Windsor, Ohio

The settlement of this township began at an early date, and but few districts in the county can trace their history back to a remoter period. Lying at so great a distance, comparatively, from the lake and from the Pennsylvania line, being more remote than any other township from the point where the surveying-party located to begin its labors on the 4th of July. 1796, and to which point the stream of immigration in its march westward would naturally tend, it seems strange at first thought that this inland district should have been among the very first in the county to feel the touch of the hand of civilization. Indeed, it is strange that in less than three years after the arrival of the surveyors the settlement of this remote township began, while other townships less remote date the time of their first settlement many years later. This anomaly is explained by the fact that the soil of Windsor fell into the hands of those who, as original owners, became immediately interested in its improvement. George Phelps and Solomon Griswold were the pioneers of Windsor. The latter was the brother and the former the brother-in-law of Simeon Griswold, the original proprietor of Windsor. The former arrived in June, 1799 ; the latter in March, 1800. Both had been residents of Connecticut. There were two routes of travel along which the stream of emigration flowed westward, - one the northern route, the other the southern. The former, extending westward from Albany up the Mohawk and along the southern shore of the lakes, or upon the lakes themselves, reached the Reserve at its northeast corner; the other, extending in a southwesterly direction from Albany across the Alleghenies to Pittsburgh, reached the Reserve along its southern border. Mr. Phelps, who came first, took the southern route ; Mr. Griswold. the northern. Phelps creek owes its name to Windsor's earliest pioneer. Both these gentlemen, in their contest with the difficulties, hardships, and dangers iucident to pioneer life, evinced qualities of the most sterling character. Mr. Griswold spent a long, useful, and prominent life as a resident of Windsor. Mr. Phelps remained but about four years, being elected clerk of the court of common pleas for Trumbull county in the fall of 1802, and removed to Warren, the county-seat. Mr. Phelps, while he lived in Windsor, resided in the southeastern part of the township, on the south bank of the creek that bears his name, settling upon lot 2 of the fourth range of lots in Windsor. Here he erected his log cabin in 1799, the first house built in the township, and occupied it with his wife and two small children. Mr. Griswold erected his cabin in 1800, on lot 8, in the third range of lots, a part of the northeastern quarter of the township. Upon his entrance into the township his family consisted of himself, wife, and six daughters, the eldest seventeen and the youngest four years of age. Mr. Griswold's cabin was long the resort of new-comers, and it is related of him that he was the most kind and hospitable of hosts, and did much to alleviate the sufferings and hardships of the early settlers. It will be observed that while Mr. Phelps home was in the extreme southeast, that of Mr. Griswold was in the extreme northeast. Immigrants coming by the southern route into Windsor would naturally find their way first to the house of Mr. Phelps, while those arriving by the northern route would seek shelter at the friendly fireside of Judsre

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

In 1804, Jonathan Higley became a resident of Windsor, taking up his abode on lot 7 of the fifth range of lots, not far from Judge Griswold's home. The Higley family is at present quite well represented, and the members thereof are deserving of great praise for the part they have contributed towards the permanent improvement of the township.

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

In November, 1804, Joseph Alderman and sons, Joseph Jr. and Alexander, having purchased of Simeon Griswold lots 6, in sixth range, 6 and 7 in eleventh range, 5 and 6 in eighth range, 5 and 6 in ninth range, and forty-seven acres in east end of lot 5 in sixth range, came to Windsor, and began improvements. In 1805, S. D. Sackett purchased of Solomon Griswold lot 8 in fifth range of lots, being one hundred and sixty acres, and began to improve the same, where he resided for many years, living to a ripe old age. This same year marks the arrival of Oliver Loomis, who came from old Windsor, Connecticut, of Elijah Hill and Elijah Hill, Jr., and John White. The next year Michael Tomlinson aud John Gladden, Benjamin Cook and Benjamin Cook, Jr., cast their lot among the pioneers of Windsor. Ebenezer Lampson, who arrived in 1810, in his endeavor to locate in Windsor was resisted by an obstruction, in the removal of which he, however, found abundant assistance. He had got as far on his way as Harperstown in Harpersfield, where he found his progress impeded by the results of a violent storm, which had uprooted numberless trees in the forest, and strewn them across the road leading towards Windsor. The news was brought to the settlers of Windsor that a family desiring to come into their township was obliged to remain at Harperstown by reason of the impassable condition of the road. Immediately they turned out, old men and young men, and, with axes and oxen, soon put the road in a condition to be traveled.

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 Windsor Township - it names this place 36 more 36 times.