Rome, Ohio

October 29. 1806, another pioneer part)* arrived in the township. They were also from East Haddam, Connecticut, aud by name as follows : William Crowell, wife, and eight children, John Crowell and wife, David Walkley and wife, Jonathan Walkley, and Ephraim Sawyer. This party came by team the entire distance, their route being over the mountains to Pittsburgh, down the river to Beaver, and thence, via Warren, to Rome, passing their first night in this county iu Orwell ; and it was on this occasion that a vast number of wolves surrounded their camp and made the woods resound with their hair-lifting melody." Arriving in Rome, they began their life in the wilderness in the house previously erected by Hall. Resided here until the succeeding March, when Mr. Crowell and family removed to the new house which had been constructed in the mean time, and which stood near the central portion of lot 13. William Crowell's children are William. Jr., Sybil, Jerusha, John, Ezekiel, Ruth, Susan, Emeline, and David. John Crowell, Sr., located on the south part of lot 13, building his cabin near where S. M. Scoville's house now stands. David and Jonathan Walkley began on lot 25. Joseph Hall began life on lot 12, and David, his brother, on lot 14, where their heirs still reside. The next settlers in the township were Sylvester Rogers and Henry Brown, who arrived in the winter of 1809-10. Mr. Rogers erected his habitation on the northeast corner of lot 15. And here in after-years he conducted a hotel ; this was in the era of " staging," and from John Thompson, the veteran driver, we learn that there was " not such another tavern between the Ohio river and the lake." We do not find that Henry Brown, or " Uncle Henry," as he was familiarly called, ever fixed his residence on any particular piece of ground, yet he was quite a celebrity iu his way, having in his possession a gun of enormous length and wonderful destructive qualities.

Passage source: History of Ashtabula County, Ohio, published 1878.

The first sermon delivered in Rome was in the year 1808, at the house of Elijah Crosby, by the Rev. Jonathan Leslie, of Geneva. The second services were by the Rev. Mr. Darrow, at the house of David Walkley. At this time it was arranged to hold regular religious services on the Sabbath, and we are informed they have been kept up until the present time. The first church organization was on the 20th day of May, 1819, of the order known as Presbyterian. The Rev. Giles H. Cowles was minister in charge. The following are the members of this class : Elijah and Phebe Crosby, John and Lucinda Crowell, Daniel and Lovina Hall, Levi Bayley, Elizabeth and Prudence Walkley. Levi Bayley was appointed moderator ; Elijah Crosby and Levi Bayley, committee ; and John Crowell, clerk. Of church edifices, we find that the Baptist church at the centre was erected in 1835; the Presbyterian, which is located one-fourth of a mile north of the centre, built in 183G; and the Episcopal, situated about one mile north of the centre, built in 1837. The present building at the station, occupied by the Methodists, was removed to that point from the centre in 1877, and is the one first erected by the Baptists, as above stated. The pulpit of this church is supplied by the Rev. Robert Crane, of Green, Trumbull county. The pastor at the Presbyterian church is the Rev. Henry Farwell, who is the only resident minister in the township.

Passage source: History of Ashtabula County, Ohio, published 1878.

The first post-oflice was established in this township in the year 1815, at the house of Elijah Crosby, who was the first postmaster, and who continued to hold the office until 1829. The present postmaster is Leander C. Reeve, the office being located at Rome station. Another office was established at New Lyme station (also in Rome township) in 1873. This office is kept at the residence of the postmaster, Hiram Moses.

Passage source: History of Ashtabula County, Ohio, published 1878.

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 Rome Township - it names this place 16 more 16 times.