Medina Farmers Exchange Co.

Medina was surveyed into lots, eighty-one in number, in 1810. The first cabin was erected by a Mr. Hinman and brothers on lot Twenty-two. They chopped about three acres, remained a short time, and for fear of the Indians left and never returned; they were said to have been from Aurora. Zenas Hamilton was the first actual settler. He was born in Danbury, Connecticut, November 6, 1781, removed from there to Harpersfield, New York, remained there one year and a half, and as he had previously made a purchase of some land in Medina, he accordingly pursued his journey and arrived with his family October 3, 1814, and went into the lone cabin aforesaid, being hardly a shelter for them until he could roll up another near by, on lot Twenty-two, being a part of his purchase. Mr. Hamilton, with his family of seven or eight in number, were alone for a year and a half, before any other family arrived. They had to fare as best they could. Sometimes they would put corn into a small leathern bag and pound upon the head of an axe, and again shell out wheat and rye by hand and boil it and supply their wants until they could get from the mill twenty or more miles distant. Their trials and privations must be experienced to be realized. Mr. Hamilton had the good fortune to kill a bear almost the first thing after his arrival. During the first few years he killed fifteen bears, besides a great number of deer and turkies.

Passage source: Pioneer History of Medina County, published 1861.

The day following, Mr. Strong and party, with myself, I think all on foot, with such things as were absolutely necessary, started for Strongsville, where we arrived in season to build a good camp fire, and spent the night in a most primitive manner. The day after we spent, in rain and snow, in finding our way to Timothy Doan's in Columbia, where provisions were procured. We returned and spent several days in running lines ; but finding that whenever I selected a lot it was reserved, I made the best excuse I could, and left for Mr. Doan's, and soon became acquainted with Captain Seymour, who volunteered to show me the Mill Site, where he and Mr. Doan would soon erect Mills in the Township of Medina. Accordingly the Captain, with tin cup, rifle., and most formidable butcher knife, led the way, and, as if by instinct, found his way some ten or eleven miles through a dense forest. After viewing the Mill Site, we descended the branch of Kocky River, as far as lot fifty-two, and after some examination, found our way to Zenas Hamilton, where we spent the night. In the morning the Beach Tree, conspicuous as the seat of justice of Medina county, was visited ; and if size gives importance, this tree was truly important. It stood sume forty or fifty feet a little north of east in front of the old Court House. At this time about the- 20th of March, 1816, Zenas Hamilton was the only inhabitant in the township. While I was getting materials together on lot fifty-two for a cabin, James Palmer, Chamberlin and Marsh arrived and assisted me in putting up my cabin, being the third in the township ; this must have been in the fore part of April, 1816. I cut and cleared, without team, three acres where David Nettleton's house now stands, and planted it with corn, and left in care of Joab Marsh. The last of May, 1816, I started for Boston, and returned in October of the same year. During my absence, several cabins were erected. In April, 1816, Mr. Hulet, in the west part of Brunswick, was, after Z. Hamilton, my nearest neighbor in that direction,, and Mr. Mott east on the old Smith road, each about seven miles from my cabin. Our nearest post-office was Cleveland. Pork was then thirty dollars per barrel, tea one dollar and fifty cents poi*pound, wheat one dollar and fifty cents per bushel, corn and potatoes one dollar per bushel each, "tobacco and sole leather fifty cents per pound, eight-penny nails twentyfive cents per pound, &c.

Passage source: Pioneer History of Medina County, published 1861.

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