Northfield, Ohio

Its location was thought at that time to be excellent. Along its entire western border was a river that could be navigated by boats of the largest size, thus favoring the township with easy and constant communication with Lake Erie and all the towns upon its shore. At that time, twice the present volume of water swept down the river, and it was not dreamed in the philosophy of the earl}' settlers, that the quan- tity would ever be materially decreased, at least to such an extent as to prevent extensive navigation. The valley of the river on the Northfield side was sloping and well drained, giving abundant promise that future years would disclose a soil of unusual fertility and strength. The bluffs bordering the valley, though too abrupt and precipitous to be turned up by the plow in the future, were sufficiently sloping to afford fine pasture land. Back of the hills was as fine a land for -the agriculturist as lay beneath the sun. Though sufficiently flat to be too damp for the farmer in early years, it was also sufficiently rolling to promise that, when the heavy woods were removed, and the cheerful light and heat of the sun were permitted to drink up the superficial waters, a soil would be found of excellent adaptability to agricultural purposes. The soil is largely alluvial, and contains an unusual percentage of partially decayed vegetable material, though years have elapsed since it was first brought under cultivation. It contains less clay and more organic I'emains than almost any other portion of the county ; and for this reason, as well as for the fact that there is but little waste land, the township was classed by the examining committee as one of the finest in the entire Reserve.

Passage source: History of Summit County, with an Outline Sketch of Ohio, published 1881.

The river on the west affords the principal source of drainage. It has various small branches, which traverse the township with sufficient fall, in many places, to furnish fine water-power. Of these branches. Brandywine Creek is the main one. This stream flows from near the southeast corner toward the northwest, until the village of Little York is reached, when it is joined by Indian Run, and takes a coarse toward the southwest, dipping across what was once the township line into Boston, but returning toward the northwest, and finally uniting with the river on Lot 70. Indian Run rises near the northeast corner, and flowing a trifle west of south, unites with Brand3'wine Creek at Little York. Much of the northern part is drained b}- Sangamore Creek, while the western part sends its waters to the river by means of numerous small unnamed streams. There are several valuable stone quarries in Northfield, though from their remoteness from the river, they will not prove as profitable as those from which the stone can be loaded without much expense on the canal boats. A few, however, are found bordering the river ; these in time will secure merchant work, though at present, the stone is mostly used at home.

Passage source: History of Summit County, with an Outline Sketch of Ohio, published 1881.

The first settler was Isaac Bacon, a native of Boston, Mass., who, in 1806, purchased 160 acres (Lot 63) in Northfield, and the following year, in April, came with his family to their forest home. No settler lived within six or eight miles ; and, as Mr. Bacon was a total stranger, and was uncertain where to go to secure help in rearing his log cabin, he at last concluded to undertake it alone. This was no light undertaking, as the logs were much too heavy to be raised b}' one man to their elevated positions on the wall. Mr. Bacon was therefore compelled to resort to some skillful process, whereby the needed assistance might be avoided. Large skids were braced against the wall, and then, by means of a long rope, which passed over the half-finished building, a yoke of oxen pulled the heavy logs to the required position. At the end of five days the cabin was raised, and covered with a roof made of bark ; the family living, in the meantime, in the wagon, which stood near. With no neighbor nearer than Tinker's Creek for three years, with the privilege of seeing white faces only by traveling many miles, the family of Mr. Bacon lived here isolated and alone. Mrs. Bacon was afterward often heard to remark, that for six months after their arrival she saw the face of no white woman, save the one reflected to her aye when she looked in some clear pool of water. Many incidents of the dangers and privations endured by this family ere the township received other settlers have been gathered ; and a few of these, which illustrate the lonely, deserted and dangerous surroundings of the forest will be narrated. At this period, almost every stream of any note which flowed into Cuyahoga River was the site of numerous Indian encampments, which varied in size from one wigwam, which sheltered one family, to encampments containing several hundreds of the semi-civilized race. A small camp of three wigwams was on Mr. Bacon's farm, and these families continued to camp there at stated seasons for many years, or until they took their final departure for the West. One daj' when Mrs. Bacon was alone in the cabin, a party of six or seven Indians went to the house, and, after entering without ceremony or invitation, called for whisky-. 3Irs. Bacon, knowing her helpless condition, and foreseeing difficulty and very likely extreme danger should her visitors become intoxicated, informed them that she had none, and that they had better be going on, as her husband would soon appear. After talking among themselves a few minutes, and carefully and suspiciously e3'ing Mrs. Bacon and the various articles in the room, the Indians finally insisted that she did have whisky, and immediately proceeded to search for it, notwithstanding the energetic and earnest protests of the defenseless woman. A large bottle containing about a gallon of the liquor was soon found, and was quickly passed from hand to hand until all was gone, when the Indians, with man}- grimaces and threatening looks and gestures, quitted the premises, to the great relief of the apprehensive woman. She had attempted to interfere when the bottle was first discovered, but several of the Indians drew their knives, and circling them in the air as if in the act of scalping, sternly motioned her back. They departed and were seen no more. The Indians were not the only human beings to be feared. Many desperate men, numbers of whom were undoubtedly outlaws, passed through the frontier settlements on the look-out for any game, no matter how dark, that would meet their desires of avarice or selfishness. One day, about noon, a dark-visaged man made his appearance at the cabin when Mr. Bacon was awa}', and, after learning of the absence of the husband, and asking all sorts of impudent questions, sat down with his fierce eyes fixed on the woman, and on a large dog that lay near the hearth watching, with suspicious glances, ever}' motion of the strange visitor. That the stranger did not relish the presence of the dog was soon evident from his uneasiness. That Mrs. Bacon did not relish the presence of the strange man was also clearly evident. As night approached, the man was informed that he could not be accommodated until morning, and, as several miles intervened until the nearest house was reached, that he would better be going on. He did not seem inclined to go, and to add to the alarm of Mrs. Bacon he asked one of the little bo3-s to turn the grindstone, while he sharpened his knife. He took his place in the cabin, and the woman, with the dog before her, sat down to watch and wait. As midnight approached, the stranger asked why she did not turn out the dog and go to bed. She replied, that the dog was allowed to sleep in the house. He then opened the -door and told the animal to go ; but the faithful creature, with a fierce growl, refused to move. The man seemed disappointed and sat down, and thus matters stood until morning, when the unwelcome guest departed and was seen no more. The family have ever since thought, that the presence of the dog alone saved Mrs. Bacon from insult or death, or perhaps both.

Passage source: History of Summit County, with an Outline Sketch of Ohio, published 1881.

Machine-read from a century-old scan, so expect the errors a machine makes: misspelled names, dropped words, stray characters.

Read the whole chapter on Northfield Village - it names this place 19 more 19 times.