Ashtabula County, Ohio - Chapter 22: Harpersfield Township, 1924

There is nothing about the modest little village of Harpersfield today to indicate the important part it played in the early history of Ashtabula County. It is little wonder, however, that the beautiful valley of the Grand River and its entrancing surroundings at this point appealed to a hardy little company of pioneers, gs a result of which Harpersfield had the distinction of being the site of the first permanent settlement in the territory embraced by Ashtabula County. That was in the year 1798.

The previous year the Connecticut Land Company sold to certain residents of Harpersfield, N. Y., on their agreement to colonize it, a parcel of land in the Western Reserve, or the "New Connecticut", as it was then commonly called. This company of purchasers included Aaron Wheeler, William McFarland, Rosswell Hotchkiss, and Alexander and Joseph Harper. A delegation was started out at once to inspect the new purchase and select a site for colonizing and:-make recommendations for future action. This party returned, after several months' absence, with glowing accounts of the new land of promise, and recommended that immediate steps be taken toward colonization and development of the country that they intended to make their future home. Several of the owners at once began preparations to leave for the West, and by the return of spring their plans were completed and they were ready to start. In March, on the 7th day, 1798, Alexander Harper, William McFarland, and Ezra Gregory, accompanied by their families and one Benjamin Hartwell, bade good-bye to their relatives and friends in the East and set out for their new home, their minds and hearts steeled to meet whatever of misfortune or hard-

They soon realized that they had started too early in the season to make traveling comfortable, so, upon arrival at Rome, N. Y., they decided to remain there until weather conditions were more settled. They did not get under way again until May, when they resumed the journey, going by water to Queenstown, then teaming to Fort Erie. At that time there were no roads broken west of the Genesee River. At Fort Erie they arrived in good time to obtain transportation farther upon a small vessel which took them to Presque Isle, and from there they went in smaller boats, so small that it required several to convey their belongings. They skirted the south shore of Lake Erie till they came to Cunningham Creek, which had been designated as the nearest lake point to their destination. There they spent the night and next day wended their way inland, following marks indicated by their emissaries till they came to the designated spot, which was in the northeast corner of the township.

Here Alexander Harper erected the first log cabin ever built in Ashtabula County, and that became the nueleus of a lively little settlement within the next few months. Pending the construction of suitable homes for the various families it was necessary to furnish make-shift accommodations and this emergency was met by construction of a commodious . shelter, rudely thrown together, in which the whole party lived as one family for several weeks.

During this period much time was spent in casting about for the most suitable locations, and as sites were chosen here and there, the settlers' several homes became scattered about the neighborhood, none of them, however, being very far removed from the others, because it was realized - that while the country was so wild and unbroken it was hardly wise for any of the families to put themselves in jeopardy. The Indians were to be considered, also, as a possible menace, and the white settlers were therefore cautious. They held gatherings at the different homes to talk over their work and progress and advise as to the future.

Mr. McFarland was chosen to teach the children the advantages of the "three R's" and he gradually became one of the most influential of the colonists. The next year brought several additions to the colony. Among them were Joseph Harper, Holly Tanner and Aaron Wheeler and their families, who established themselves in the settlement and proceeded to take their part in the progress of the community. Following them came Daniel and Abraham Bartholomew and a sister, Miss Betsy, who proceeded, immediately upon their arrival, to put up a log house for their occupancy. When the home was completed, Daniel journeyed back to the east to bring his family to the new town. The Hewins brothers, Ebenezer and William, were the next arrivals. Ebenezer Hewens opened the first public house in the village, which was given the name of "the Bull". Mr. Hewens soon took his place'in the activities of county affairs and served for some years as associate judge in the court of common pleas of Ashtabula County. He also served as county commissioner.

By 1802 the youth of the township had become of such number as to warrant immediate steps looking to their education. Accordingly a log schoolhouse was constructed which is said to have been the first schoolhouse erected in the county. Miss Elizabeth Harper was the first teacher. In 1827 a schoolhouse was built south of the river, in the proximity of what was later known as the SeCheverell meeting house. Miss Brakeman was the first teacher and she gave faithful attention to the education of about 20 pupils, for a salary of 75 cents a week.

A log church was built in the township in 1804 and the first frame structure for religious purposes was erected in 1830. This was known as the Baptist meeting house. A Union Church was built at the village fourcorners in 1836. The church society of South Harpersfield was organized at the home of G. H. SeCheverell, where the meetings were subsequently conducted, the Rev. John Crawford being the minister in charge. This

In 1820 Harpersfield became a regular stop on a post road and a postoffice was located there in the residence of Ezra Gregory, who was appointed postmaster. In 1830 South Harpersfield was given a postoffice, of which G. H. SeCheverell was made postmaster.

In 1803 Ezra Gregory built a sawmill on the river bank, and soon afterward a gristmill was built in close proximity. These were but starters of the industrial life of the town, which became quite a factor in the county within the next few years. Other mills, including a woolen factory, followed the trail of progress and, in its palmiest days, Harpersfield was a very lively mill town.

lot, did not live to realize any of them, for he sickened and died within the year. William Harper, another of the original settlers, died in 1820 and his was the first Masonic funeral conducted in the county.

Grand River in the early days was a much more pretentious stream in its upper course than it is today. When the first settlers arrived they found a navigable stream for many miles and they lost little time in availing themselves of the opportunities and advantages it offered. Ezra Gregory's farm lay along the river and at a convenient place on its bank in 1799 he constructed a 35-foot vessel, which was the first real "ship" to navigate that arm of Lake Erie. The shipyard was at the site of the mills, where a landing was built and in 1800 the good ship "Gregory" was put into commission as a general transport of merchants' supplies and other commodities. She went as far up river as Windsor and from there to the mouth of the river. Shortly after the "Gregory" was put into service similar boats were built at Austinburg and Windsor and devoted to like business, thus constituting quite an inland merchant marine. All newcomers to that town from the East thereafter landed at Painesville and finished their journey by these vessels.

Harpersfield became officially recognized in 1807, when what subsequently became Hartsgrove, Trumbull, Harpersfield and Geneva were set out from the general township of Richfield as Harpersfield. The name was taken from Harpersfield, N. Y., from whence had come the first few families that settled here. The first township meeting for organization and election of town officers was held on April 1, 1807.

In later years when Ashtabula County was acquiring fame as the greatest dairy county in the state Harpersfield got into the game, with the establishment of a cheese factory that ranked with the best. In course of time the settlement took on further manufacturing importance. Among its products were butter envelopes, scale-boards, shingles.

The clearing of the forests gradually decreased the volume of the river flow and the time came when the stream became useless so far as navigation was concerned. Then the prosperity of the village of Harpersfield, which in its best days had been the largest in the county, began to wane and today it is among the smallest four-corner settlements.