, which represents what we may call Missionary "Come-outerism," has operated, to some extent upon this field, particularly amongst the more ultra anti-slavery communities; but to what extent, the writer is not informed.
The greater part of the churches can not be alienated from the American Home Missionary Society, either by "Young Presbyterianism," or "Young Congregationalism," or rabid Abolitionism.
WESTERN RESERVE BRANCH OF THE AMERICAN EDUCATION SOCIETY.
The American Education Society was organized in the year 1815, for the purpose of aiding pious young men in their pre- paration for the ministry. This was done by donations to the amount of seventy dollars per year, until 1826, when the So- ciety adopted the principle of loaning the same amount with- out interest, payable after entering the ministry, if circum- stances should permit.
In October, 1829, the Western Reserve Branch of the American Education Society, was organized; and the resolu- tionadopted to support all the Beneficiaries of the Reserve
257
BENEVOLENT OPERATIONS.
without drawing upon the Parent Society. Through the ef- efforts of Rev. Ansel R. Clark, as agent of the general Society, a very successful beginning was made.
Six applicants, students in the Western Reserve College, received aid the first year, and collections were made to the amount of $1,208 in cash, eighty dollars in obligations, and large pledges of future contributions.
The effort met with great favor amongst the churches, as appears from the fact that about thirty "auxiliary, female sewing societies" were formed, and several auxiliary agricul- tural societies. The sewing societies did much in the way of furnishing clothing and bedding to indigent students.
A very efficient auxiliary was organized in Michigan in 1830, which contributed liberally for several years to the funds of the Western Reserve Branch.
Mr. Clarke retiring from his agency at the close of the year, the experiment was tried, in 1831, of working without an agent ; the result was a reduction of contributions to $858; in view of which, Mr. Clarke was prevailed upon to return again to the work. For the next four years, from '32 to '36, the Society prospered in all its interests ; the contributions rapidly increased, and the number of young men aided was constantly enlarged ; until in 1835, the sum collected amounted to $3,682; and the number of young men aided was forty-four.
The results of Mr. Clarke's efforts in seeking out and en- couraging pious young men to study for the ministry, were very gratifying; and the impulse given to the general cause by his energetic labors, was felt several years after his agency terminated.
22*
258
THE PLAN OF UNION.
The failure of his health compelled Mr. Clarke to retire from the service of the Society at the close of 1835.
During 1836, although the number of the beneficiaries in- creased to 62, on account of there being no agent in the field, the contributions fell from $3,682 to $1,529.
In 1837, the number of beneficiaries in this field rose to 99. In the Spring of 1837, Rev. Charles A. Boardman en- tered upon an agency in behalf of the Society ; and in Septem- ber following, the treasurer reported, at the annual meeting, $3,750 received during the preceding year.
The Society afterwards employed Rev. D. C. Blood to act-as its agent, and continued to prosper both in collecting students for the ministry and funds for their support, so long as his agency was continued.
In 1842, however, through some bad policy, a determination was formed to dispense with a regular agent; and the Society soon declined, and became at length virtually defunct. The consequences have been disastrous. The Theological Semi- nary dwindled; and at present, almost nothing is done upon this field for the cause of Ministerial Education. The church- es are now only beginning to reap the rewards of this negli- gence. But they will yearly feel, more and more, the misfor- tune of importing ministers, and leaving their native vintage uncultivated. An indigenous, native ministry is a first neces- sity in every Christian community ; and it can only be secured by working specifically for its production.
One of the most pressing duties now resting upon the Re- serve Churches, is that of a vigorous, persevering effort to ollect students for the ministry and funds for their support.
259
BENEVOLENT OPERATIONS.
And all precedent proves that this cause, like every other, to prosper, must have its agent, or pastor, whose time, talents and labors shall be exclusively devoted to the work. That miserly economy, which repudiates salaried agents, is simply suicidal.
WESTERN RESERVE AGENCY OF THE AMERICAN BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS FOR FOREIGN MISSIONS.
Some of the early Missionaries upon the Western Reserve, were persons who had once seriously thought of going into the Foreign field; and several of them were much interested in the foreign enterprize. As soon, therefore, as the churches began to get somewhat independent, they turned their atten- tion to regions more destitute, and began to send little contri- butions to the Foreign as well as the Domestic Board of Mis- sions. Considerable donations of provision, clothing and cattle were made to the Indian Mission on the Maumee.
As early as 1831 or 1832, Rev. Mr. Treat, of Windham, made efforts for systematic contributions in Portage County ; and in 1833, the Western Reserve Synod "resolved itself into a Foreign Missionary Society, and made arrangements to have an anniversary and an annual report at each annual meeting of the Synod." Rev. H. Coe entered into the work as agent for the cause at that time, devoting his whole time and strength to the work. His field embraced, for many years, Northern Ohio and Michigan; and considering the compara- tive infancy of the churches, and the numerous other objects of Christian charity to which they contributed, the foreign cause has received liberal patronage. Two thousand dollars
.
260
THE PLAN OF UNION.
were collected during the first year of Mr. Coe's agency ; and the contributions have been yearly increasing, till now they reach nearly eight thousand dollars; although Michigan has been for several years separated and managed by a distinct agency. Notwithstanding the necessities of the Home field, many ministers have also gone out from the Reserve into va- rious parts of the world, so that our churches are represented in almost every pagan nation where the American Board has commenced operations. The diligent and devoted labors of the Agent, and his earnest appeals in behalf of pagan nations, contributed greatly to create and increase a missionary spirit in the churches, and to direct the attention of pious young men to the wants and woes of the Heathen.
Several adverse influences have been brought to bear against the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, in this region ; and have probably somewhat reduced its con- tributions ; though the agent and friends of the cause have ever been able say-" They that be for us are more than they that be against us."
Many have opposed and decried the support of an agent, and endeavored to throw reproach upon the Society for incur- ring that expense. All experience, however, as well as rea- son, indicates that no great and good cause can flourish and be well sustained without its special advocates. The Missionary cause needs its pastor as well as each local church ; and proba- bly no class of men do more to diffuse information, arouse the churches to iberal enterprize, and keep up the tone of piety in them, than the advocates of our benevolent Societies. When we look over the world and see what the American Board of
261
BENEVOLENT OPERATIONS.
Commissioners for Foreign Missions, and kindred Societies have accomplished, and reflect upon the fact that most of the means necessary for this great work have been raised by agents, and that many of the Missionaries were stimulated by their appeals to go forth and carry the Gospel to the benighted, it becomes a matter of thanksgiving to God that there are laborious men willing to incur the unpleasant and thankless task of soliciting funds and managing the business which falls to an agent; for without their efforts the work would not be done.
The extreme anti-slavery sentiment of the day has also been tried against the Society, and, in some quarters, with effect. Those who can appreciate no means of reform that do not consist largely in deunciation, excision and the Pharisaical " stand aloof, I am holier than thou!" those whose con- sciences are so tender that they can not cast their mitc into a box where a Southern dollar may have fallen, lest it should be polluted, when the box belongs to the Lord's treasury, (al- beit they have no such scruple about using Southern coin and products for their own emolument;) and those who would re- form the South and free the slaves, by withdrawing from them the missionary, and withholding the Gospel, and leaving self- ishness and tyranny to work unrestrained ; such nominal anti- slavery men have decried the American Board of Commission- ers for Foreign Missions as pro-slavery, and sought thereby to cripple it. Intelligent and liberal minded anti-slavery men, however, discover in this Gospel-giving Society one of the great agents that is efficiently working for the overthrow of all tyranny and oppression, both civil and spiritual, by diffus- ing the Gospel of Christ and turning some of the capital that
262
THE PLAN OF UNION.
would otherwise be employed to increase oppression, into be- neficent, redeeming enterprizes, for the evangelization of both bond and free.
And it argues well for the liberal and charitable spirit of the body of our churches, that notwithstanding all the outcry and counter organizations, and special pleading against the Ameri- can Board, they are taking it closer to their hearts, and yearly increasing their donations to its funds.
Extensive patronage has also been secured from this field for the American Tract Society, and other leading beneficent institutions, usually patronized by the Presbyterian and Con- gregational Churches; respecting which nothing is here said. Probably no part of the Western Country, representing the same amount of capital, has done more for benevolent objects during the last twenty-five years, than the Western Reserve.
# 309
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.