USA > Ohio > Medina County > Wadsworth > Wadsworth memorial; an account of the proceedings of the celebration of the sixtieth anniversary of the first settlement of the township of Wadsworth, Ohio > Part 17
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SPILLMAN FAMILY.
James Spillman came from Ireland. Mar. Naecy O'Brien. Was one of the earliest settlers in Wadsworth. Mr. and Mrs. Spillman were among the earliest members of the Methodist church. Children : John, married Abigal Ward. Charles, Mitchell, Henry, and Robert, none of them remain in this vicinity. Dr. Henry Spillman, 4th son, rose to considerable distinction as a physician. Married Laura Ann Brown. Died at Medina.
Harvey B. Spellman, son of Buel Spellman, a native of Ct., was for several years a merchant in Wadsworth. Mar- ried Lucy Henry. Resides in Brooklyn, N. Y.
JEHIEL SQUIRE,
Born in New Jersey, 1794. Married Ida Amerman. Came to Wadsworth in 1829, and taught school. Moved to Shar- on in 1831. Has lived in Sharon, Wadsworth, and Akron since that time. Has been one of the influential citizens. Present residence Sharon.
TYLER FAMILY.
Benjamin Tyler, born in Uxbridge, Mass., Feb. 22d, 1796. Came with his brothers, Parker and Solomon, and first set- ted in Norton. Moved to Wadsworth in 1825. Married Mrs. Olive (Brown) Bartlett, who died Aug. 21st, 1874. He was for 57 years a member of the Methodist church. Died 1875. Children : Benjamin, born 1820, died 1874. Joseph, born 1822. Married Eliza Ann Williams. Lives in Wadsworth. Solomon, born 1824. Rosina, mar- ried Amos Hart.
Benjamin Tyler, born 1820, died 1874.
TURNER FAMILY.
Alexander Turner, born in N. Y., Mar. 29th, 1797. Mar- ried Betsy French. Came to Wadsworth in 1825, where he still resides. Mrs. Turner died Nov. 7th, 1871, aged 69.
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Children : Alonzo, born Aug. 4th, 1822. Lives in Idaho. James F., born Jan. 2d, 1824. Died JJan. 5th, 1833. Maria L., born Feb. 22d, 1826. Married Charles B. Curtis. C. Wesley, born Aug. 14th, 1828, died Apr. 27th, 1870. Jas- per, born Apr. 14th, 1838. Lives in Mo. J. Q. A. Turner, born Apr. Ist, 1841. Married Mary Etta Traver. He is a hardware merchant in Wadsworth.
VAN HYNING FAMILY.
Henry VanHyning was of Dutch descent, born in the Mohawk Valley, N. Y. He was a man of limited educa- tion, yet of strong mind. and in many respects a remarka- ble man. Was one of the earliest settlers of Norton, of whom mention is made in the sketch of the history of that township. He served in the Revolution, and was promo- ted to a captaincy for an act of daring adventure which has never been recorded in history, but is worth preserv- ing as a Revolutionary anecdote, giving it in substance as he used to relate it in the later years of his life. A short time before the battle of Saratoga some event had occurred which made it desirable to capture and hold as a hostage a British officer of high rank. General Gates privately re- quested the Colonels of four different regiments to select each two men of great strength and daring spirit, for a perilous undertaking, to report at his quarters at 6 o'clock that evening. VanHIyning was one of the number selected. They found the General officers in consultation with Gen. Gates. The latter, addressing the eight soldiers, said, "I have called you to propose a most perilous undertaking, which if unsuccessful will cost your lives, and wish you to consider it well and act freely. If you do not wish to run the risk it will never be known that it has been pro- posed. It is that you break through the British lines and capture an officer of not less grade than a Lieutenant Col. and bring him here. Every necessary conveyance is pre- pared, if we can have the men to undertake it. If you
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succeed you will be rewarded. If you fail and are cap- tured, you will be hung for spies." One of the number answered, "General, this is a fearful undertaking, but if my country needs it I am ready to make the sacrifice. Count on me." Each of the others also answered, "Count on me." At 11 o'clock, all things being prepared, they set out. They succeeded in overpowering a sentinel, and through him learning the location of the tent of a Lieuten- ant Colonel, noislessly entering his tent and taking him from his bed brought him to the American camp, from which in the morning a flag of truce was sent to the British camp for the Colonel's clothing. For this daring deed cach of the eight soldiers received a commission. Esq. VanHyning was the first Justice of the Peace of Norton. He was a man of great size and herculean strength and endurance, of strictly ten:perate habits, and a devout mein- ber of the Methodist church. His venerable appearance in the house of worship for many years, reminded the spectator of a patriarch of the olden time. He closed his pilgrimage and was gathered to his fathers at the great age of 102, Dec. 25th, 1839. His sons who came about the sam : time with him, the three youngest of whom survive, were Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Andrew, Thomas, Henry, and Sylvester, all once well known in Norton. The last named. still lives on the old homestead. Charles Lyon, one of the early citizens of Norton, was a son-in-law of VanHyning He moved to Indiana.
THE WALTZ FAMILIES.
There were two brothers of that name who lived first in Wadsworth and afterwards in Norton, who were both soldiers of the Revolution, natives of Hagarstown, Md., of German descent. Michael Waltz resided for a time in Wadsworth and for many years in Norton, and died in Sharon. All of that family have removed West.
Peter Waltz, born 1749, Married Eve Millironi Served
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five years in the Revolution. Was in 14 of the hardest fought battles, among them Lexington, Bunker Hill, Long Island, and Brandywine. He came to Wadsworth in 1815, and set up the first blacksmith shop in the region of Wads- worth, Norton, or Chippewa, at the corners of the town- ships. He was one of the original members and elders of the church known as Emmanuel's Church. He died Apr. 25th, 1832, aged 83.
Children of Peter Waltz: John, born 1792. Married Elizabeth Brouse. Was a mason and stone-cutter. Lived over 40 years on the north line of Chippewa, west of the Waltz Church. Now lives in Independence. Catherine, born 1794. Married Peter Colbetzer. Christiana, born 1796. Married Adam Helmick. Peter Waltz, jr., born 1799. Married Elizabeth Baughman. Came to Wads- worth in 1814, and settled upon the line of Norton. where he still resides. David Waltz, born Nov. 14th, 1802. Mar- ried Lydia Baughman. Second wife, Sarah Keisler. He is a gunsmith. Resides in Wadsworth. When the first frame building of Wadsworth (the barn of T. Hudson.) was built, David Waltz and Hiram Kingsbury made all the nails, both for the sides and roof, by hand. The building is still standing.
Children of Peter Waltz, jr. : Sons, Jacob, Simon, Dan- iel (died in the war), Rinehardt, Henry, and Absalom. Daughters, Lydia, married Samuel Donner. Elizabeth, married Jacob Flishur. Sarah, married Thomas Ritchey.
Children of David Waltz: Joel, born Apr 9th, 1825. Married Catharine Blyler. Machinist. lives in Wadsworth. John, born May 30th, 1827. Married Mary Ann Waitman. Died in the army, Mar., 1863. Elias, born Feb. 16th, 1829. Died in the army, Mar., 1863. Franklin, born Feb. 11th, 1831. Married Libbie Huffman. Served 3 years in the war. Resides in Wadsworth. Benjamin, born Feb. 4th, 1835. Married Lydia Noughton. Lives in New London, O. Reuben, born Mar. 12th, 1840. Married Emeline Elli-
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ott. Lives in Rouksbury, O. Lavina, born Jan. 30th, 1838. Married Sylvester Scheontz. Fianna, born Aug. 12th,
1843. Married Daniel Slanker. Louisa, born Feb. 4th,
1842. Married Norman Ware. Amos, born Jan. 30th, 1845. Married Nellie Dow. Lives in Ill. Amelia, born June 22d, 1849. Married Warren Lane. Calista, born Jan. 22d, 1851. Angeline, born Sept. 25th, 1853. Orvis, born Oct. 19th, 1863. The families of John, Peter, and David Waltz, sons, sons-in-law, and grandsons, furnished 17 scl- diers in the war of the Rebellion, 3 of whom died.
THE WARNER FAMILY.
Salmon Warner, the first who set up public worship on the Sabbath in Wadsworth, was born in Westmoreland, N. Y., Apr. 26th, 1764. Married Lucina Field. Moved from Fairfield, Vt., to Wadsworth in 1815. His history is given in the previous papers. He was a man universally respected and beloved for his righteous life and Christian zeal and love. He died Dec. 5th, 1839. Mrs. Warner died Sept. 28th, 1829, aged 59.
Children of Salmon Warner: Harriet, born in Vt., about 1790, was unmarried. Died in Iowa, 1870. Lamira, married Oliver Durham. Reuben F., born in Fairfield, Vt., Aug. 26th, 1794. Came with his father in 1815. Was one of the leading citizens during his life, for many years one of the leading and useful members of the Methodist church. Ile was four times married. First wife, Hannah Bartholo- inew ; second, Sarah Reese ; third, Mrs. Chloe (Bartholo- mew) Griffin ; fourth, Susan Reese. He died Sept. 28th, 1838. Lucina, married Alvin Agard. Salmon Warner, jr., joined the Mormons and went with them to Salt Lake, where he died in 1871. Capt. Daniel Warner, born in Vt., 1800. Married Philecta E. Mills. Died Aug. 30th, 1839. Orpha, born 1804, died 1826. Horatio, born Nov. 1st, 1806. Was a man of education and ability. Moved to Ia. Was for some time Sheriff of Clayton county, and held other
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offices of trust. Dr. Amos Warner, born 1808. Studied with Dr. A. Fisher, of Western Star, and practiced in company with him at that place. Married Mrs. Esther (Carter) Griswold. Removed to Garnaville, Iowa. Was an able physician and highly respected. He was killed by being thrown from a carriage.
Children of Reuben F. Warner : Mary, born 1820. Married Rev. Jason Wilcox. Lives in Norwalk, O. El- mer A., born 1822. Married Antoinette Crittenden. Lives in Iowa. Bennett B., born 1824. Married Eliza Cogshal'. Resides in Massillon, O. Edwin, died in Mo. Wilbur F .. resides in Mo. Orpha H., born Apr. 18th, 1847. Married E. F. Hassler. Resides at Blue Mound, Ill. Hannah, ro- sides in Iowa.
THE WALL FAMILY.
Christopher Wall, born in Germany, Nov. 27th, 1779. Came in childhood to Pa. Married Catherine Baughman. Moved to Chippewa in 1823. Died in Wadsworth Oct. 24th, 1853. Children : John, born Dec. 24th, 1804. Mar- ried Mary W. Baughman. Still lives in Wadsworth. Mary, born 1806. Married Jonathan Everhard. Charles, born 1808. Married Sophia Frederick. Resides in Shar- ón. Margaret, born 1810. Married Curtis Brouse. Cath- crine, born 1811. Married Jonathan Everhard. Isaac D., born 1813, dicd Sept. 11th, 1870. Judith, born 1814. Mar- ried Joshua Hartman. Abigal, born 1817. Married Jool Baughman. Peter, born 1819. Married Sabella Everhard. Sarah, born 1820. Married Abraham Keller. Daniel, born 1823. Married Lydia Fry.
Children of John Wall : Paul, born Aug. 6th, 1830. Married Isabella Ruthaker. Resides in Wadsworth. Dan- iel, born Nov. 3d, 1835. Married Abigal Geiger. Resides in Wadsworth.
Children of Isaac D. Wall: Sarah, married Uriah Wearstler. Lavina. married William Rhodes. David, n arried Nettie Briggs.
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HON, PHILO WELTON,
Born in Waterbury, Ct., Mar. 7th, 1782. Married Sarah Blakeslee. Was a Colonel in the war of 1812. Was one of the earliest settlers of Montville. Afterwards moved to Wadsworth, and owned the farm now the residence of Orlando Beach. He was for many years one of the lead- ing men of the county. Was twice Representative in the Legislature, and served one term as Associate Judge. Ile died Sept. 19th, 1852. Mrs. W. died 1852, aged 64. Chil- dren : Sally, born 1806. Married Caleb Chase. Second husband, Nathaniel Bell. Now lives in Iowa. Dr. Wm. S. II. Welton, married Caroline Crocker. Practiced medi- cine several years in this county. Now lives in Ia. Su- san, born Sept. 15th, 1815. Married Orlando Beach. Re- sides in Wadsworth.
WEEKS FAMILIES.
Three brothers of that name came about 1818 from Vt. They were men of great strength and vigor. Were car- penters. John Moody Weeks, married Martha Dennett. Leavitt Weeks, born about 1794. Married Celestia Taylor, of Norton. Worked as a carpenter many years in compa- ny with his brother, Peter Weeks. The greater part of the bains and houses of the earlier years were erected by the Weeks brothers. He died in 1870. His son, George Weeks, lives in Akron.
THE WISE FAMILIES.
Three brothers, John, William, and Jacob Wise, were among the early settlers of Wadsworth, Norton, and Chip- pewa. Wm. Wise lived many years in Norton. Died in Feb., 1851, aged 76. G. W. Wise, of the firm of Loomis & Wise, is his son.
John Wise, born in Northumberland co., Pa., Ang. 17th, 1774. Married Susanna Goss. He moved to Chippewa, 3 miles from Wadsworth village, in 1817. He was a wheel-
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wright. Most of the spinning-wheels used in the carly days of Wadsworth were made by him. He was a local preacher of the Methodist, afterwards of the Albright de- nomination. He preached the first funeral discourse in the township. Died Jan. 18th, 1839. Mrs. Wise died Feb., 1875, aged 90, in the same hewed log house, built in 1817, which with the old wheel shop built at the same time, still remain. Children : Michael, born Jan. 18th, 1809, died Oct. 26th, 1873. Elias, born May 3d, 1813. Lives in Ind. George, born Apr. 12th, 1815. Married Margaret Bear. Resides in Litchfield, O. Uriah, born July 16th, 1818. Married Lydia Measel. Resides in Chippewa. . Mary Ann, born Nov. 24th, 1822. Married Henry Isenbarger. Jere- miah, born Dec. 30th, 1825. Married Mary Beall. Resides in Chippewa.
AUSTIN WESTON.
Was one of the well-known pioncer settlers. Lived in Chippewa, and for many years in Wadsworth. Married Susan Lacy. Was a local preacher of the Methodist church. Dennison Weston, his son, married Julia Snell. Lives in California.
THE WARD FAMILIES.
Ilezekiah and William Ward came from Burlington, Vt., and settled in Norton about 1818. Hezekiah Ward was a man of influence in the township. Was several times elected Justice of the Peace. Was a carpenter, and a large number of the frame buildings of Wadsworth and Norton were erected by him. He married Lydia Hurlbutt. Time of death and age not known. Sons : Myron T., a minis- ter of the Methodist Church, resides in Westfield, (). Lafayette Ward is also a Methodist minister. Resides in Elyria, O. Azur Ward, resides in Indiana.
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CONCLUSION.
The foregoing pages have been prepared in the hope of meeting a local want, and at the same time promoting the general good of our beloved country, by cach locality do- ing its part to create and perpetuate a love for those insti- tutions under which our nation has grown up in less than a century to be in all the essentials that make up true na- tional life and greatness, the first of nations; having all the freedom that social beings can ask for-liberty without licentiousness. A strong government, founded not on ar- bitrary power, but developed manhood ; where law is rc- spected because men have learned to respect themselves, and public virtue, not the sword, stands as the bulwark of law. We trace the history of prosperous communities, and we find the elements of their prosperity in the vir- tues of their founders, and throughout their history, their prosperity keeping pace with their virtue. With free churches and free schools, an open Bible and liberty of conscience, the Sabbath regarded and the pure worship of God maintained, we may stand our ground against mon- archists and hierarchs who would cunningly undermine the noble structure of American liberty, or the influx of degraded peasantry, who, mistaking liberty for license, would overthrow those institutions that have raised the laborer to a freeman, and made the very word peasant, one for whose meaning we refer back to the Old-World insti- tutions. Almost every community of the North points with pride to the military record of its members who gave themselves a sacrifice to save those institutions. Why? Because the North was colonized by freemen who became free by obedience to the laws of God, the freedom which Christian virtue alone can impart. In the introduction to this work (page 2), tracing back the beginnings of our il :- stitutions, I said : "The social compact signed voluntarily in the cabin of the immigrant ship grows into the town ordinance," etc. Reference was then had to the well-
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known social compact signed in the cabin of the May Flower, But in the researches for the histories of the fam- ilies here given. I found preserved in the family record of Theodore H. Parmelee a similar compact, or " covenant," as it was styled, signed on shipboard by a company of emi- grants form Guilford, Eng., who settled the town of Guil- ford, Ct. ; showing that such social compacts, as the foun- cation of government in the New World, were probably of common occurrence. I give this covenant, probably for the first time to the world, as an interesting and instruct- ive relic of carly American history.
COVENANT.
We whose names are here underwritten, intending by God's gracious permission to establish ourselves in New England, if it may be in the south part about Quinaposock. (New Haven) we faithfully promise each to each, for our- selves and families and all that belong to us, that we will, the Lord assisting us, sit down and join ourselves together in one entire plantation, and be helpful cach to the other in any common work according to every man's ability, and as need shall require ; and we promise not to depart or leave each other on the plantation, but with the consent of the rest, or the greater part of those who have entered into this engagement. As for our gathering ourselves together in a church way, and the choice of officers and members to be gathered together in that way, we do refer ourselves to such time as it please God to settle us in our plantation. In witness whereof we subscribe our hands this first day of June, 1639. Robert Richell, John Bishop, Fraincis Bush- nell, William Crittenden. William Leete, Thomas Jones, John Jurden, William Stone, John Hoadley. John Stone, William Plane, Richard Sutridge, John Housingoe, Will- jam Dudley, John Parmelee. John Mepham, Thomas Nor- ton. Abraham Crittenden, Francis Chatfield, William Noble, Thomas Neish, Henry Kingston, Henry Doude, Thomas Cooke, Henry Whitfield.
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