Ashtabula County, Ohio - Chapter 20: Dorset Township, 1924

First Murder Trial

A quite intimate acquaintance with the early day residents of Dorset may be obtained by a perusal of the following historical sketch, written by Mrs. C. P. Norton for the Cleveland Leader, and published in that paper on May 17, 1876. The story was written about four years after the opening of the Ashtabula, Jamestown & Franklin Railroad. It is reproduced just as it appeared in the Cleveland paper.

" TDorset, Dorset', the brakeman cries, as we pass along the Jamestown & Franklin branch of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad, in Ashtabula County, midway between Andover and Jefferson, and the traveler, looking upon the scene for the first time, may well think that we are pioneers yet, for the thick body of primeval forest lying towards Leon is only yielding of late to the fate of timber, and is being placed by the track for shipment.

"Farther north, toward Jefferson, the county seat, we cross a trestle over a stream which elicits praises from the most careless traveler, as he looks along the winding stream known as Mill Creek, and named in honor of Judge Mills, of North Haven, Conn.

"Here, within a few hundred yards, on the right, was the last camping grounds of the Seneca Indians, who made this locality their happy hunting ground until late in the twenties.

"The first settlers were Joel Thorp and wife, whose name was Sarah, and three little children, who came from North Haven, Conn., in a pioneer wagon drawn by two yoke of oxen. An uncle of Mrs. Thorp, in Pittsburgh, gave her a horse which she rode the rest of the way, and which the wolves soon destroyed. They located on a beaver dam near the center, and built a log house in May, 1799. Towards the first of June, Mr. Thorp started to the nearest mill, in Pennsylvania, 20 miles away, with only a pocket compass for a guide, and, staying longer than expected, the family were famishing, when the mother's watchful eye saw a wild turkey pass the door. Waiting for it to wallow in the dirt, she shot it with the last charge of gunpowder in the house. Another time she shot a large bear in a huge wild cherry tree near the house, and the 'béar-tree', as it was afterward called, is still kept in memento in the county, in cabinet specimens, furniture and canes. Mrs. Thorp died in Orange, Cuyahoga County, in November, 1846, then Mrs. Gardiner.

"Mrs. Asa Richardson and family came in 1818, and lived here alone three years. Her husband's brothers, Elijah and Cheever Richardson, came from Vermont in 1822.

The first religious meetings were held in Mrs. Richardson's house. The formation of the Methodist Episcopal Church is due to these families.

"Charlotte Cottrell was married to John Smith, in Worthington, Mass., and came to Dorset Feb. 8, 1821, just three days after the first tree was cut down on their farm, and lived three months without seeing a woman. The wolves would chase their dog around the cabins nights and kept a continual howling. In 15 years she moved into their brick house, a few feet from the log one, which was occupied by John C. Smith, when married to Mary Ellen Smith, of Boardman, and Mrs. Alexander H. Smith. (Mary A. LaFever) lived near. Here, July 16, 1821, Mary B. Smith, now Mrs. Chester Chapin, was born, and, we think, the first white child born in Dorset. She recalls many scenes; one of picking berries on one side of some blackberry bushes while a big bear was eating from the other side.

"This year brought Abitha Sutliff and family, Jan. 9, 1822. Mr. Sutliff was killed by a tree, and Mrs. Sutliff was left with four sons. She married Mr. Griffin in 1824, and was the first widow and first bride in Dorset.

"In March, 1822, Nathaniel Bassett, from Dalton, Mass., came to Dorset. Mrs. Bassett spun, wove cloth and braided hats. They raised flax and flocks and supplied. the family with clothing. She was the first Disciple in town to join the church.

"Klizabeth Cole came at that time and soon married Lyman Larabee, and, like her sister, Mrs. Bassett, toiled in the forest to make a home. She was an accomplished teacher.

"Mr. and Mrs. Abijah Winch returned one evening from a meeting to find their house in ashes, and their little son, Philo, two years old, burned with it.

"In 1823 it was determined to have school, and Miss Sarah Houghton was hired at 75 cents a week, and came on horseback. . She liked it so well that she married Austin Burr, Esq., and was afterwards connected with every good work. She rocked eight babies in a log cradle made by her husband and is the only woman who ever killed a deer here.

"The year 1828 brought Erastus Ridgecomb and wife and Nathaniel Hubbard and family. Mrs. Joseph Y. Hadlock, a daughter of this couple, tells of an exciting experience her mother had one day with a bear, which was trying to carry off a pig. Her frantic efforts to frighten Bruin away were unsuccessful and he got away with his prize.

"Mrs. Levi Hubbard and three daughters, Lucy, Sarah and Lorinda; Mrs. Purcell, Mrs. Rowley, Mrs. Jack and two daughters, Mrs. R. Thompson, Mrs. Newcomb and daughter, were all residents here about that time. Mrs. Calvin Steward, who was Delaney Whelpley, lived on the Leon road. Mrs. Samuel Fox and daughter, Lorainey; Mrs. Aaron Wilson and four daughters, Marietta, Betsy, Eunice and Priscilla, took an active part in society when here; also Mrs. Narro, an English lady, and Mrs. Franklin, who went to Kirtland with the Mormons, many of whom lived here for a few years prior to settling in Kirtland.

"In February, 1831, Lucy C. Edwards (Mrs. Anson K. Garlick) came. Their home here on the Andover road was a 'way station' on the 'Underground Railroad'.

she did in the tavern stand many years later, when her husband started West, money and all, and was never again heard from. He left her with nine children.

"The year 1832 brought the family of James Collins, who lived here about 40 years. Their house was the 'little aristocrat' of the town, for it had a boughten doorlatch and string.

"Mrs. Richard S. Davis was a cultured singer. Her rich, sweet voice, with that of Mrs. Thomas Conant, made rich melody, when accompanied by their husbands.

Marsh Woods. - In the southeastern part of Dorset Township the pioneers found a marsh, through the center of which there was an embankment that divided the water. The marsh was maintained by springs, and from it flowed little streams, those from the south body flowing into Pymatuning Creek, while those from the north side flowed northward, reaching the rivers that flowed into Lake Erie. This township was thickly wooded, and the 'Dorset Woods" were famous far around for the good hunting they afforded, even well into the present century. At this writing, however, the woods are about cleared out.

The first church organization was formed in 1825, of the Methodist faith. Meetings were held for a long time at the homes of members, until the membership would warrant the construction of a meeting house. John C. Smith established the first store, in 1857. Mr. Smith was first in numerous ways that marked progress for the town. In 1840 he built the first saw mill, which combined also a grist mill; in 1842 he put up a cider mill, and in the meantime he constructed the first "improved" road, by turnpiking the highway from Dorset to Leon. He also built the first brick house, and the first town hall.

In one of the early years of the previous century, it is related, a Mrs. Thomas Collins, while out riding, stopped her horse to give him a drink at Mills Creek crossing of the highway, and, without intent for the future, she stuck a willow whip that she had been carrying into the ground beside the creek. It took root and from it grew a mammoth willow tree that was a landmark and attracted attention of passers for many years.

Dorset has its share of prosperous farming and dairying business. The big milk depot, of which mention is made in a separate story, said to be the largest in the world, is a possession toward which the residents point with pride.

1849, reached this section of the country, it found a responsive chord in the minds of numerous Ashtabula County residents, and not a few answered the call by "pulling up stakes" and starting out for that then faraway part of the country during the succeeding few years. The trip that today is made in four or five days by train, in ease and luxury, and that was accomplished this year in the light of one day by airplane, then required months of hard traveling, privations and general discomforts, to say nothing of the occasional trouble with Indians and four-footed enemies. Of those who braved the long journey overland, in hope of being lucky enough to share in the great riches that were coming to a few, was a party made up in Dorset. The varying fortunes of some of that party, which included men, women and children, are told in the following story related by the venerable Joel Peters, 91 years of age, a resident of Dorset today and probably the last survivor of that little company that started out so bravely and hopefully. Mr. Peters dictated the account of the journey especially for this work. It follows:

"The party of 'Forty-Niners' of which I was a member left Dorset on March 4, 1854. The personnel included Solomon Bassett, Calvin Larabee, James Loveland, Joel Loveland and his wife and two or three children, Esther Coon, Joseph Allen, Jack Clark, 'Old Man' VanNetton, Charlie Patchin, Tim Patchin and the writer, Joel Peters. I was then 20 years old and the youngest 'man' of the party. Our means of conveyance for the entire party, baggage and equipment, consisted of one wagon, hauled by one team of horses. We assembled on what is now the 'McConnell Corners', about one mile south and three-fourths of a mile west of Dorset Center. We went first to Orwell, and from there to Wellsville, on the Ohio River. There we boarded a boat and went down the Ohio River to the Mississippi, up the latter river to the Missouri, and up the Missouri to Fort Independence, which is now Kansas City. We camped in a schoolhouse near this fort for about two weeks, having been advised to wait for the grass to get a little start on the plains before we started across. Then we started straight westward and stopped next at Weston, a small frontier town, which was the end of civilization this side of Salt Lake City. We resumed our journey about May 1, being then out from home two months. As we had only the one wagon and team, the men had to walk all the time. One night when we had pitched our camp 200 or 300 miles beyond Weston, another cross-country outfit came along and halted a short distance from us. They had about 300 head of cattle and plenty of horses and supplies. They hailed us in a sort of joking way, asking if we would not like to have something to ride. That set me thinking, and that night, while the party were completing the arrangements in camp, I suggested to the Patchen boys that the three of us might fare better if we were to tie up to that other outfit, provided we could make such arrangements with the man in charge. The idea seemed to hit them just right, and it was agreed that Charlie Patchin should go over and see if he could get us annexed to the newcomers. He came back with the information that they would take one, but not all of us. I let the matter rest over night and in the morning sent Charlie back again. After some argumentation with Tom McGlannahan, the 'boss', Charlie finally induced him to take all three of us in his party. So we gathered up our blankets and any other personal possessions, which were not at all numerous, and bade good-bye to the Loveland outfit, taking our departure with the larger party. The two Patchin boys and I arrived in the Sacramento Valley about the 20th of September, and we left the McGlennahan outfit and went up the Feather River to look for work. I got a job with a man named Prescott Hobbs, while the Patchen boys went farther up the river before they found employment. I continued working along the Feather River for some time, but the Patchens went over into Shasta County, prospecting, and, from what I heard, they found a rich deposit. I never saw them again.

Grand River Bridge Near Geneva, Ohio Street Scene, Geneva, Ohio

"Bassett, Larabee, Allen and Miss Coon were the only ones out of the remainder of the original party who had the stamina to stick it out till they at last landed in California. I learned that the day after the Patchin boys and I left the party, the Lovelands, Clark and VanNetton turned back. Bassett died in the Santa Clara Valley, Larabee went north into Oregon, where he died, and Allen returned to the East, landing back in the old home town in 1866, and dying here in 1890. He and I were the only ones of the number who reached the coast who ever again saw Ashtabula County. I have made several trips across the continent. I came back from the first expedition in 1872, much richer in experience, and the quest for gold was not without reasonably good results. I stayed about two years, then went back to California and stayed until 1893, when I returned, for the last time, and have lived here ever since. I am now in my ninety-second year, and have forgotten many of the interesting details of the first trip across, but have given you the main facts. It was the good fortune of our party to escape any unpleasant encounters with the Indians, and in other ways we were quite fortunate. I have never been sorry that I made the first venture into the new far West. I believe I am the last living member of that party who left here in 1854."

First Murder Trial. - In the last week in May, 1854, Lyman Sutliff, an eccentric resident of Dorset, disappeared from his home. Neighbors at first thought he had gone away for a time and would return, but later their suspicions were aroused by actions of Horace Haynes, one of Sutliff's nearest neighbors, so a systematic search of the vicinity was made, with the result that several days after the disappearance the body was found buried in the deep woods, not far from the home of the deceased. Freshly upturned earth, about where the depot building now stands, attracted attention, and evidence was found that the body had been buried there and later disinterred and moved to the more secluded spot where it was discovered. Examination revealed that the man had been shot in the back. Haynes was arrested, and held to the grand jury, but the only convicting evidence that could be placed against him was the possession of a yoke of oxen that Sutliff had owned. Haynes was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in the penintentiary. The facts incident to the death of Sutliff never came to light. This trial was the first ever held in the county for a capital crime.