West Andover, Ohio

The first settlements were begun in the portion of the township now denominated West Andover, and for years the business of the township was conducted at this point. Epephras Lyman, originally from New Hartford, Litchfield county, Connecticut, was the first white person who attempted a settlement ; this was on lot No. 6, in the year 1805 or 1806. B. F. Perry, who married a daughter of Mr. Lyman, now owns a portion of this farm. Mr. Lyman was at this time a single man, and a small cabin, which he erected for his own convenience, stood on or near the west line of the township. To Zadoc Steele, however, belongs the honor of being the first permanent settler who brought a family into the wilderness. His native place was near Hartford, Litchfield county, Connecticut. In 1806, Mr. Steele made his first visit to Ohio, coming on foot to Albany, thence up the Mohawk river, finally reaching Austinburg, at which point there was a small settlement. From that point he found his way to No. 9 of the first range by the aid of a pocket-compass, there being no road. His selection of land was on lot No. 6. Returning to Connecticut, he completed his arrangements, and in June, 1808, with his wife and son Walcott, loaded his household goods into a sleigh, to which was harnessed a stout team of horses, and, in company with three neighbors, began the journey which was to terminate in the then far western wilderness. After many mishaps by " field and flood," Mr. Steele and family finally arrived at their destination. They occupied the cabin formerly built by Lyman, until he had erected the first log house in the township. This was in size some twenty by twenty-six feet, and was considered a model establishment of its kind. Its location was a few feet south of the spot where now stands the Steele mansion. The children of this pioneer were Walcott, before mentioned, who was the eldest child (married Lovina Johnson, and now resides at Shirland, Winnebago county, Illinois) ; William, who married Caroline Woodruff, and now lives at Homestead, Michigan ; Francis, who married Rosetta Andrews, deceased at Shirland, Illinois, January 31, 1850 ; Almon, who married Anna Adams, died in Iowa, September, 1865 ; Harriet, who married Eldad W. Merrell, died May, 1 866, in the old homestead, - the children of Harriet still residing there with Aunt Abbie, who was the next child ; Olive, the next child, married Grove E. Steele, died in Cherry Valley, May, 1861 ; Orange, a twin brother, died in infancy ; Cordelia and Sarah Ann, - both died when quite young.

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

The first road of which we have any record was the Salt road. This was a crooked affair, following the dry ridges or wherever a route could be established with the least trouble. In 1822 or thereabouts a turnpike was built from a point near the northwest corner of this township (now Lenox) to Conneaut. It is said considerable stock was taken in this road by West Andover residents, and that the dividends paid were about the same as are at present realized on most railroad stocks. In June, 1S19, a road was established from the State line to meet the north and south road in Xew Lyme.

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

Of the more recent settlers at West Andover, we find that Sela Merrell, of Xew Hartford, Connecticut, arrived in the township on the 22d of Xovember, 1822, locating about one mile south of the corners, on the State road, on lot Xo. 7. Two children came with him, the youngest of whom, Sela Cowles, still resides on the old homestead. The first frame house in this section was erected by Mr. Merrell the year he settled, and is now standing a short distance south of the present residence of Sela C. Merrell. This building was used for hotel purposes from 1832 to 1837. Calvin Mason and family, from Washington county, Xew York, located on the southwest corner lot, west side of the State road, in 1S36. His fourth son still resides on the old place. E. F. Mason, the present popular county recorder, is the eldest son of this gentleman.

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 Andover Township - it names this place 5 more 5 times.