Ashtabula County, Ohio - Chapter 15: Andover Township, 1924

Chapter 15: Andover Township

Andover, officially recorded as "Township No. 9 of Range 1", was originally included as a part of Vernon Township, in Trumbull County. In 1807 it was brought within the boundaries of Ashtabula County, as a part of Wayne Township. It came into its own in 1819, when it was given its

Epephras Lyman is credited with being the first white man to undertake to establish his permanent home in Andover. That was about 1805. Lyman came to this section unmarried. He proceeded to erect for himself and his meager reguirements a cabin home, wherein he dwelt in solitary fellowship for about five years; then secured a housekeeper and helpmeet in the person of a fair daughter of Stephen Brown, whose home was in Austinburg.

The first family that chose Andover for a future habitation was that of Zadock Steele, who came from Connecticut with his wife and son in 1808. Mr. Steele erected the first log house in the township. To this family is also credited the first boy baby born into an Andover family of white parents, in 1809.

It appears that this Steele family, though the first permanent settlers, were not the next to arrive after the advent of Epephras Lyman, for it is chronicled that in the year 1804 a daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Rufus Houghton, during their temporary sojourn within the confines of Andover Township. This child, so far as can now be learned from history, was the first white baby born in the township.

An interesting story, in which canine sagacity plays the chief role, is told in connection with the arrival of the Steele family heir. Mr. Steele owned a dog which divided its time between the home kennel and the neighboring habitat of Samuel Tuttle, the nearest settler, who lived over the line in Williamsfield Township. This knowing dog had been taught to carry messages and packages between these two families, who were on close friendly terms, and occasion arose in which he doubtless saved a life. When it came near the time for the realization of Mrs. Steele's expectations, in order that she might have proper care through the coming ordeal, she went to the Tuttle home, to remain until after the confinement. Thus it came about that the first boy born to Andover parents was not born in that township, but in Williamsfield.

As soon as able to again assume her household responsibilities, Mrs. Steele returned to her home. It developed that she had overestimated her strength, for she was taken suddenly violently ill, and circumstances were such that the husband dared not leave her. Thereupon, he bethought him of the dog, and he wrote a note to the Tuttles and, tying it to the dog's neck, he started the animal out, and the desired aid came in time to fore- - stall the threatened visit of the Grim Reaper.

The first death in Andover occurred at the home of Rufus Houghton, when his wife passed away, on Dec. 4, 1816. Her's was the first body deposited in the new allotment that had been deeded to the township two years previous by Aristarchus Champion, to be used as a burying sxouns for future generations.

In 1812 Francis Lyman and family settled in Andover. About that time Isaac H. Phelps moved in from Harpersfield and built a two-story log grist mill. He had a part of the machinery in when the news of Hull's surrender reached the settlement and threw the whole country into such a state that he gave up his project and returned whence he came.

In 1814 Rufus Houghton, whose former sojourn had been but temporary, moved his family from Harpersfield and took up permanent abode in Andover. He bought the mill built by Phelps and established a business in that line.

Among the early families, also, were those of Samuel, Theodore and Charles Wade, who came in 1820, and their father, James Wade, and Benjamin F. Wade came in 1823. The last named later gained fame as a United States senator because of his undaunted stand against slavery.

The original settlement of the town was near the western boundary, and came to be known as West Andover. That section of the township is hilly and abounds in springs from which are formed small streams, affording abundant water for stock and other requirements. The presence of this water supply was doubtless the cause of that section being chosen as a site for the town, as the eastern part of the township was not so well blessed in that particular.

The first postmaster of Andover was Epephras Lyman, who kept the post office in his own home, to which residents from miles around had to come for their mail. This office was established in 1814, as one of the regular stops on the mail route established from Warren to the lake region. The mails were transported on horseback, or on foot, and the carrier visited each post office once a week.

A church of the Presbyterian denomination was organized in 1818 in the original town, but it was not until 1832 that Andover Center boasted a church organization. This was of the Congregational denomination and its organization was accomplished after a long series of irregular meetings, held at homes of those who afterward became members and supporters of the society. It was eleven years later before the congregation had attained sufficient strength in membership and funds to erect a house of worship.

The erection of this church had the effect of starting the population toward the center and West Andover gradually succumbed to the withdrawal of its residents. Then came the railroad and as that hit the center settlement the future was established for that quarter.

Milling was the chief industry of the town in its early years, and as the country became cleared and settled thereabouts, Andover gradually became a central market for dairy products and cheese and butter factories were built and in later years it became a great dairy center.

That industry flourished in Andover, as it did in several other towns of the county, until a comparatively few years ago, when this county was invaded by representatives of the firms supplying milk to residents of

Pittsburgh and other cities of the iron center, which had grown in population so rapidly that the question of a milk supply became a serious one.

Those whose business it was to furnish the milk to city patrons, found it necessary to reach out and they sent men up into this county who offered milk producers such prices for the output of their dairies that the county factories, which had been taking the entire supply, had to stand back and see the foundation on which their business was based drop from under them to an almost ruinous extent and go to foreign buyers.

Best sources of information available indicate that Andover village was organized in 1819. Rufus Houghton was the first recorded justice of the peace, being thus authorized in 1820. The first record obtainable of an election was of one held on April 2, 1824, when Merrick Bates, John Pickett and Lebbeus Marvin were elected trustees; John Pickett, Jr., clerk; Nathan C. Johnson and Daniel Marvin, overseers of the poor.

That was years before the establishment of a county infirmary for indigent residents of its territory. In those days each township had to take care of its poor, and this work was delegated to a board of officers whose duty it was to attend to all necessary plans and arrangements looking to the feeding, clothing and housing of these unfortunate dependents.

It was in 1820 that the first frame building was constructed at Andover Center, and it is to the credit of those early pioneers that this, then modern structure was designed for a place of educational pursuits. Its primary was for a school in which the children of those pioneers might receive their early education, in preparation for the years to come. This building was also used for general public meetings. The dedication was made the occasion for the greatest public demonstration that the town had ever known up to that time.

After this building had served the community for many years, it was relegated to use for commercial interests, it being moved to another part of town and converted into a curing room for the first cheese-factory that did business at the Center.

It is history that in those early years whiskey was a legal tender, or, if not so recognized, at least was frequently used in place of money. It was considered quite as essential to the needs and welfare of a community as was money. Some of the older residents of today recall how their grandparents used to tell stories related by their ancestors, of how whiskey was used as a medium of exchange. One of the boys of the Wade family is said to have taught school in Madison one winter term and to have received six barrels of whiskey as his pay, while his brother taught in Windsor the same winter and was given only five barrels.

The coming of the railroad and the junction of two lines in the early "70s gave the town quite an impetus and there were visions of it some day becoming an important terminal point with shops, etc., but that distinction was never realized.

However, nature took a hand in the prosperity of the place and endowed with mineral springs that have been a source of considerable prosperity to the town and will make it greater in future years. The sanitarium at Andover is becoming widely known and the place may have a distinguished future as a health resort.

The town is keeping pace with the times in having a wide-awake chamber of commerce and a bunch of hustling business men. It has also a social club that a few years ago decided to have a resort of their own, with lake and all. They purchased some property a short distance out of town through which there was a goodly stream running, dammed it and made an artificial lake around which several summer cottages have been erected.

In way of churches and schools Andover has also held its own with other towns and has a class of citizens who are interested in the thrift and progress of their own town, to the extent that they are ready to get busy for its good whenever they are needed.

John Brown's Rendezvous. - While "John Brown's body lies a-mouldering in the grave" his brave struggle for what he believed to be the right will ever be remembered with reverence and admiration by those who thought as he did. The greatest abolitionist the country ever knew and one who was not afraid to fight and, if need be, die for the cause of freedom of the black race in these United States, marshaled his forces for his last calamitous effort, in Ashtabula County, and his headquarters for several months were in West Andover.

Previously this son of Mayflower stock who was born in Torrington, Conn., in 1800, had figured conspicuously in anti-slavery activities in the western country. His ambition as a boy to help do away with fettered humanity grew stronger as he progressed to manhood and finally became his dominating sense. His sons, grown to manhood, had settled in Kansas and, having inherited the spirit of freedom for all men, they soon found themselves involved in the controversy that was at that time assuming large proportions and threatening to break out in a civil war between neighbors. The father had settled down to the life of a farmer in New York State, but when he learned through letters from his boys of the threatening storm in their state he went out there and got into the strife that soon broke out in open war between the anti- and pro-slavery advocates. That was in 1854. He soon became recognized as a leader in the cause of the anti-slavery side and participated in many skirmish fights. His most noteworthy engagements in this line were the conflict at Black Jack, where, with a comparatively small band of followers, he drove back a large force of Missourians, and the encounter which resulted in giving him the name '"'Ossawatomie'"', which is familiar to all students of history of early-day life in the.West. In this last-fight John Brown and 15 of his faithful adherents held back a body of over 500 men for an hour, and succeeded in getting away and making their escape.

In one of the border skirmishes one of Brown's sons was killed and that misfortune strengthened his hatred of the policy that tolerated slavery. He tried to interest the people back east in his cause, but with no success, and his passionate ardor in the cause that he espoused caused him to be regarded as a fanatic. He took the stump in southern and eastern states, declaiming slavery and endeavoring to bring about a general uprising for the cause of freedom.

Failing to create a widespread interest in his cause, he finally determined to marshal what followers he could assemble at a stated point and proceed to attack the slave law on its own ground, notwithstanding it was carried on under the sanction and protection of the government. To this end he went so far as to draw up a constitution of his own, which he hoped would be supported by his followers. He openly flaunted his ' action, but claimed it was not intended as a movement to overthrow the Government.

In 1859, in the early spring, John Brown's personal representative appeared in Andover. He made no secret of the cause of his visit, which was to establish a rendezvous to which all those who were in sympathy with Brown's policy were asked to resort, for the purpose of forming an army to take up actual warfare against the cause of slavery. When Brown arrived on the scene he found that his lieutenant had done effective work.

View Of Park, Kingsville, Ohio

The King Brothers' cabinet factory in Cherry Valley had been converted into an arsenal in which were stored guns, ammunition and other essentials of warfare, and quite a number of men had rallied to the cause and were getting impatient to get into action.

Conservative men, even though they shared Brown's sentiment for the cause of the black man, endeavored to dissuade him from his purpose, as his proposed effort to pit a small band of men against great odds which had the backing of the Government, was so palpably hopeless that they considered it little short of suicide and murder for him to enter into it. But he would not listen to reason and, assembling and equipping his little band of about a score of men, he set out for the South, his stated objective being Harper's Ferry, Va., where he purposed launching his great drive.

The little company stopped at Hagerstown, Md., to perfect their plans and give any who wished a chance to join their forces. Brown's first act in his wild scheme was intended to be the capture of the little city of Harper's Ferry, which had a population of about 5,000., Therein was an arsenal which was known by Brown to contain between 100,000 and 200,000 stand of arms, and his first wish was to get possession of this establishment. With 17 white men and five blacks he made an onslaught on the town, on the night of Oct. 16, 1859, took everybody by surprise and easily gained full possession of the city, incidentally capturing about 50 of its leading inhabitants and holding them. He liberated the slaves of the city, but the hope that they would rally to his support, on which he had placed great reliance for future support, was dispelled when nearly all of them fled for cover and deserted the man and cause that had given them their liberty.

The conquest of the city was not without bloodshed. Several citizens were killed and Brown's forces were reduced to a hopeless few. Brown had planned to withdraw, after gaining possession of the arms and munitions, but had figured on the help of the slaves he freed to get away with his booty. Failing in that he took refuge in an engine house, where he barricaded the door, leaving the citizens to recover from their surprise and fright and, the next day, 1,500 soldiers, headed by Robert E. Lee, came to the rescue of the town and, battering down the door, dragged John Brown off to Charlestown, Va. There he was tried and condemned for treason and murder, and he was hanged on Dec. 2 at Harper's Ferry.

of the survivors of John Brown's disastrous expedition journeyed, after their escape. Subsequent events growing out of the Harper's Ferry incident included a movement started in Ashtabula County that became country-wide. The further story is covered very ably in a contribution made by an old resident of Andover to the Williams history and is here reproduced with due credit. The name of the contributor was not mentioned in that history.

"A few of these escaped, Owen Brown being one of the number. Merriam, a young man from Boston, one of the fugitives, made his way to West Andover and was received and cared for by the writer. A few more were in the vicinity, and Owen Brown, after resting for a short time in Crawford County, Pa., came to West Andover and went to his brother's, John Brown, Jr.'s, in Dorset, with whom he remained for some time. The narration of these events, after 18 years have elapsed (this was related in 1877) seems tame and spiritless. The young can have no conception of the terrible excitement that was produced all over the country. But a large portion of the readers of this will well remember and, remembering, will know that no words of mine can depict the reality.

"The United States Senate ordered John Brown, Jr., to appear before a committee of their body and give evidence. He refused to obey and their sergeant-at-arms was instructed to take him to Washington. Grave apprehensions were felt by the citizens that an armed force was to be sent, not only to arrest John Brown, Jr., but to take Merriam, Owen Brown and other fugitives who were in the vicinity. If taken it was believed their speedy trial, conviction and execution would follow as a matter of course. Under these circumstances a number of the citizens of West Andover met for consultation and resolved that they would attempt to defend these men with their lives, if need be. Signals, signs, passwords and a badge were agreed upon by means of which members of the association could know each other. A place of rendezvous was agreed upon and arms procured, and all solemnly pledged themselves to be in readiness at the slightest warning. Persons from surrounding townships came forward to join this association and as the knowledge of its existence extended new associations or lodges were organized, and as this went on, to insure uniformity of work and harmony of action, an affiliated secret society was formed. A state lodge was organized and finally a United States lodge.

"This order increased with great rapidity. Its object was the overthrow of slavery and designed to act politically and in a revolutionary manner if necessary for the attainment of that object. In the initiatory ceremonies of our lodge at West Andover a pistol was used that was presented by the Marquis de Lafayette to Washington. This pistol was brought by one of Brown's men who escaped from Harper's Ferry. It will be remembered that Brown sent a squad of men to arrest Colonel Washington and took his arms the night of the assault on Harper's Ferry. This pistol was afterward sent to the owner."

In the disastrous attack on Harper's Ferry Capt. Brown received a sword cut on the forehead, a bayonet wound in the kidneys and seven other wounds, but was not seriously injured. His son, Oliver, was killed.

The attack on Harper's Ferry was not precipitated without careful forethought and planning. A full year before. it was made John Brown and his sons, Owen and Oliver, went to that town and, under the name of Smith, made pretense that they were prospecting for ore that they believed might be found in that vicinity. They remained for some time, boarding at Sandy Point, a mile out of town, then they went away. After a few months they returned and rented a farm on the Maryland side of the river, purchased picks, spades, etc., and succeeded in giving the people the impression that they were really prospectors. 'Capt. Smith" was not recognized as the famous "Ossowattomie" John Brown until after his capture. Soon after he was brought in, he revived sufficiently from the shock of his wounds and strenuous action, talked earnestly with those about him, defending his course and avowing that he had only done what was right and in the interest of humanity. He acknowledged his identity and answered all questions unreservedly. In his possession was found the "Provisional Constitution and Ordinances for the People of the United States,"' which he had drawn up in anticipation of being able to organize a provisional government that would not recognize slavery in any form and of whose army he was the self-appointed commander-in-chief.

In a letter which was written by John Brown after his conviction and sentence to be hanged, to his half-brother Jeremiah Brown, he wrote: "I am gaining in health slowly, and am quite cheerful, in view of my approaching end, being fully persuaded that I am worth inconceivably more to hang than for any other purpose. I feel a thousand times more on account of my sorrowing friends than on my own account. So far as I am concerned, I count it all joy. Say to my poor boys never to grieve for one moment on my account". On the day of his execution, just before he was started for the gallows, Brown wrote the following prophetic lines on a piece of paper which he handed to a friend: "I am now convinced that the great iniquity which hangs over this country cannot be purged without immense bloodshed. When I first came to this state I thought otherwise, but am now convinced that I was mistaken''.

From the Ashtabula Sentinel of Dec. 28, 1859, we take the followinen "The bell of the Presbyterian meeting house in Ashtabula was tolled on the occasion of the execution of John Brown. Some persons of conservative tendencies in that church have been exercised about it somewhat and are not sure whether they ought to have allowed it to be tolled. A correspondent, however, writes us that the responsibility is wholly removed from them; that the bell was sold under an execution against the church a few years ago and bought by a citizen who sold half his interest to another citizen. One of these owners of the bell now says he is willing that his half of it shall be tolled on this or any proper occasion, and the other says he thanks God that his half was tolled for John Brown. This, it would seem, ought to settle the question."