Portage County, Ohio - Chapter 27: Paris Township, 1885

Chapter 27: Paris Township

Good Land with a Bad Naihs - Slow settlembnt - Oroawibation - C iirKciiBS AND Schools - Some First Evkxts - Notari.k ITappkninos - McClin- TOOK8BUBG AND Xewpout - Officers, Businks^ iiiisoLucjiii and 6tati8T1os.

PARIS was originally the property of Lemuel G. Storrs, Henry Champion, Gideon Granger ami Thomas Bull, members of the Connecticut Laud Company, and is Town 3, Range 6, of tl»e surveys. Up to 1810 it was a portion of Deerfidd, but at that time it was placed with Palmyra and formed a portion of that township, so remaining till I82n, ^\hcn Paris cut adrift and bM aiooe iMeD sailing aloDg smoothly on the sea of progress without her convoy.

For manj yean baftm the tmlli was aacertaliied, Paris, or ntther Stomiioro, M it was formerij called, had a wretched reputation, and a passage over it was avoided by persons ignorant of the renl state of affairs, in many instances settlers to other portions of the Reserve going many miles out of their way in order to give the swamps " of Paris a wide berth. It wss commonly leported and believed by many that the entire township was one vast mud-hole, and that to p^et into it was sure destruction to wagon and team. As the countr}' is level and the soil chiefly clay, in those early days, when scarcely a foot had trodden the soil, water would naturally accumulate in the lower sections, and it umdd get muddy, t the mud being tolerably deep and sticky, too ; so sticky that, as an old settler remarked, one had to go home and get a shovel to dig himself out of the mud wlien be got stdled. He meant hn team, possibly. It was pretty bad, and no , mistake, but cultivation and drainage have made it second to none on the Reserve as grazing land, whilst all other crops are produced easily. The noil, from the very fact of its original damp uature, is excellent, as it is composed in part of clay and the residae of decayed v^petable matter.

One hard}- old Pennsylviiuian, from Woodbury, Huntingdon County, ventured into the badly abused township, bringing his family and settling on Lot 21, on the 20th of Jnne, 1811. This was Richard Hudson, and he resided where he settled till his death, which occurred June 27, 1819, bis wife having pteceded bim one month, she dying May 28, 1819.

The old couple and their tamily were the only settlers till the following spring of 1812, mhm their 80n-in*law, John Bridges, anired sod bailt a house on tiie farm of Mr. Hudson. The next year John Young and John Cox, with their families, came in from Huntingdon County, Penn., and located on Lot 13, making four families in two years.

arrival of Cbauncy Tlawley and William Selby and their families from SaiMleEih field, Berkshire Co.. Miiss , wlio looatofl on Lote 27 and 33. In the fall of the same year came Calvin Holcomb and family from Granbj', Hartford Co., Conn., and settled on Lot 21.

In December, 1816, Brainard Selby. Sr., Newton Selby and wife, Thomas B. Selby and Austin Wilaon arrived from Sandersfield, .Mass. Brainard Selby took np bis residence with bis son William, who had come the year before. Newton Selby located on Lot 40, and Wilson on Lot 39.

In the summer of 1817 John Smith and family arrivc<l and settled on Lot 27, and in the fall of the same year Justus Wilson and family, from Sauder:itieid» Mass., and Rofbs Smith from Whitestown, N. T., came in. WUson stayed with bis son, Austin, and Smith built on tlio soutliwoist p;irt of Lot 39.

A petition being presente<l to the County Comraissionprs. and granted in the fall of 1820, for a separation from Palmyra and its erection into a township, Stomboro became sneh on the 10th of November, when the first dection for oflicere was held. Justus Wilson, Stephen Bingham and Willium Selby were the Judges, and Rufus Smith and Stephen Bingham, Jr., Clerks. The following were the officers elected : Trustees, Ilufus Smith, Justus Wilson, John Smith ; Clerk, Cheney V. Senter ; Overseers of the Poor, John W. Whiting^, Tftus Stanley ; Fence Viowt r^ Austin Wilson. Calvin Holcomb, Jr. ; Lister, Bidwell Pinney ; Appraiser, Newton Selby ; Treasurer, Stephen Bingham, Jr.; Constables, Cbauncy Hawley, Luther Wilson ; Supervisors of Highways, Newton Selby. John Smith ; Justices of the Peace, Stephen Bingham, Calvin Holcomb. At tliis elec> tiun there were twentj-flve votes polled, and the name of the township was changed to Paris.

duties and heavy emoluments, preferrinij to attend to his farm, and Squire Bingham, therefore, had it ail his own way. In 1S22 a suit was brought for assault and battery against Samuel Hudson by Jarvis Holcomb.

In 1817 a religions event of much importance for that early day occurred. Richarti Hudson, who was a Methodist, in connection with some others of the same denomination, assisted in a camp- meeting held upon his place. Quite a large number of persons were present, and sev^d ministers oondocted the servlose. It might be more properly termed a " bush meeting," as they are called in some sections, and lusted only a coupk' of days.

In 1S35 the first church, the Welsh Congregational, was organized by Rev. David Jenkins, and consisted of the fbllowing persons : Richai^ Morris, Mary Morris, Robert Roberts, Elizabeth Roberts, Williain Probert, Maria Prob*rr, Edward Morris, Ann Morris, John Morris. Mary Williams and Widow Probert. The organization has remained intact ever since, and they now have a tasteful and oommodions church edifice at the Center, which has been erected forty years. The confrregation is large and composed almost entirely of Welsh, the services being mostly conducted in that language. There is a line Sunday school also connected with the church. Rev. David Davis has been pastor liMr over thirty years. Welsh Independent Congreii iti )nal Church of Paris Township, at Newport, was reorganized and elected J). .N.Evans, John Bees and Samuel Jones Trustees February 8, 1850.

At McClintocksbui^ there was formerly a United Brethren Church, but with the decay of that embryo city it disappeared in the general wreck, and now there is no society of that kind in the township.

Paris T0Wn8Bip

Of the early miaistera who preached for the settlers may be mentioDed Revs. Joseph Treat, Nathan Barrow, Congregatioaal, and Revs. Robert Roberts and Sbadrach Bostwiek, Metho<1isi.

The first school taught in the township was at the house of Richard Hudson in the summer of 181^ by Miss Betsey North. It was entirely a private school for the beneflt of the diildren of Uncle" Richard, hot a coaple of the boys of Chauncy Hawlev' were admitteil. The first public school was taught in tho winter of 1819-20 by Daniel Leavitt, of Trumbull County, in a log-schoolhouse erected on the northwest comer of Lot 34. Tt commenced with twenty-five scholars. The present condition of the schools is shown )>v the following statistics : Revenue in 1R84. t-'.f^»?n ; expenditure, $1,447.48; <ix schoolhouses valued at $3,600; average pay of teachers $3U and $23 ; enroll meat, eighty-four boys and seventy* six girls.

giithere<l some apples from it, which was the first cultivated fruit grown here. In March, 1813, Wiliium Bradford, of Braceville, Trumbull County, married Betsey Hudson, daughter of <* Uncle " Richard Hudson, and Squire John McArthur tied the knot. In the spring of 1814 Mrs. Susan Cox, wife of John Cox, flied. The first child bom in the township was Elijah Hawle}', which event occurred October 11, 1815. This gentleman, wbo is still living, was the fourth son of Chauncy Hawley, who first settled with William Selby on Lot 33, but afterward moved to Lot - 27, where he lived till he died June 14, 1>^4<). His son, Klijuh, still occupies the homestead. The first roads established through the township were laid out in June, 1817, one ftom lUmyra, and one from Oharlestown, through to Newton Falls. The first saw-mill was erected by Alexander and Titus Stanley, on the Mahoninii River, near where the roud cro3.ses it at McClintocksburg. The first frame building, a barn, was erected in 1819, by Calvin Ilolcomb, on the southern part of Lot 21, and the first frame dwelling-house was erected in 1823 by Gains A. H. Case, at the Center, and it still stands there, hut was removed from its original place some years ago. In 1827 William Case oommenced keeping tavern at tiie Center, but he died ^ Allowing year, when the business was continued by his widow, who, in 1832, married again« "Aunt Cretia," as she was called, was a very strong-minded woman, and a zealous champion of Gen. Jackson and Democracy. She used to say that, "Although my husband is dead, thank God he lived ^ to vote Ibr 'Old Hickory.'" In 1828 a postofilce was established and Thomas B. j SelVty uppointe<l Postmaster. The office was in the house of William Selby, on the northeast corner of Lot 33. A weekl}' mail was run to Warren. A tannery was operated in the early times in the south part of the township by Patrick Davidson, and hats were manufactured by Chauncy Hawley. There was also a chair fnctory, a basket and pail factory, and a small foundry for making hand irons, fiat irons, etc.

In the year 1831 John Moi^an, of Wales, came into the township, purchased V a part of Lot 32, and erected a log-cabin. From this humble beginning the ' countrymen of Morgan have come in from time to lime, :unl have so increased that the population is now about two-lhirds Welsh. Through the inducements of the first settler, who wrote to the old country about the cheap lands in Paris Township, these thrifty people have come and ^^adually drained and improverl the country till it is now one of the finest grazing spota in the county. There is not ' an acre that cannot be cultivated, anid whilst wheat does not do very well, corn can be raised in al)undance, but dairying Is the main resource. Some of the finest cattle are raised here. The people are noted for their honesty, industry, economy and religious devotion.

In 1835 a man named McOlintook started a town on the east and west toad near the crossing of the Mahoning, which bid fair to become a fine little town during the canal days, but when that water-way b^n to run down so did the

Newport waa alao laid out on the canal about the same time as McClintocksburg, flouriBhed for a while and then retarograded, but since the building ol the Pittsburgh, aoveland dt Tbledo Bailrood, in tiie bed of the old cnnal, it has talcen an onward move^ eevenl bnildingis liaving lately gone op, and a store is aboot to

In this year, 1835, Isaac Hopkins came from Pittsburgh and opened the first store at the Ocmter, ran it one year, and then sold out and left In 1839 the first grist mill was erected by two Englishmen, William Ptiilpot and Pliilip Price, on Lot 24, where Newport now is.

Towiuh'p Ofiotn. - ^Tmsteea, H. A. Ohapman, Smith Basey ; Clerk, Joseph \V. Jones ; Treasurer. Richard Morris ; Assessor, William B. Phillips ; Constables, John A. Evans, I. G. Qeofge ; Jostioes of the Peace, Michael Jones, Edward Koberts.

At the Center there is a general store k^t by Snmnel Evans. Ifiss Winnie Morton is Postmistress. TImts is a cheese &ctoiy near the Center, operated 1^ John R. Thomas.

The P., C. 4& T. R. R. rang acroea the township, and affords shipping facilities for the various prodncts. Paris will be found to possess considerable mineral resources after the proper development has been effected. Already, and in fact for many years past, fine quarries of freestone have been opened, famishing an almost nnlimited supply of material for bailding and flagging. It can also be used for grindstones. The township is well watered by the Mahoning Hiver and its tributaries. Paris furnished forty-nine soldiers to the war for the Union, ten of whom lost their lives in the service.

21 of peaches and 1 of pears iVom 209 acres of orchard (188.3) ; 16,279 pounds of wool ; 598 milch cows ; 4 stiillious ; S8 dogs; killed, lo sheep, and injured,

First Two .Skttlkks - Bkla Hi hhard and 8almov Ward - Thk Tihk Flows ON - Wahd's Foru Tkh's - kh Dickinson - Fiijst Deaths. Hiuths and Marriages - Xmtjal Industries - A Few Eauly Facts - Organization

RANDOLPn. which is Town 1. Runge 8, originally fell to the lot of Col. Lemuel Storrs, of Connecticut, Henry Champion and others. Some time after the drawing, however, Col. Storr? purchased the interests of the other holders of the lots in the townsbip, and tjccame sole omnery he being the proprietor of oon- Biderftblc other property on the Reserve. Storrs was in everj' sense a self-made man, having been bora of humble parentage, but he had that withia Uim which to so many men has been better than wealth^integrity, perseveranoe and fine btiiih iaees qualities.

The first persons, other than Indians to enter the township were the surveyor, Amzi Aiwuicr, and his assistant, Waieham Shephard. They came to run the lines in the summer of 1797, and camped on a small stream in the southern part of the township, where they made their headquarters.

Among the number of tirst settlers were Bela Hubbard, Salmon Ward and others, of Middletown, Conn. The two named, in the early part of 1797, removed from their native State to Jefferson County, N. Y., where they remained till 1802, but not being satisfied witli their first location started for New Connecticut in the early part of March, that rear, with ao ox-team and a cart loaded with flour, bacoo, tools, etc., and landed in Randolph about the last day of the month named. They halted at a spot about half a mile west of the present Center, and made preparations for establishing a home. The fir«it nit^ht they encfiTn|>ed under a larg«' tree that stood for years afterward, it being held sacreti as the abiding place of the tirst settlers. Here the two pioneers made a small clearing, and with tlie timber thos eat built a cabin, finishing it the day after their arrival. This old cabin was for many years a land-mark where it stood, but venerable things must, or rather do, give way before the chariot of progress. The day aftw finishing their cabin Ward was taken sick, and when he reooverad sufficiently to travel he made as straight a Btreak for the East as circumstances and the roads wonhl permit, having had quite enough of life in the wilderness, yet^ as the sequel will show, retaining a hankering after the fine lands of Bandolph. Hnbbard continued to reside where he settled for many years, but some time before his death he removed to Mogadore, on the Summit side of that duplex village, having attained a very advanced a^e. From the time Ward left till July, about six weeks, the only white inhabitant was Bela Hubbard, and he used to say that it was awful lonesome to be far away from any habitation of his fellow man, and when the only sounds of the night would be the howling of the wolves, the hootings of the owls and the soughing of the winds through the almost tnterminable forests. Yet^ had it not been for such heroic men imd thdr heroic wives^ what would this beautiftal Westsm ooantnr now be?

Euiobt 09 Fobtaob Oouiitt

living a short time, he having gone there from New Durham, N. Y., but originally came ftom Pljmooth, Goon. At the same time came Jot^h Harris, afterward a prominent citizen of the county. He came direct from Middletown, Conn , and settled here, but removed some years afterward to Medina County. Late in the summer Salmon Ward, accompanied by Calvin Ward and John Ludington, arrived in the township after a journey of many hardships, having been on the ragged e(lG:e of stnrvfition several days before reaching the county. They came by the lake shore, and after leaving the water had to almost cut their way to the section they had in view, ttiey ha^ii^ dhosen a route that was very little Areqaented. I The following winter, 1802-03, there were but six persons in the township.

Early in 1803 Salmon Ward returned to New York and brought back with him his elder brother, Josiah Ward, wife and six children. They came in an open boat np the lake, and sufDsred greatly from cold and many privatimia. Daring the summer Jehial Savage and Timothy Culver came in from Atwater, where they at first located. Savage was from Connecticut, and settled on the northwest corner of Lot 57. He had a wife and Ave children. Culver soon after locating went ' to Canada and brought out his brother Daniel. In the fall of the same year our old friend, Salmon Ward, for the third time made the trip to New York, and brought back Aaron Weston, Levi Davis and two men named Carey and Smith, the latter two coming to trade with the Indians. They only remained through the following winter.

In the spring of 1804 Salmon Ward started for the fourth time to New York, but was never afterward beard from, it is supposed that he was either drowned in the lake, haying no papers about him to show his identity, or was mnrdeied. June 13, nf the same year, Ebenezer Goss left Plymouth, Conn , and came by vray of Pittsburgh to Mahoning County, arriving at Canheld July 29, having been fortysix days on tiie road. From there he went to Atwater, and in November eame to Randolph. He brought a wife and four children, and when he arrived had only $1 in money. In December Kliakim Merrirann, from Wallingford, Oonn., came in. He originally, in 1802, settled in Atwater, removing afterward to Suffield and thence to Randolph.

July 17, 1805, Oliver Dickinson came into the township with his family and purchased the improvements made by Timothy Culver. Mr. Dickinson came from East Granville, Mass., and was one of the most useful of the early settlers. He was a blacksmith by trade and worked at first in the shop of P]benezer Goes, who liad act up bn^inosa shortly after coming. There were now six families in the township, but a number of unmarried men were also here. During this year Isaac Merriman, from Connecticut, Archibald Goon, from Pennsylvania, and Abisha Chapman, son-in-law of Ebenezer Goss, came in. Coon, however, soon moved away, but he left his name in Coon Hill. Chapman, aim, afterward move<1 away. October :^3, John Goss, from Connecticut, arrived with his family, and about the same time Jeremiah Sal»in and his son, Abel Sabin, from Poughkeepeie, N. T., located in the township.

In 1806 Hiram Raymond and Thomas Miller, from Connecticut, William Thornton, from Pennsylvania, and Daniel Cross, from Vermont, came in. Raymond was a tailor, and many anecdotes arc told of him and a fellow whom the ' settlers called Baa; " Jones, from the fact that he had stolen a bag. Miller became a Baptist preacher and Thornton went into the war of 1812, contracted disease and died from its effects. Also, came this year, Nathan Sears and his son, Elidha, and Rev. Henry Ely, all from Connecticut, and at the same time a queer character, Nathan Muzzy from Worcester, Mass., of whom more will l>e found in thesketdiss on Shalersville and Kootstown.

In 1807 Deacon Stephen Bntler and Caleb Wetmore moved in from Connecticut, but in :i few years left and settled in Stowe Township. Nehcmiah Bacon and his son-in-law, Ethelbert Baker, with their families came in from Palmyra. Dr.

Rufus Beldiag, from Cattaraugus County, N. Y., arrived with his family in thU year, and remidoed till bis death io 1854. For nearly thirty yean be wag tbe only physiciaD in the township and had a very lucrative practice. From this year till the war of 1812, many settlers came in, among whom may be mentioned Nathaniel Bancroft in 1810, and Sylvester Tinker and Deacon James Coe in 1811. Tbe latter was a prominent and as^l man in his chareb, and in the affairs of bis township and county. After the war a sort of boom struck Randolph and the country rapidly filled up. Some of the best citizens of the county came in at that time, and tjielr descendants are among the leading people in its idbirs to-day.

The first death in the township was that of a man, name unknown, an assist- \ ant to the surveyors. Atwater and Shephard. who died in July, 1797. It is said that be imbibed rather too strongly of " tangle foot " whisky, and that, tou;ether , with tile beat, killed bim. He died on the sontiiem line of tlie township and j was there buried. Mrs. Claris.sa Ward, wife of Josiah Ward, was the second per- fl^ son, .nnd tlie first i!ih:ihitant to die. This was in February. 1S04, and there being no lumber in llamlolpli. suitable boards for acoffin had to be procureil in Ravenna, firom Robert Easton.

The first white child born in the township was Sophronia. a d;niLj:litor of Arad Upson, in the spring of 1803. The second birth was Amandtv, a daughter of Timothy Culver, in tbe spring of 1806. Tbe first white male child bom In the townr ship was Elisaph R., son of Eliakim Merriman, April 23, 1807.

The first marriage was that of Bela Hubbard, the first settler, with Clarissa Waril. This happened in April, 180G. Mrs. Hubbard used to tell her husband that be had to marry her, or none, as no other gu4 in the township would have him. simply because there was no other girl there at the time. They were first married by a minister, but to make the knot sure, were remarried by a Justice. Tbe second wedding took place June 16, 1806, and the parties thereto were Eliakim Merriman and llannoh Bassett.

In the spring of 18U4 Timothy Culver took out a license to keep tavern, and keeping tavern in those days meant selling whisky. The Indians were large consumers of the staff. Bbenezer Goes started and carried on the first blai^mitb shop in 1801. Kliakini Merriman opened a cooper shop in tlie latter part of 1804, and ran it for fitt}- years. A barrel that ho made in 1815 was still in nse a few years ago. In 1805 the first mill was constructed. It consisted of a hollowed stump ' and a pestle six feet long attached to a polo, nntunVs winnowing machine, tbe wind, being used to Honn tlie flour of the chaff. Hiiani Haj'mond was about the first tailor, and Thomas Miller the first shoe-maker^ to settle in the township. Kaymond inyented tbe first washing machine that was need in Bandolph. It was a pole suspended in a stream of wat<'r. creek or branch, ap6n the end of which pole the clothes were fastened and washed as the sailors at sea wash their clothing, by the action of the water. Calvin Ward and Timothy Culver in the- year 1808 erected the first distillery. Whisky at this time was worth, or rather sold at, $1 per gallon, and it therefore was profitable to use the irrain in that way instead of selling it at the low price it would bring. A grist-mill and saw-mill were also \ built this year, a great accommodation to the settlers, and they did a fine business, i Josiah Ward was the proprietor, and tbe mills stood where Hines' mill was 1 afterward built. Nathan Sear?: h:i<l coinmenced a mill on the same spot Imt had - to abandon it, as that portion of the township was not yet on sale. Josiah Ward i also erected tbe first cider-mill in 1809. It was a very rude afliiir, being simply A trough in which was a block of woo<l ^ith short poles or handspikes attached. The apples were placed in the trough, and the block pressed down upon the fruit. The cider brought more per gallon in Cleveland at that time than whisky. In * 1811 Sylvester Tinker put ap a tannery west of the Center. He also started a tavern at the same place, to which he added a stock of goods. These various businesses of Tinker, together with his general usefulness to the early settlers, made his death, which occurred in 1818, verv much lamented. In 1817 Samuel and Hiram Webster erected a cloth-dressing establishment, ou the creek west ox^ the Center, bnt in a few yean it was destroyed by lire.

In the summer of 1803 the first crop of wheat was raised by Bela ITubViarrl on the northwest corner of Lot 57. He obtained his seed-wheat nt Little Beaver, Peun., and he went ten miles to borrow a plow which he brought home ou his back. Bat be was well repaid, as four acres of this new land among the stamps turned hira out 100 bushel. He lost a valuatilo horse by it, however, as the animal got access to one of the barrels in which the wheat was placed, aad ate 89 much that be died. Milling at this time was not a very ** numerons " business, and tbe set> tiers had to tain their wheat to Chrisman's mill, on the Ohio, a trip occupying about seven days. A bachelors chib was formed about this time, the members of which were Hubbard, Harris, Weston, Davis and Calvin Ward. Sally Bacon tept liouse fbr them. There were now fifteen able>bodied mm in the township, so they formed a military company with Bela Hubbard. Cnptain ; Ariel Bradley, Lieutenant ; and Aaron Weston. Ensign. In 1805 the first sheep were owned in the township. The wife of Josiah Ward bought nine with money she had brought tnm Oonneoticnt This year Hubbard and Harris raised about bushels of com, about a mile west of the Tenter In ISOO three orchards wore set out. one by Oliver DickiosoD, one by Bela Hubbard, and one by Josiah W ard. Dr. Kufus Belding was the first physician ; he came with his family in 1807. In 1808 tlie flrrtihune building was erected by Oliver Dickinson. A portion of the timbers are now in the barn of W. J. Dodge. In 1820 the first postotflce was establislie<l. with a weekly mail to and from, and Oliver Dickinson was appointed Postmaster.

The petition to set off Bandolph as a township was oonsidered by the Oom> missionors "Deceraber 3, 181'). and authority granted to organize the towns of Suffield and Randolph under the latter name in honor of the son of Mr. Storrs.

1^ it remembered that on the 12tb day of January. A. D. 1611. the electors of Randolph Town.sbip assembled agreeable to public notice for tbe purpose of electing township officers. John Goss was chosen Chairman of said meetlAg, and Rufus Belding and Reuben Upson, Judges; Jonathan Foster, Clerk, Abel Sabin, Clerk, pro tem.

The following are the names of the {)er8ons elected : Samuel Hale, Reuben Upsoo and Rufus Belding, Trustees , Nebemiah Bacon and Raphael Hurlburt, Overseers of tbe Poor ; Joshua HoUister and Aliel Sabin. Fence Viewws ; Tliomas Hale, Appraiser, and Timoth}* Culver, Lister of Taxable Property ; Arad Upson, Constable ; Martin Kent, Ezekiel Tupper, Ebenczer Cutler, E. Merriman, A. Upson, 8u|jervisor8. Moses Adams, Thomas Hale, John Goss, E. Cutler, Jolin 8abin, Bradford Waldo, E. Merriman, T. Cttlver, J. HoUister. Ephraim Sabin, A. Upson, Schoby Outoalt, David Ticknor were returned as jurors At the same time Jonathau Foster was elected Justice, but did not receive his commission nntil October 10. Every person takins part in tbe election has been dead several years. The last one, Efrfiraim Sabin, died in 1870. SnflBeld was set off from Randolph in 1818.

The main business of the township was transacted at an early day at the settlement of Oen. Campbell, Campbellsport, Ravenna Villi^e not yet being laid ofl^ and Akron unknown for twenty years afterward. The road from Randolph Center to Campbellsport ran from the creek west of the Center to a point on the line hetwem Bootstown and Edbibufg, then nmthwaid. There was a horse path to Canton and a trail to Atwater. Thereswas not a bridgeln the whdCe wfiiCIs now Portage County

The " Hubbard squash " so noted not only in the ^\ est but eastern sections of the country, is said to have originated In the Hubbard family of this township. Bolu Hubbard produced from some seeds obtained in the southLTU part of the State this most di>«ir:th!e variety of winter squash. In 1805 land was worth$2.50 per acre iu the northern part of the township.

In 1818 an epidemic prevailed ia tlie form of a fever, aad the mortality was so great that the township obtained a very bad name - '* the sickl}* township** - which retarded immigration man}* years.

When the war of ISlii broke out there were forty-four males in the township over twenty-one years of age. Four of Ilandolph's bov'S were in the service - DftTid Junes, Samael Redfield, William Thornton and Blisha Waid. Bela Hobbard, who had removed to New York, was Captain of a compan}- of men who were exempt from service b}' ape, but they went in nevertheless. They were called " Silver Grays, " and went out three times to protect the lake shore. Hubbard had six teams, also, in the service.

Randolpb was astetioa on the ** Undetipronnd Ridlroad.'* In October, 1846, Oen. ^ William Steadmau, late U. S. Consul to Santiago de Cuba, made a visit to Gran- y ville. Licking Co . Ohio. There he overtook John and Hftrriet, two colored fugitives, who, having bid de&ance to their bonds, were cautiously threading tbeir way to Canada. The General assisted them ia getting to Randolph, a flag-station on the "Underground Railroad," Me;i(l & Brainerd, who were carrying on steam flouring and saw-mills one and one half miles southeast froTii the Ct ntcr, in a secluded locality, employing these runaways, who were subsequently claimed to be the property of one Mitchell, in Western Viigii^a. ' The alleged owner, receiving information of their whereabouts, sought to recover his property. On a rainy Saturday evening early in May, 1847, two men with teams and heavy wagons drove up to the Randolph Hotel and engaged lo<lgings. Soon aflw were ie«i ten Ohio River bontmen in sailor dress and two gentlemanly looking young men making their way east on the steam-mill road. The news of their approach was quickly conveyed to Mead & Brainerd, who at once secreted the fugitives in the attic of Mead's house, to which the kidnapperasoon arrived. With axes in hand Messrs. Mead and Brainerd kept the party at bay during a parley, until the citizens came in large numbers from all directions, surrounded the rescuing party and conducted them back to the hotel, where they were guarded till early mom, when they were escorted by the Randolph citisens to Deerfield, thence by two trusty spies across the Ohio River. The fuiiitives remained secreted, and a week later a long-to-be reniembered wedding took plaoe, attended by scores of the best citizens of Randolph. After being made one these fhgitives were taken to PainesviUe and subsequently landed. The two gentlemanly young men mentioned in the kidnapping party, proved to 1)e the sons of the claimant. They returned home from their fruitless journey more than ever disgusted with Ohio abolitionists, and with exaggerated ideas of the vigilance and military skill of the citizens of the qniet town of Randolph.

The following history of the Congr^ational, Methodist and Baptist Churchea is summarized from Walter S. Dickinson^ reminiscences of early days in Randolph : " Before the arrival of Rev. Henrj' Ely no religious meetings had been held. Ia 1806 meetings were held at the house of Oliver Dickinson. In 1807 Rev. Ely removed to iStowe, and meetings of a religious nature were discontinued in this part of the town. The fhminee of Nathan Sears, who were Methodists, and Oliver Dickinson, who were Congregationalists, were all that were connected with a church until the arrival of the Bacons. E. Cutler and E. Baker in the southwest part ot the township. Soon afterward there was considerable religious excitement in that neighborhood, and a Methodist class was formed. It was bndcen up by the removal of Ihese families from town, and no record remains, so far as is known, of this organization. At the oi^anization of the Gongr^Uonal Church In Rootstown, Oliver Dickinson and wife jc^ned by letter ftom the church in Bast Granville, Mass. Sylvester Tinker, although not a member 'of any church, was pained by the absence of the religious privileges of the' East, and seeing the efiec^ of such a condition of atfziirs. sai'l to himself. 'I cannot bear it.' and appointed a religious mectiiis in tbe old log-dcboolbouae which was near the Little Cuyahoga River. It was well attended. Nr. Tinker opened the meeting, led in the singing, led in prayer and read a sermon. The meeting was so successful that another was appointed. In 1811 there was a revival and a number of conversions, and finally a church was organized. At one time, when holding a meeting in the bouse of Oliver Dickinson, the room being crowded, the floor gave way, soaring a good many and injuring, slitjlitly, Init fow The Congregational Church was organize<l July 5, 1812. The meeting was held at the house of Oliver Dickinson in the Ibrenoon and in the bam in tlie afternoon. Rev. John Seward offldated. The following p* rson:^ were members of the church at the organization : Deacon James Coe, Oliver Dickinson and wife, Kiolmrd Rogers and wife, Mrs. Eunice Culver, Mrs. Alvira Dickinson, Sylvester Tinker, Walter Dickinaon, Jesse Dickinson, Miss Betsy Stow and Mrs. Statira Banoroft In November Mn. Louisa Dickinson, Mrs. Charity Bancroft and O. C. Dickinson united willi the church, making a membership of fifteen at the close of the year. There were no more additions to the church until 1818, when Deacon Festus Spellman and wife, Mrs. Roxy Dickinson and William Jones united with it. The dearth of Mr. Tinker and Deacon Spellman was a severe blow to this weak church, which within eij^hteen days lost three of its members, two of them being its active worker. For a time Bev. Caleb IHtkin, of Oharleetown, preached for the chnreh once' in four weeks. After the completion of the frame schoolhouse at the Center meetings were held HI it. In 1814 n Methodist class was forme<l by Rev. Irn Eddy, of persons living in the southeast part of Rootstown and the north part of this township. They met on week days, when supplied by cin'uit preachers, at private dwelliug-houses. Nathan Sears and wife, Samuel Redfield and wife, Grandison Ferris and wife and Mrs. Nancy Coe, wife of Deacon James Coe, were the members of the class tliat lived in this township.

In 1819 the Baptist Church was organized with twelve membei-s. Deacon William Churchill and wife. Deacon Calvin Rawson and wife. Kben Smith and wife, Mrs. Josiah Ward and Philo Beach were the only members living in this township at the time of the orguiisaUon. Wh«iever any one of the religions societies held a uk otinfj; at the schoolhouse it was attended by the members of the other religious denominations as well as by its own members. If no minister was there, some one read a sermon. In consecpience of a revival in December, 1821, there was an addition to the Congregational Church of eU'\ en members ; four by letter and pr\ 'n by profession. One who tlicn joined by profession (Alpheus Dickinson) is stiil a member. Soon after the revival a Sablmth^school was organ> iied by membim of tlw Congregational and Baptist Chnrdies. Deacon Ghnrchill and 0. C. Dickinson were active workers in its organization."

The Disciplea Church was organize<1 in 1828 out of the Methodist, Baptist and Congregational societies, and in IStjO erected u house of worshii). Their new church at Randolph Center was erected in 1884 and completed in the spring of 1885. This is a neat edifice among the nest homes of this pretty village.

The German Reformed Church was founded in the township at an early day, and in 1^57 the members of this society erected a house of woi-j^hip.

St. Jobeph s Catholic Church of Randolph, founded in 1829 by the Germans, was regularly organixed by Rev. Victor Honsner in 1865, and a church IniUding wss erected the same year. Rev. Mattliias Wertz was the first priest, in 1838, and took charge of the mission, its log church and parochial houses. Rev. B. A. Shorb succeeiUil. Bishop Henni was here as a priest from 1840 to 1844. John Nepomuck was also h^e in 1841, then Rev. Father Hofltaoan in 1844. l)r Joseph 8adoc, a Spaniard, came in 1850 ; he was aft«ward Archbishop of Caiifbmia.

Kev. Jos. Cheney and Rev. McGlogan followed. Rev. Salasius Bruner came in August, 1844, then Father Howanioro tern., then Peter Anton Capedes. Kev. Jolm Yftnderbrock and Bev. John Witmer came in 1845. Jacob Rinp^ley came in 1847. Bev. John Hackspill came in 1857 and remained until 18G1. when Ffttilflr Housner and Father Herbstrick came. Father Kahn came in 1869, and was succeeded by Father JSicholaa Kirch in March, 1875. The oongr^ation numbers 900 flonla, of whom 700 troro oommnnlMunto in 1884. Tliia pariih supports a largo school of seventy children, and another school soatbeiat of Bandolpli Center of twenty children. The value of property is $22,000, -

In the summer of 1805 the members of the Bachelors Club, some six or seven jonng men, bailt a aohoolbonae, a small building of logs, with "puncheon floor, slab seats and greased paper windows," and engaErcd Miss Laura Ely as teacher. The house stood west of the bridge over the creek, on the north side of tha road. As part pay for Bfiss BIy's servioeB tiiey made her a large rocking ohahr. This was the first school and schoolhousc in the township. In the winter of 1807- 08 a school was taught by Abel Sabin, from Poughkeepsie, N. Y., and in 1810 Dr. Beldiuff and Samuel Bedfleld taught school during the winter season. In 1812-18 a name eohoolhoase wsa eiwSed at the Center. The condition of the -chools at present is given in the following statistical review :

Randolph Special District. - Revenue in 1884, $2,677 ; expenditures, $2,266 ; one schoolhoose valued at $5,000 ; average pay of teachers, $24 and $55 i enrollment, 54 boje and 70 girla.

Randolph Agricultural Society was reorganized S^tember 21, 1871, with W. H. Bettes. H. D. Smalley, A. L. Breach, H. B. Fenton, Simon Perkins, Alvah Upson, W. Brockett, George Brockett, H. Morse, C. W. Barton, D. Dibble, Frank S. Myers, O. w. Bettae, Thomas Gorby and George AnttfaL The object was the ^ICouragement of agriculture.

Randolph sustains a fair that would be a credit to the county. It is largely attended, and its exhibits are numerous and fine, very liberal premiums being oflSered for the best of everything raised on a furm, whilst its sporting events are looked forward to with much interest. The season of 1884 the twenty-second annual fair of the society was held, and the attendance was extremely large. The ofBeen were : 8^ PMhlm^ President; A. Bancroft, Vloe-Preeident; Dr. O. O. Fkaser Secretary ; W. Bettei^ Treasurer ; J. C. Brainerd, Superintendent of Grounda; C. Bettes. Superintendent of Buildings; B. F. W. Price, Marshal ; J. Y. Johneon, Chief of Police.

sixteen years ago. The present owners arc Dr. Bettes, James Sabin and George Dodge. This is the same mill which was moved from Campbellsport, extended, new machinery added, and rendered of a capacity of fifty barrels per day and 16,000 bushels of chop-feed. The water-power is taken from Gongrets, seven miles distant. This, together with a thirty horse-power engine, insures a motive power at all times. Three turbine wheels, four run of buhrs, etc., form the machineiy. This hidusbry employs five men the yeiur round. The Bsnddph cider-mills are carried on by Adelman O. Keller, just south of the Center. A saw-mill is operated by the same machinery. A planing-mill is owned b}' Bentley A Simmerson. Its location is near the saw-mill. A cheese factory east of the Center forms au important industry.

Randolph filled up rapidly after the war of 1812 14, the soil being very pro- ^aotive and finely adapted to wheat ; that on the west side of the Little Cuyahoga Biver, which flows Into the township on the southern border and passes northwardly «itirflly acroM the county, being of a san^y. natnrsb while that on the east of this gtream is loamy and wr>11 adapted to gMM ; 0& the west oak timber abottods, and on the east beech and maple. I TIm citisens of Randolph have always been noted for their progressive spirit, and have taken front rank in temperance, morality, education and religion. < )ri^nnally the population was almost exclusively from the New England States, but about 1850 a number of French and Grermans came in, and thej have so steadily increaaed that at the inreaent time the population of the west half is latgely foreign, contrasting stronfrly with the eastern. Tofii;ether, tfiese two varieties make ap the most populous spot in the county, with two exceptions.

Original Pboprietohs - Tin: Pioxeers - First Cabix - Bf.n (amin Tai i-an - FmsT Birth and Death - Piujutive Mills - Tu£ Village Site un 1806 - A TiiKKsHiNo Machikb - Latino Out of THBYiLLAOB - FiitsT Building - Old

BuKYixo rfiu)i Ni> - Srnooi.s Axr> Scholars - First Cornr House and Jail - Recipe von ( i.EARiNr, off Sti mps - Two Old Stkuctukks - An Incident or 1S12 - I'KN Pl< Tl UK OF PlUMITIVK Ravenna - JOHN Bk()\n'>:'s Fatukb

Merchants- A School Needed - First School MFKrrNo - Growth of the Crrv - Incorporation - Industries - Banks and 1] ankers - Pioneer Preachers on Kelioion - Fiust Congregational ( iu Rt h, and Rev. C. B. Stours - Metoodist Episcopal Church - Disciples Church- Uni versalist

Connecticut Land Company, fell to the lot of the following parties : The sooth two-thirds to a company at Snflleld, Conn., composed of Luther Loomis, Ephrnim Robhlns and Calvin Austin ; tin; northern third to Sti [)heri W. Jones, of Stockbridge, and Xathaniel Pntch, of Boston. September 2, 1798, Loomis it Co. sold their interest to Benjamin Tappauj November I, 1798, Patch sold to John Badl of Hebron, Conn., and October 31, 1799, Jones sold to Bphmlm Starr and Stanley GriswoUl.

In June, 1799, Benjamin Tappan, Jr., son of the principal proprirtor. came to Ravenna as agent for his father, and to make a settlement He located in the sontheast part of the township, and bailt a oabin of unhewn logs, which was ftn-