Portage County, Ohio - Chapter 34: Wmdhalf Township, 1885

Chapter 34: Wmdhalf Township

WINDHAM was owned originally by Gov. Caleb Strong, of MassaebuseilB, Lemuel and Aaahel Pomeroy and Ebenezer Hunt, Strono^ owniof^ twelve thirtepnths of the whole property which in the survey was known as Town 4, Range 6.

house of Thatcher Connnt. in Booket. Berkshire Co.. ]\Iass,, for the purpose of forming a company to purchase a township in New Connecticut and remove there: Bills Messenger, John Seeley, Jeremiah Lyman, Aaron P. Jagger, Benjamin O. Perkins, Blijab Alford, Alpheos Streator, Benjamin Higley, Elisha Clark, Isaac Clark, Ebenezer Messenger, Thatcher Conant, Kathan Birchard, Enos Kingsley, Gideon Bush and Dilliupjham Clark. The company being formed, a committee of one, Dillingham Clark, was appointed to wait upon Got. S^ng and asoertain npon what terms tiiej conld pnrcbase the township, nearly all the land of which he held. A faTorable report having been made by Clark, the company appointed him and Jeremiah Lyman to proceed to their proposed purchase and explore it, which they did, retnmiog in abont six weeks with aooonntB that th^porshasa wss eloeed with the proprietors, Strong and the Pomeroye. Hunt in the meantime had disposed of his interest to the two latter. The terms of the sale were that the purchasers should turn over to the sellers their property in Massachusetts at its appraised value, and in this way Got. Strong's interest was entirely paid for. The sale about 14,845 acrefl. The deed was made to " Dillinrrliam Clark, Esquire, Alpbeus Stxeator. yeoman, and Thatcher Conant, gentleman." The town&hip having been snrreyed into 100 oqnal lots, each porohaser had the proportion, aecording to his inveatmcni, deeded to him, the south half of Lot 56 being previdiisly reserved for public use, an act of wisdom of those early settlers that is fully appreciated by their descendants. Dillingham Clark, afterward BO well known as one of the best and wealthiest citizens of Portage, having invested $6,000, became the owner of nearly one-foorth of the townahip. The name of the township was then changed from its survey title to Strongsburg.

Having made all arrangements necessary for a departure to the Western country, tho company Helected four young men to go iu advance and prepare the way for the reet of them. Tlieae yoong men ware Elijah Alfcnd, Jr., Oliver Alford, Ebenezer O. Messenger and Nathan H. Messenger. They came on foot, and had a sled and horse to carry their baggage. Arriving on the 16th day of March, 1811, they immediately commenced a settlement. The Alfords made a clearing on Lot 84, and erected a cabin twenty feet in length by fifteen in width, which was the first house in the township. The Messengers ereotad a cabin on Lot 82, and made a clearing at the same time. On the clearing opened by the Alfords a crop of wheat was put out for them in the following fall hf Col. Benjamin Higley, who, from tmree bnahela of wheat sown on four acres, harvested 100 bushels the naort aeaaon, .which was the fint crop raised in the township. Elijah Alford, however, remained only two months, when he returned toBecketaudgave many discouraging reports of New Oonnecticot, bat xetamed to hta Weatem home in a couple of yeara. Ebenezer O. Mesaeoger alao made .several changes and finally moved to Wisconsin. On the 27th of same month'Warebam Loomis and family moved into the township and settled on LiOt 92. He moved in from Nelson, where he had lived for some time, and remained only until tho following year, when he settled in Mantua. Loomis was not a very valuable acqnisition to the townahip as he waa **half crook, half crank," as he would now be called, and although ho was a kind-hearted and accommodating fellow, could not ki cphis hands off of other people's property. As stated in tho history of Muntua, be wound up bis career iu Portage witii a tweWe yeara' term in the penitentiary for paaeing **bome>made" money. On the 12th of June of tliis yt ar. ISll. Bills jfessenger, the first one of the proprietors to come in. arrived with his son Hiram and his family, for the purpose of establishing his son in his new home. The old gentleman remained only about three montha, when he returned to the Eaat. Hiram aettled on Lot 76. Joseph Southworth, a single man, came in with the Messengers. On the 5th of July Alpheus Streator arrived and settlwl on Lot 8.'). Mr. Streator was a kind and good neighbor and an excellent citizen. He died in 1820, leaving forty-seren deacendwata, living in ten different States. On the IStll of July Thatcher Conant and Jeremiah Lyman arrived, but did not commence their settlement till tlie 27th; they settled upon Lot SO. On tho loth CoL Benjamin Higley came iu and settled on Lot 36. On the 20th Ebenezer N. Meeaenger, f auer of Ebenezer O. Meaaenger, who had been aent on ahead, came in and aettled on Lot 82, which his son had commenced to clear. Gideon Bush also came in and settled on Lot 77. On the 12th day of October Deacon Elijah Alford arrived find settled on Lot 57. Nathan Bircbard also came in this year, 1811, from Beoket, Mass., but not for permanent settlement, as he left his family in the East till he could make a cleariug and erect a cabin. On tlio '.HHh of Jnin' following he moved bis family in.

Windham 10Wn8Hif

or ten years will be given, ail of whom are now deceased: Aaaliel Blair, who ' drore one of Mr. Birdiud*sioaiiw, ome in 1812; he enlisted in Ihe war of !

that period and was killed at Black Rock, near Buffalo, in 1814. Dr. Ezra i Chaffee also came in this year, was married shortly aftorward and removed lo Palmyra in 1814 Oliver Eggleston, who afterward removed to Mantua, came in this year. In 1818 Ephmim Seely, etm of John Seely, one of the pro; )rietors, came in on foot ancl commenced preparing a home for his father. ErastuA Snow, in company with Nathan Snow, StiUman Soott and IL Orane^ arrived this year on foot

January 2, 1814, Dillingham Olark, one of the proprietora who was bom in the vicinity <rf Oape Ood, but who in early life moved west, but still in Massachusetts, came in, and up to the time of his death was one of the most honored citizeoB of the county. Jacob Earl, a brother of Deacon Hobert Earl, and Jamea Snow, father of Ebraatna Snow, also eame this year.

In 181S John Seely, an old Revolutionary sire, came in, as did alao Daniel Jag^er, who was considerable of a property holder when he came here, and afterward getting wealthy was a liberal contributor to all worthy objects, giving at one time $100 toward the payment of an organ for hia church. Joseph Higley came this year. In 1816 came Joel Bradford, Deaoon Bobert £arl, William Hobart, Ezra Taylor, and Rev. Joseph Treat, a Congregational miniator. In 1817 came Joseph Earl, Levi Ellis, Deacon Isaac Clark, Jonathan Foot, Reuben Ferguson, James Kobe, Xenophon Wadsworth, and Benjamin Wroth, who eoon after went away and retnmed in 1820. In 1818 eame Deacon Henry Bliss, Levi Bush, Joseph Delong, Samuel I'ostnr, Stephen B. Pulsifer, and many others. In ISIU Jason Streator, an erratic genius with a weakness for poetry, came and lived till 1838, when he moved to Shalersville; alao came Nafhianiel Budd and Mbaee Sanford. In 1820, among a number of others, oame William Millikan, a natiTe of Massachusetts, a self-made man of enexgy and aotivity, and with great capacity to lead in any move* ment

March 2, 1818, the townahip, which had been infoimally christened StroQgsburg, and whidi, with Nelaon, was included in the township of Hiram for election purposes, was set apart and the name changed to Sharon, as Gov. Strong was an untliuching Federalist, and opposed the Government in the war then raging with England, thereby rendering himself eztrepiely unpopular with the settlers on the Reserve. On the first Monday in April following an election was held which resulted as follows: Trustees, Thatcher Conant, Benjamin Higley, Jeremiah Lyman; Overseers of the Poor, Hiram Messenger, Thatcher Conant; FenceViewers. Levi Alford, Ephraim H. Seeley; Lister and Appraiser, ^ Ebenezer N. Messenger; Constable, Hiram Messenger; Treasurer, Oliver Alford. On the 15th of November following. Deacon Elijah Alford was elected Justice of the Peace, seveoteen votes being cast, and but one ticket was in the field. There was little use for a Conservator of the Peace in those harmonious times, and not a ease appeared upon the virgin docket of the old Justice for Dearly two years, when, as the boat of friends will fall ont «?oTnetimes, Hiram Messenger sued That<'hor F. Conant for ^3, for an ott*'r ho had sold him. Messenger discovered a hole, where he saw an otter go in, so he put a stone at the hole and afterward sold ottsr, stone, hole^ etc, for the sum named, but the buyer found nothing, and refused to pay. The plaintiff gaineti the suit, but the defendant threatening to appeal, the Justice paid the amount. In 1820 the name of the township was changed to Windham. The hrst child bom in the townahip was to Mrs. Buram Messenger, Ootobsr 27, 1811, Imt it never opoied its eyes, dying at itg birth. The first living white child was s girl, born

The first wodding occurred Jane 11, 1812, when Dr. Ezra Chaffee married MisB Folly Messenger. The Doctor was a maa of ezoeptioaal ability in his profeeeion, and it was a great loss to Hut settlement wlien lie moved away in

1814. The next marriage was that of Levi Alford and Miss Edna E. Conant, a daughter of Thatchor Conant. She was a school teacher of considerable reputation, and when she gave up teaching for household duties her plaoewas difficult to fill.

In 1811, shortly after the first settlers arriTed, Dillingham Clark donated a plat of ground at tho Center to be used as a burial-ground, but in 1817 the present bf'autiful location was selected, and tho remains of the seven persons buried in the first grounds were transferred to the new cemetery. A singular ooinoidenee in regard to quite a number of the early settlers is that they died at sixty-six years, or thereabout, Bomo spvon or einrht pas-iint^ away at that age. Up to the t<:>wn.^hip was remarkably hciilthy, hat in this year there were eleven deaths. In 1818 a benevolent society was formed for the purpose of rendering assistanoe to the worthy, as well as for missionary work.

The early settlors of this district, before starting out on their long journey, organized themselves into a Congregational Church, and selected Deacon Elijah Alford, who had held the same position over their church at Becket since 1807, as their Deaoon in the New Oonneetieni Thateher Oonant was Clerk of the church, and the day aftAr hie animal in the settlement, which was Sunday, the 14th of July, 1811, religious services were held at the house of Alpheua Streator, attended by all the settlers, forty-two in number. On the last day of Aognst following the first sermon was preached at the same place by Rev. Nathan B. Darrow.

The Congregational Societv was reorganized under State law, February 25, 1876. T. O. Angel was Moderator; C. F. Jagger, Clerk; £. P. Clark. W. Chafiee, Jason Angel, M. Q. Donaldson and William A Perkins were elected Trasteee.

By the spring of 1817 the township had made such progress that the population had grown to 203 persons, comprised in thirty-seven families, and they sorely felt the need of a building in which to hold any public meeting, and especially religions senrioee, so a hewn-log stmotnre was reared at the Center, H0x24 feet, and comfortably tinished, in which, on the 24th of Septem!)er, the liov. Joseph Treat was installed a^i paKtor of the First CongregatioTial Church uf 8harou, he having previously received a '"coil ' from the now urgauizatioD, and which relation he held till October 2, 1827. In 1828, the chnieh feeling the need of a building of their own, instituted such measuras that in 1829 a commodious and tasteful buildin» was commenced, and finished in 1830.

The Disciples of Christ, on May 27, 182S, organized a church society, which met in a sdioolhonse on the State road, near where it oroases Indian Creek, but in 1834 erected a neat brick building at the Center.

Up to 1843 the Methodists hold service, at the houses of the members of that church and other places, but in that year they erected a small building, which was ahortly afterward burned down and the following year built an elegant and oonmiodious edifice at the Center. The society was reorganized June 16, 1871, when Bidwell Pinney, J. C. Ensifrn. William Moore, F. D. Snow, Qeorge S. Belden, C. L. Weed, Boyai Buckley, Daniel Stroup, Clark L. Bryant wste elected Tmstsee. Jamee Gh«er, P. B., was fweeeni In 1884 the work of building a new church was entered upon, and on February 8, 1885, the building was dedicated. The basement is divided into Snnday'Sohool of the majority at the present time - platform for preacher and singers at end farthest from the doors, and gallery at opposite end from platform. The chorch is heated by furnaces. It is covered with a slate zoof» and cost, completed, about 19,000. The prindpal oontrilmttona were: Amount anbaoribed, 15,000; amount left by will from Mm. Seelej*a estate, $700; amount donated, f2,134. Among the principal articles and amounts donated arc: Moving old church, G. S. Pinney, $50; bell, John Patterson; chandelier, Moses A. Birch - ard; stone, Pinney Bros. ; LadieiP Aid Society, $250. The bell weighs about 1,000 pounds.

The first school in the township wns taught gratuitously in the bomie of | Alpheus Streator by his daughter Eliza, and Rebecca Conant, daughter of ' Thatcher Conaut, in the winter of 1811-12. They taught alternate weeks, j IfiiB Streator married Mr. Cochran, of Aurora, in 1^28, and Miea Conant aaaeried Loandor Sacett, of Tallmadge, in 1822, and went to !Maumoo as a missionary. In the fall of l^i'J. a lo;^ s'^hnolhouse was ert^cted on Lot hO, near where the stone schoolhouse was afterward erected, and Dr. Chafifee taught school the following winter, having about twenty scholars, there being then thirteen ftuniliee in the township. From this time on schools were maintained. An educational association was formed in 1834, for the pury)Ose of affording better facilities for instruction in the higher branches, and accordingly an academy^ building waa ereoted and in 1835 ehartared bj the Legialature^ a aohool being opened in the spring ol that year aa the academy,'' hy Julm F. Hopkins.

In 1^24 a library association was formed, and aV>out volumos collected and placed in charge of one of the members. Not much interest waa taken in ! the project and it ivent down, but in 1851 a new aanodaiion waa formed and I regularly chartered, ainoe whioh time it haa been quite anooaaaful, having now about 500 select volumes.

The statistics of schools are as follows: Windham schools, revenue in 1884, $2,855; expenditures, $1,940; number of houses, 8, valued at $5,000; teachers' average pay, $36 and $24; enrollment, 02 boys and 78 girla.

November fi, 1S13, Jacol) Farl and Benjamin Yale erected the first frame building in the township. It was a saw mill, Joeatcd about half a mile southwest of the Center. April 10, 1814, Nathan Birchard erected the first frame bam, and April 11, 181o, the aame gentleman erected the first frame dwellings house. In this year from nii orchard set out by Ebenezer N. Messenger, peaches were raised, and in 181s mxiiq apples were takon from trees growa from seeds brought from Massachusetts seven years befor& In June, 1812, Deacon Isaac Otark arrived, and July 11 he opened a stock of goods in a loghouae at the Ceot^^r. They were ralued at $500, and he sold calico at 00 cents per yard, cambric at 80 cents and fulled cloth at $1.75; tea was $1.5<^ and pepper 50 cents per pound. The hrst Postmaster was Dillingham Clark, appointed in 1818, and he had his ofBoe at his house on the State road. In 1820 Thomas Lee, a blacksmith, opened for business on Liot 54. In 1825 -a distillery wa.«? started, but it did not last long. In 1829 Henry E. Canfirl^ opened a cabinet shop in the house of Col. Benjamin Higley. In 1824 the first regular practitioner of medicine, Dr. John S. Mataon, came in, and settled, but Windham was too healthy for him, and he left in a few months.

Hibtobt Of Pobtaoe Oodott

Fortafge Lodge, No. 456, 1. O. O. F., was organised July 26, 1870, by W. Ohaffee^ who has been D. D. G. IL foo* four yean. This lodge is one of the moat prosperous in the district.

Th(;ro is at tho Cpntpr a MothodiBt Episcopal Church, with Rov, H. S. Jackson, pastor; Congregatioaal Church, Rev. T. R. Johoh, [castor. An excellent high school is taught in a fine new building that cost $0,000; Prof. Duane Tildettt Frinoipal. At Mahoning Station It O. Donaldson is Postmsster, who also is station agent and runs a coal yard. A beautiful soldiers' monument stands at tht^ Cent<*r. which was erected in 1866 at a cost of $1,100. It is twenty-one feet in height, and is exquisitely wrought from white Italian marble. Windham famished thirty eight soldiers for the Union daring the Bebellion, sixteen of whom were either killed or died.