Williamsfield, Ohio

Williamsfield is geographically known on the county records as township No. 8, in the first range, and derives its name from General Joseph Williams, who was at an early date the owner of the lion's share of this township. His purchase, which was consummated on the 26th day of September, 1799, embraced three-fifths of the eastern part. This was not, however, the first land purchased of the Connecticut land company within the territory now called Williamsfield, Samuel Parkman having purchased an undivided interest in the western portion of the township on September Id, 1799. June 23, 1809, Mr. Parkman became the owner of lots 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 15, 16, 17, 23, 24, 25, and two hundred and forty and sixty-seven one hundredths acres in the east side of lot No. 22. John Allen, another joint owner of the township, bought on October 19, 1807, lot No. 11, being six hundred and fifty-two and forty-five one hundredths acres and forty-seven and fifty-five one hundredths acres in lot No. 30. September 12, 1810, Joseph W. Brown purchased nine hundred acres in lots 1, 2, aud 3. These were the original purchasers of the township in 1798, subsequent to the date of the draft by the Connecticut land company. It was first surveyed into sections one mile square, beginning at the northwest corner and running east and west.

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

The first settlement was begun in this township in the year 1804, by Charles Case and his son, Zophar, originally from Simsbury, Hartford county, Connecticut, who, having purchased a portion of section 22, emigrated from the " land of steady habits" with their respective families, and began the first improvements in the then unbroken wilderness. Their arrival in the township was on August 24, of the year before given. They came via Pittsburgh, over the mountains, with oxteams. Soon they had erected log cabins on their lands and began life in earnest. In the autumn of 1806, John L. Cook, of Kinsman, Trumbull county, purchased a portion of lot No. 21, erected a log cabin thereon, and with his newly- wedded wife took up his residence in the same. Mr. Cook and wife while single emigrated from Preston, New London county, Connecticut, with Judge Kinsman, in 1804. David Randall, also of Kinsman, settled in the southwest part of the township at the same time of Cook's settlement. This was on section 11, the farm being now occupied by the Ford heirs. In 1807, Samuel Tuttle and Anson Jones, from Barkhamstead, Litchfield county, Connecticut, and Aaron Rice, from Bristol, Ontario county, New York, moved into the township, and settled on lands previously purchased ; this was also in the southwest portion of the township. During the year 1808 there were additions made to the population of Williamsfield as follows : Thomas Ford, Ezra Woodworth, Cotton Foss, Silas Babcock, Daniel Hutchinson, and possibly others. The locations of these families were on the State road, and as follows : Thomas Food on the Randall farm, where the first religious meetings were held; Ezra Woodworth on the farm still occupied by Cyril, the youngest son ; Silas Babcock on the farm where now resides F. Johnson. Mr. Babcock was a blacksmith, and built the first smithy in the township. In the year 1809, Joshua Giddings settled on the farm now occupied by James Reed. He was the father of the Hon. Joshua R. Giddings. The latter read law with Elisha Whittlesey, of Canfield, Mahoning county, and first began practice in this township in 1819. His office stood near the present residence of Mr. Reed; it was of logs split and hewn on the inside. In 1822, Mr. Giddings removed to Jefferson. Justus Peck removed from New Berlin, Chenango county, New York, August, 1824, and settled with his family on fifty acres of land in section 7, on the farm now owned by M. Colby. Mr. Peck was formerly from Colebrook, Connecticut. One of his children is the present efficient county commissioner, E. O. Peck, whose residence is now in Richmond township. William Giddings, a nephew of Joshua R., resides on section 5. He has rendered material aid in the preparation of this histofy, and to him and others we acknowledge our obligations. Jonathan Tuttle settled in this township in 1810 ; built a log house in the summer and fall of that year, which he first occupied in January, 1811 ; was elected a justice of the peace in 1819 ; served in that capacity twentyone years ; was county commissioner four terms, and a member of the State legislature during the winter of 1843-44. The first settler east of the old Salt road was Levi Smith, who emigrated from Sandisfield, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, with his wife and one child, in 1816, locating on section 13. Mr. Smith was a zealous Methodist, not only donating the land upon which the Methodist church is located, but also contributing liberally towards the erection of the building. The original farm is now occupied by Newton Smith. The youngest son is E. J. Smith, at present township clerk, justice of the peace, and notary public.

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

In 1807 the Revs. Joseph Badger and Jonathan Leslie made a missionary tour through the first range, and the first sermon delivered in Williamsfield was at this time, by the Rev. Leslie, at the log house of Thomas Ford, - the congregation numbering some twelve souls all told. From this time religious services were held in the settlement at intervals until the organization of a church in 1816. This was a Presbyterian society, composed of members from both Williamsfield and Wayne, the church edifice being located in the latter township, about one-half mile from the east line, and on the east and west State road. The date when this church was constituted was February 21, 1816, - Revs. Giles H. Cowles and Jonathan Leslie being present. The first pastor was Ephraim T. Woodruff, who was installed August 19, 1819, and continued in that capacity until the year 1834. There has also been a Methodist church organization for many years, first holding services at the dwellings of the settlers, then in school-houses, and finally, in 1820, they erected a log meeting-house, near where Ticknor's house now stands. This was the first church erected in Williamsfield. The Methodist Episcopal church at the Centre was formed April 7, 1825, and consisted of seventeen members, - Thomas Carr and Joseph Davis circuit riders. The church edifice was erected in 1834, and the first sermon delivered therein was by Justice Woodworth. The preacher stood on a work-bench, while the congregation were seated on slab seats. The Congregational church at West Williamsfield was erected in 1848. The United Brethren have a church some one and a half miles south of the Centre, built in 1875.

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 Williamsfield Township - it names this place 14 more 14 times.