Amherst Township (part 1 of 2)

Amherst Township

Residence of Samuel Kendeigh . Late Residence of Geo. Dudley . Residence of Casper Dute . Portraits of Casper Dute and Wife . Residence of Captain E. P. Frink Portraits of Captain E. P. and Aurilla Frink

Contents Physical Features

Amherst is township six in range eighteen; lies in the northwestern section of Lorain county, a distance of three miles from the lake, and is bounded on tlie north by Black River, on the east by Elyria, on tile soutli by Russia, and on the west by Brownhelm. Its surface is moderately uneven, and it is traversed from east to west by tliree ridges which run the entire length of the lake, the ancient beaches upon which old Erie's waves spent their force in ages of which no man knows the beginning or the end. It is principally in these ridges, the north, middle and south, tljat the Ohio sandstone which has made the name of Amherst world famous, is found cropping out or coming so close to the surface as to make quarrying practicable. In some places along the north ridge, the rock rises in mounds or ledges. These elevations, undoubtedly, were once bare, bleak islands in a vast inland sea - fortresses of rock which have withstood the tiei'ce onslaught of the north winds' advancing hosts of waves, through centuries. In some places the effect of the wave washing can bo clearly seen.

The only streams of water in the township are ]?eaver and Little Beaver creeks, so called, because the early settlers found in them large numbers of beaver. Both streams are small. They run a nortlierly course through the townshi)), and are nearly parallel.

Original Proprietorship

Amherst was drawn by Martin Sheldon, Calvin Austin, Oliver L. Phelps and Asahel Hathaway. Tract number two consisting of four thousand acres in Black River, was annexed to equalize it. In con- 15 nection with the present townsliips of Black River, Brownlielm and Russia, Amherst was in 1817 organized into a township under the name of Black River. . This was by order of the Commissioners of Huron county, issued in February of the above year. The organization was effected iu the following February. Brownhelm was detached and incorporated as an independent township iu 1818, and seven years later the territory, now included in Russia township, was separated. From that time until 1830 the present townships of Amherst and Black River were included in one under the latter name.

When the first settlers came into the township, Indians were (piite numerous. They looked upon the whites as an enemy, but the exhibition of ill feeling was not decided or bold. There was never auy serious trouljle between the ])ioneers, and on the contrary there was an occasional interchange of kind civility, (leorge Disbrow. one of the early settlers of the South Ridge, says that he often had dealings with the Indians, and was on very jileasant terms with some of them. He never drew a rifle upon an Indian but once, and then was not oliliged to fire. There was among the whites general a feeling of distrust to ward their nomadic fellow human beings, and they never felt perfectly secure until the last red man had removed from their vicinity.

Ezeliiel (i. Barnes, a pioneer and celebrated woodsnum, relates an incident that occurred as late as 182(3. There was at that time a growing dislike for the Indians among the young hunters, caused, perhaps, by the fact that the former killed too many of the deer, which the whites regarded as exclusively their own. Young Barnes came to the conclusion that somethinomust be done to cause the Indians to clear the country. He thought the matter over and decided to go to them, tell them in a friendly way of their unpopularity among their white brethren, and drop a hint as to the nature of what might occur if they remained longer in the vicinity. He accordingly went to their encampment and advised the Indians to journey toward hunting grounds farther west, adding that there was such a feeling among the whites that they would be in danger of their lives if they longer remained here. The Indians listened stoically to the story, and Barnes went home to await develcpments. A few days afterward, learning that they still remained in their camp, he got together six or eight young men living within a few miles of his home, and, late at night, the party started into the woods, following a narrow pathway to the Indian hut. Barnes was captain of the attacking army. He desired a bloodless victory, consequently he had all, except one man in whom he had plenty of confidence, load their rifles without ball. He put lead as well as powder in his own gun, and thus forearmed against the savage dogs, of which the Indians were known to have several, the party silently approached their enemy's hut. Contrary to their expectation, the dogs were not aware of their ap[)roach and made no sound. The whole squad approached so close to the little bark structure that they could almost touch it with their long rifles. All was as still as death. The Indians slept as soundly as only people of clear conscience are popularly supposed to. Suddenly, however, they were aroused from oblivion, and rudely, too. The silence of the forest was broken by the sharp crack of eight guns, and eight flashes of fire leaped out against the bark wall of the hut. Tiie little party of adventurers then filed back to their starting place as silently as they had come, and dis- ]iersed to their homes in tin- firin belief that the Indians had been so friglitciied that they would leave the counti-y; and they judged correctly, for. on the following day. the camp was deserted. The Indians firmly believed that the attack iiad Ijeen made by men who wished to take their lives, and it was no more than natural they should have thougiit so, for they found, as they declared, holes in the side of the iiut made by rifle balls. They left for Sandusky, but threatened, before they went, to return with all of their tribe they could get together in that vicinity, and scalp every man, woman and ciiild in the settlement. It was feared by many that the savage threat wc)uld be carried out; but tiie party never returned, and but few Indians were afterward seen in Amherst townsiiip. These Indians were of the Seneca tribe, and belong'ed to the Sandusky branch. Some time before the occurrence related, Mr. Barnes and another young man drove out a small luirty of Indians, following them several miles rifle in band.

Settlement

The first settler in the territory now included in the bounds of Aniiierst township, was Jacoii Sliupe. He came into Black River in the year 1810, and a year later moved to a iwint on Beaver creek, about a mile and a half mnth of the ])resent village of North Amherst. He was of Dutch or German descent; was born in Pennsylvania in the year 1778, and conse- (piently was thirty-three years of age when, in 1811, he made the first clearing in the township. lie built, in 1813, the first mill in the county i>t Lorain. Previous to this time the settlers in Black River had been compelled to carry their grist, either to Chagrin P'alls, forty-eight miles distant, or to Huron River, thirty miles west, in either case making a journey of three days" duration In 1815 Mr. Shupe started the first distillery, and was quickly followed by some of the other settlers who came into the neighborhood. Mr. Shupe Avas the father of eleven children, who were born in the order in which their names are here given: George and John, who died very young; Louis, also dead; Peggy, wife of Stephen Gunn, of Michigan; Polly, Betsy, William and Catharine, all dead; Ann, now a resident of Grand Haven, Michigan; Harriet who is still living in Missouri, and Isaac, fifty-four years of age, at the ])resent writing a resident of Amherst village, in which (lot twenty-five) he owns a farm of forty-five acres. Jacob Shupe, the pioneer, was a somewhat peculiar man, very active in his habits, energetic and untiring. His life was cut short by accident. When he was fifty-four years of age, he was killed, while engaged in repairing his mill, by the fall of a heavy stick of timber. This was in 1833. His wife survived him until 1870, dying in her ninetyfirst year.

Reuben Webb and family came in the year 181-1 or 181.5, and settled in the locality now known as Webb's corners, but for some time lived near Jacob Shupe's for the sake of society. Adoniram Wcbl) was a son of Reuben, and he in turn had a son named Reuben, and a daughter who married George Bryant, a native of England, who came to this country in 1830. and, settling in Amherst, took a farm upon the south ridge, or what is now known as the telegraph road. Reuben Weill) died in \S,--liK and Adoniram not many years later.

Chiliab Smith, of Tyringham, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, arrived in Amherst in October, 1815, bringing his wife and five chddren. He had three sons and two daughters, Warren, David, Sylvester, Lucia and Florinda. They are all dead but Sylvester, who lives at Council Bluffs, Iowa, and the only descendants of the old pioneer living within the county, are three children of David Smith, Mrs. Wm. Annis, of South Amherst, and L. P.. Smith and Miss. L. E. Smith, of Elyria. Chiliab Smith, on coming into the township, settled on the south ridge road, about four miles west of Elyria, and there kept the first tavern in the vicinity. He died in 1847, and his wife in 18-i4.

Roswell Crocker came from Oneida county. New York, and settled on lot number forty-four. He had three sons and five daughtei's, all of whom, with the exception of Eliza Ann, afterwards the wife of 0. Barney, were born in the township. She was born while the family were on the road, in New York State, only one day's journey from their starting place. Mr. Crocker lived in the township for twenty-seven years, and then went to Lake county, where he died in 1808, aged seventy-one. His sons, Alonzo and L )renzo, are now residents of the township.

Caleb Ormsby came from Becket. Berkshire county, Massachusetts, in 1817, or the following year. He built a log house at the corners, now North Amherst, upon the exact spot where now stands the residence of J. M. "Worthington.

Stephen Cable came also in 1815. He had been living before that in Ridgeville. He took up the land lying about the corners, at one time known as IIulbert's corners, si.x miles west of Elyria. He kept a log tavern which afforded a temporary home to many of the settlers who came into the county later.

The Oustines, - father Federick, and seven sons, Daniel, Frederick, George, Heuiy, John, Michael and Philip, - arrived at about the same time as the above iianied settlers. Tliey came into Ainlierst township from 15iifTalo. but were origiiiallj' from Canada. Tliey left that country to avoid impres.sment into the army, and abandoned a property of considerable value. Several of the sons went into the Ignited States' army, and in consideration of their services the family was granted by Congress a tract of laud lying in the utn-tlnvest ]iart of the township, and consisting of nine hundred acres. This action on the jiart of the government was suggested by Mr. Wiiittlesey, then a congressman.

The Oustine family Inirying ground is upon a sandy knoll at the end of a rocky ridge. Here are buried a numlter of the family in surroundings fit to guard the long last sleep of the pioneer. The place is lonely and romantic. All about seems serene and stately. and no sound is heard but the laughing of the wind in the ancient trees that overshadow the little group of graves.

Ezekiel Barnes, of Worcester county, Massachusetts, came to Amherst township in 1817, with his wife, a son-in-law, and eight children. lie settled on lot forty-three, and afterwards bought a portion of lot \ forty-four. He was born in .January, 1770, and died in his ninety-first year, ISIiO. His (children were Ezekiel (}., Sardins D., Palina, Fanny, Amanda, Lovina D., Juliette and Charlotte. Palina married Koswell fh-ocker, and is still living. Fanny married David Smith, son of Chiliab Smith. She i.s the niother of three children, L. B., Livonia, and Lovira E., the latter now in Elyria. Livonia married William Annis, a son of,Stephen Annis, and is the mother of six children; Adelbert, living on the farm adjoining his fathers', and five daughters, two of whom are married. Amanda Barnes married Warren Smith, who afterward joined the Mormons and was killed in the raid on Nauvoo. She is now living in Salt Lake City.

Ezekiel G. Barnes, born in 1799, is still living. He has resided on lot fifty-seven, on the middle ridge, for forty years. Mr. Barnes has four children living in Amherst: Gilbert H., Louisa, (Mrs. J. Gawne), Gardner Monroe, Henry, and S. N., the latter on a fine farm in lot forty-five, middle ridge road. Mr. Barnes was, in his younger years, a great hunter, and was known through a wide stretch of country as "Nimrod," more people probably recognizing him by that title than by his name. The first season that he began hunting he killed, beside small game, eight or nine deer. The next season he had so improved in woodcraft and marksmanship that eighty-three were brought to earth by his rifle, and the third season he killed, incredible as it may seem, one hundred and twenty-five of these animals.

The most notable man who arrived in 1818, was Josiah Harris. He was a remarkable and truly great man - great not alone in ability, tact and enterprise, but in justice, purity and honesty. Much of that which is admirable in the institutions and the people of Amherst, is so from the result of his labor and example. His history is written upon the township, and his strong personality seems still to pervade the scenes among which was passed his busy, manly life. He was, during a long life, the object of universal respect, and his memory is revered by all who know him. No man in the township cxertc^d a wider or more ]>otent influence for good; no man was more active in promoting the best interests, niaterial and moral, of the community. No man was longer or more closely identified with its growth and improvement, and no man, living or dead, has a larger share of the po])ular appreciation and admiration, than .Judge Josiah Harris. He was born in Becket, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, November .30, 1783, and died March 2(i, 18G7, aged eighty four years. He made journeys to Ohio in 1814 and 181.5, purchased laud, and in 1818 came to Amherst, arriving July 2, and immediately began the work of building a log hut upon Beaver creek. Mr. Harris was elected justice of the peace in 1821, and served for thirty-six years. He was the first sheriff of Lorain county, served seven years as associate justice, being appointed in ]8'29; was a member of the general assembly of Ohio in 18-.'7, representing Cuyahoga county; represented Lorain and Medina counties in the House, and afterwards was elected to the State Senate from the same district. .Judge Harris was probably the oldest postmaster in the United States. He was appointed by Postmaster-general Meigs, back in the twenties, and held the office continuously to the time of his death, (over forty years) except when in the legislature. .Judge Harris assisted in various ways the development of the country. He was agent for a number of eastern land owners, and in this capacity he was enabled to do many a kind turn for the new comers. He gave them the best terms that he could, aided them in selecting good locations, and was liked by all, because every purchaser knew that he was in no danger of any oppression in default of payment on account of sickness or misfortune, as Ions- as .Judge Harris stood between him and the owners. 'As a magistrate he urged the settlement of suits, and through his counsel parties litigant often left the court with all ill feeling removed, and their cause amicably adjusted. The children of the Judge were four in number. Josiah A., the eldest, w'ho was for many years the editor of the Cleveland Herald, is now dead; Loring P. is in Texas; Milo is a leading and influential citizen of North Amherst, and Emeline 0. is living in Philadelphia. A notable fact in regard to the Harris family, is that three of its members have held the oflice of sheriff of Lorain county. Judge Josiah Harris was the first sheriff; his son, Josiah A., held the office at a later period, and Milo Harris was sheriff in 1861.

Eliphalet Redington, or Captain Redington as he was generally called, came to the township in February, 1818, became widely known, took a prominent part in many public affairs ; led an active life and exerted a strong influence in the community. He was a native of Berksliire county, Mitssachusctts, but came to'Amhei-st from Trumbull county, where he had resided for a short time. He was one of the committee appointed l)y the legislature to locate the road leading from the Miami of the lake road to Elyria. Eliphalet Redington settled on the South Ridge road. He had four children, Myra, now dead, who married Thompson Miles ; Ransom, also dead, who married Pamela Manter ; Tcrsa, who married Addison Tracey, and A. TI., whose wife is Jane Bryant. Mr. A. 11. Redington's home has l>een most of the time in South Amherst, though since 1875 he has been a citizen of Klyria.

Stephen Johnson and his sister Abbie, also came into the township and settled in this locality, not far from the time of the above named pioneers. Among others who came in the same or following year, may be named Israel Cash, Thompson Blair and Jesse Smith, Elisha Foster and his sons Elisha and Leonard, and Daniel Cornwell,

Elisha Foster was born in ]?i'atllet>oro, ^"ermont, ' in I7ti.j, and originally, upon coming to Ohio settled in Avon, then in Cuyahoga county, in the year 1810. He bought land in the locality now known as Foster's corners. Elisha, Jr., took up one hundred and twenty acres near his fathei-, and Leonard took the farm now owned l)y Eiihraim Towne. Daniel Cornwell bought a farm now owned by James Nichol. He was untloubtedly the first shoemaker in the township. Jesse Smith remained but a short time, and then moved into liussia townshij), where his son Loren now resides.

Jonas Stratton came in 1S1'.». He was born in New Hampshire in 1791. He settled near Webb's corners. His children were H. D wight, Lemuel B., Amanda and Lucy. Dwight married Pamela C. Bryant, and Lucy became the wife of 11. B. Bryant, and thus was foi'med the association of families which was really the beginning of a partnership which became celebrated through the length and breadth of the United Sates. Bryant & Stratton's commercial colleges and their system of book keeping are known every where.

Nathaniel Bryant, senior, was born in Eastingtou, Gloucestershire, England, in the year 171:9. He came to America in 18"29, and settled in South Amherst with his son, John Bryant, in 1830. He died in South Amherst in 18:).5. His children were John, born in Sussex, England, in 1789. Mary (Mrs. Gilman), born in Coventry, Warwickshire, England, in 1795. Robert (Rev. IK. Bryant), born in Coventry, England, in 1797. Nathaniel, Jr., born in Coventry, England, in 1799. John Bryant was married to Pamela Collins in King Stanley, Gloucestershire, England, in 1813. Pamela Collins, wife of John Bryant, was born in King Stanley, England, in 1787, and was the daughter of John Collins. She died in Amherst, August 24, 18G4. John Bryant's children were: George, born in King Stanley, England, November 1, 1814; Jane, born June 1, 1816; Ann, born in 1819; John C, born in December, 1821; Henry B., born in April, 1824; Pamela C, born in 1820. This family came from England to America, in the fall of 1829, and remained in Philadeliihia during the winter. Moved to Norwalk, Ohio, m the spring of 1830, and thence to Amherst in the fall of the same year.

Elias Peabody settled in the extreme southwestern corner of the township in the year 1819. He was born ill 1791, in Middleton, Massachusetts, and is still living, being in his eighty-seventh year at this writing. His residence is now in Russia township.

Ebenezer, Joseph L. and Daniel G. Whiton all came to the township before 1820. Ebenezer and Daniel settled in 1817, and Joseph L., though buying in 1818, did not come to reside continuously until 1832. The farm which he i)urchased was in lot forty-seven, which is to-day the only undivided lot in the township, and the property of his sou, Joseph L. A daughter, Mrs. M. W. Axtell,. is also a resident of Amlnn'st. Joseph Lucas Whiton was born in Lee, Massachusetts, in the year 1799. His wife was Lovina Wright, of Springfield, Massachusetts. Mr. Whiton was one of the prominent men of the township and county. He served seven years as an associate judge; was a justice of the peace for twelve years, and was a memljcr of the legislature in 1851 and 1852.

Ebenezer Whiton came to Amherst in 1817, the month of June, and removed to Elyria in 1824, in which year he was aj)pointed clerk of the court. He served in this otlice and that of recorder until his death in 1834. Mr. Whiton and wife, Samantha, were both from Lee, Berkshire county, Massachussetts. Mrs. Whiton died December 13, 1878, aged eighty-four years. She died in St. Charles, Minnesota, of which place she had been a resident since 1855.

Harvey Redington purchased lot thirty-two, of Cable, in 1819, and sometime during the following year settled upon it. One of his children had a very narrow escape from death when the family was crossing Rocky river, on the way to Amherst. One of the wagon wheels went off the bridge, and the sudden jolting movement threw the baby from the wagon. The shawl in which it was wrapped fortunately caught upon some blackberry bushes, and the little one was thus saved from being dashed to pieces in the bed of the stream below. Redington was a justice of tlie peace from 1822 to 1845, and the docket kept during the early years of his service sliows that people were not more slow then than they are now in going to law. Sums of less than one dollar we frequently sued for. There are some entries, however, of a nature not usually met with iijion justices' records in late years. For_ instance, the ancient docket shows that complaint was made by William D.

was born in Westmoreland Co., Pa., July 17, 1823, and is the second son of John and Nancy Kendeigh, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, as also was the grandfather of Samuel, Henry Kendeigh, who was born in Lancaster County, in that State, in January, 1796, and died Aug. 13, 1836. The name as formerly used in Pennsylvania was Kentisch or Kintigii, and is of German origin.

In the year 1824, Henry Kendeigh, the father of him of whom we write, emigrated to Ohio, and settled in the town of North Amherst, Lorain Co., in the spring of that year. The farm upon which he located was situated about four miles southwest of Black River. He remained there about three years, and then moved on to the place now occupied by the widow of his eldest son, John J. Kendeigh, where he continued to reside until his death, in 1835 or 1836.

Samuel Kendeigh spent the early years of his life as a mechanic, aiding in tlie construction of buildings in the vicinity of his former home. On the 27th of January, 1854, he was married to Jane C, daughter of Joiin R. and Esther Striclvler, of Fayette Co., Pa. Six children have been born to them, namely, - Charles D., Milo, Esther Ann, Jennie, Lula, and Lottie (the last two being twins), all living. Shortly after marriage he purcliased a farm containing one hundred and fifty acres in Henrietta township. Upon this he remained about seven years, clearing the land and making improvements. He subsequently exchanged the farm for mill property in North Amherst, which he owned and managed for about eighteen months with reasonable success, and tlien traded it off for the well-known Younglove farm in Elyria township. At the expiration of a year and a half he sold out and moved to North Amherst; and from tiience on to the Peter Rice farm ; and from there to his present farm, which is pleasantly located about seven miles west of Elyria. His place is a very comfortable one, and has commodious and well-arranged outbuildings, as shown in the illustration of it on another page of this volume. Mr. Kendeigh also owns a farm of ninetyseven acres (adjoining the famous quarries of Haldeman & Son), which, owing to the superior quality of grindstone and building rock, is very valuable. He also possesses a farm of one hundred and thirteen acres in Russia township. Mr. Kendeigh is a selfmade man, and the very fact of his accumulating so extensive a property as he at present owns, speaks well for his enterprise and business sagacity. The aggregate of his landed possessions foots up three hundred and thirty acres, including some valuable village building lots.

Edsoii against Asaliel Craiidall iind Mr. Lambert for ])rofauG swearing. Anotlier entry shows a fine of two dollars imposed for Sabbath-breaking. The family of the Iledingtons consisted of ten cliildren, as follows : Nancy (Mrs. Jolin Frost), Ransom N. (on the old lionu'stcad), Lorinda {Urn. Wm. Ilurlliiii't). Fjoiiisa (Mrs. JJiMiudage), Ilarmonie (Mrs. Noaii KUlred), Henry II. (in Cambridge, Iowa), Myra (who was fatally injured by a fall), Terris.?a (Mrs. Joshua Simmons, of Iowa), Mary Ann (Mrs. Westley Morris, of Illinois), and Alfred J. (of Camden township).

Jesse Cutler came into the township about 1830 and settled on lot forty-two, but remained only a shoi't time. Eli Wallace and G. Gillett arrived aliout tlie same time.

Joseph Quigley came in 1S23, purciiased lanil in lot four, taking a deed of the pioneer Shupe, and immediately erected a log house, where the present stone residence of his son George W. now stands. He was from Washington county, Pennsylvania, originally, but had been for eleven years a resident in Black River. He was born in 1777. His son George W., and wife Anna W., witli three children, are resident at this writing upon the old place.

Abram Rice, of Fayette county, Pennsylvania, came into the settlement in the fall of 183:i, and took up one hundred acres of land now owned by Benjamin llildebrandt and Conrad llageman, but a year or two later removed to a farm a half mile north of Weblvs Corners. He had seven sons and seven daughters - Daniel, Samuel (dead), Mary (Mrs. 0. P. Kdner), Ann E. (Mrs. Hiram Wilbur), 'John S., Melissa (dead), Adaline (Mi's. VVm. Pearl), Margaret (Mrs. I. G. Hazel;., Nancy (Mrs. G. R. Barney), Susan B. (Mrs. J. K. Hazel), Abram G. (dead), Westley C, Ciiarles C, and George W.

Induced by his brother-in-law, Abram Rice, John Kendeigh, Sf. , and wife Mary, came from Lancaster county, Pennsyhania, in 1822. He made the journey of three huiidi-ed miles in fourteen days, driving a Hock of sheep. He [)urchased north of the corners aiu] east of Shape's mill, but afterward went to the southern part of the township, where he purchased land in lots ninety-one and ninety-two, upon wliieh he resided to the time of his death.

Henry Kendeigh, Jr., arrived in 1823, and after a short residence in the northern part of the township, purchased one hundred and three acres of land at Kendeigh's corners, for which he paid three dollars ]ier acre. His son .lohn was three years of age when he came into Amherst. The father died in 183G, leaving his widow, Nancy, seven children to provide for. She brought up the family, and died, at a rii>e old age, in 1871. Samuel Kendeigh, liis wife Jane C, and six children, now live on lot sixteen. His father settled on lot ninety-five.

George Disbrow and his wife Caroline, came from Greene county, New York, in October, 1834, and took up their residence upon lot ten (South Amherst).

Mr. Disbrow brought with him two ox teams, and though well prejiared to begin life as a pioneer farmer, he chose to follow his trade, which was that of a blacksmith. He was one of the first trustees of Russia townsliii). George Disbrow and wife were both living in 1878, aged respectively seventy-eight and seventy-three years.

Nicholas Stanton and wife, Jemima Traverse, born in Becket, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, were among the arrivals of 1824. They settled upon the west side of Beaver creek, but afterward sold out to one of the Oustiues, and bought east of the present village of North Amherst.

Freeman Richmond settled in Black River in 1824, or the succeeding year, but the date of his settlement ill Amherst was considerably later. George Dudley and Roswell Cune were in the township by this time, or soon after.

Royal Barney, wife and family, of Ellisburgh, Jefferson county, New York, settled on lot forty-five in 1825, it having been purchased the year jirevious. Upon their arrival, they were welcomed by Judge Harris, and the tanzy bitters bottle was l)rought forth to cement the newly formed friendshij). The Barney family lived in the log school house, near the corners, until they could build a house upon their own land. The sons were Orimel, Edson and Royal. Orimel is still a resident, and a respected one, of North Amherst, where he has been engaged in various callings and enterprises. He was station agent upon the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern railroad for twenty-one years. In 1834, he married Eliza A. Crocker.

Salmon Johnson came into the settlement in 1827, first taking up his residence upon lot seventeen. His son, Alvah T., one of the jn'ominent men of the township, now lives upon lot sixteen. Addison Tracey settled upon the South ridge in 1820 or 1827.

Captain Stanton Sholes, born in Groton, New London county, Connecticut, in 1770, also settled in the town in 1827. He had been a captain upon the sea and in the war of 1812; had kept hotel in Pittsburgh, Akron, Medina, Elyria and Black River; and was quite a num of afFairs, active and somewhat eccentric. He purchased fifty acres of land in lot twenty-three, and liecoming a citizen, took a prominent part in the puljlic and social life of Amherst until 1833, when he removed to Rock Island, Illinois. He died in Columbus, Ohio, in 1805.

Ephraim Towne, a native of Massachusetts, but for twelve years a resident of Willoughby, Lake county, Ohio, with his wife, Almira Mitchell, settled on lot forty-three, taking seventy-five acres, in 1838. The Townes, with several of their children, are still residents of Amherst at this writing.

During the same year, James Jackson and wife came from Vermont. Three of their children, James, Michael and Louise, reside in the township, and Michael is proprietor of the Henrie House at North Amherst.

about one hundred and forty acres, in lots ninety-four and ninety-five. Mr. Rice is a descendant of tlie old stock, his parents coming into tlie town in \S2'J. John B. and Peter Rice were also early setllers. A Mr. Norton came either in 1828 or the following year.

In 1830, the setUoment liegan to increase quite fast, and so many families came in that it is impossiijle for the historian to present a record of tlicm all. Among tliose who arrived about this time may bo nu'ntioiicd Orjum Winton, Eli L. Seeley, Willis Potter, John and Ilorace Steele, Homer Tyrell, Wesley Perkins, Benjamin Bivcns and Irad Aiken. Tyrell was a native of Massachusetts. He settled on lot fifty-six, but afterwards removed to the village of North Amherst, where he remained until IS?'), when ho went to Cleveland. Eli L. Soeley came from t!onnectieut. Benjamin Bivens was quite a prominent man in the community. He served for quite a time as justice of the peace and in other official capacities. A son, Lyman, still lives in the township. Wesley Perkins was born in ISO."), in Orwell, Vermont, and, upon coming to Amherst, opened a shop, in which foi' manv years he pursued his fi-ade of wagon nrikiiig - also sjiending much time nursing the sick.

Willis Potter was a native of Pi-ovidence, Rhode Island. He took up a farm adjoining that of E. Towno, in lot forty-two. His fainily consisted of himself, wife and fhirtecn childi-en. Three of the five who arc still living reside in Amherst: W. P., Sylvestei'. aud Kli/.abeth Moore. Among those who cam(» soon after 1S:J0, were (he Beklens, M. B. ;iud Iliram. They were born in Berkshii'c county, Massachusetts, and came west at the solicitation of their uncle. Captain Stanton Sholes. Hiram cauie to North Amherst, then known as the Corners, in l!s3'.t, hut refuiMied home, and did not come with intention of permanent residents until 1833. Ho purchaseil lot foi1v in Brownhelm, but Captain Sholes made him a ]iresent of fifteen acres of land in lot ninety-seven (Amherst), on condition that he woulil Imild and live thereon. Later he moved into the village of North Amherst. His children living are Lucy, Mattie J., Ellen C, Hattie S., Hiram and Hnlsoy. M. B. Belden came in 1834, and took land mi lots ninety-seven and ninety-eight. He has four cliildren living: Eli/a A. (Robertson), Prudence A., Rollin B. and Clarissa.

John B. Robertson was a prominent arrival in 183-1. He was born at Ballston, Saratoga county, New York, in 17!i7, and came to Ohio in 1820. On coming to Amherst he settled on lot sevenry-sevcii, on the middle ridge, where he resided most of the time until his death, which occurred in 1875. He was a. ]iolitieian of (H)nsiderable influence; democratic in ])rinciple. He was a member of the first legislature of Nebraska, in 18.5(i, and in the following year was appointed by President Bucliamin as agent ammig tlie Oimiha Indians. In 185!) he returned to Amherst. His family consisted of his wife. Temperance Foot, of Berkshire county, Massachusetts, and five children: Sarah M.,

Theodora IL, (died in 1874, near Omaha), John B. Jr., who was a farmer until 18G5, and for the past six years has been marshal of North Amherst village, Frank Nelson, and M. L.. now the wife of Parks Foster, of Elyria.

Among those who came at a still later day thnn those settlers wiio are named in the foregoing, we mention Elam Fairchild, of C!onnecticut, who settled in South Amherst in 1841; E. P. Fi-ink, whose mother came with six children, in 1832, from New York State. They owned laml, first in the Shupe farm, then in the Onstine tract, and E. P. and his wife, .\urelia, now live on lot si\t v-three.

Codfrey and Sarah Fowle were early settlers u])ou the south ridge, oi- telegraph road, on lot eighty-seven. They had nine chililrcu: Henry, Eli/.aboth, Catha- I'iuc, Sarah, ALirgaret, Codfrey, Jacob, Mary K., Philip J., and (roorge. J.icob now lives on lot seventy-tiiree, and Philip J. on lot eighty-eight.

Lyman Cole took nj) his residence on lot ninety-one in 1854, and Henry Robinson several years later, on lot ninety-two. Both were from New York.

Joseph Trost, a native of France, came in 1853, and has been, since 18G5, foreman of the Wilson & Hughes stone quarry. We mention him as a re]iresentative foreigner, aud one of the very few of his nationality resident in the townshij).

An ap]ilication was made to the legislaturf^ for the seiiarate organization of Black river, in 1829, and on the 12th of .January, 1830, an act was passed incorporating the townshi]). aud the act further ])rovided that township number six in range eighteen, should be detached, and remain separate from fractional township numl'er seven, aud be known as Amherst.

In April, 1830, the first election was held at Daniel Whiton's house, on the middle ridge. Following are the officers who were at, that time elected: clerk. .Tosiali Harris; treasurer, Stanton Sholes; trustees, Salmon Johnson, Royal Barney, David Smith; consta- Ijles, Alvali T. .Johnson, Shedrich Moore; overseers of the poor, Royal Barney, Stanton Sholes.

The officers of 1878 are the following: clerk, John Utile; treasurer, William Brown; assessor, Anton Stiwald; trustees, Joseph Whiton, Henry Clans, Joseph Robbins; justices of the peace, Jacob Hildebrand, E. II. Ilinmai), William H. Plain; constables, John B. Robertson, Orriii Storv.

First Events

Tlio lir.st iiianiugo, according to tlio testimony of several old settlers, was that of Aretus Oillniore and Ora Weljl), an adojited dangliter of Adonii'am Webb. This conple wei'o nnited by Jolm S. Reid. The date we have been unable to ascertain. The service that united Abel Garlicli, a stone eutter of Cleveland, and Betsy Ferris, is said by some to have been the first ever celebrated, but the greatest weight of authority attests the priority of the marriage of the first-mentioned couple. The latter-mentioned marriage took ])lace, according to the best recollection of Exekiel G. Harnes, in IS:M or 18;il.

The elements of the pathetic and the grotesqr.e were strangely mingled upon the occasion of the first burial in the township. A very young child of the Webbs sickened and died soon after tiiey settled in tlie place. They were living at the time near Jacob 8hu|)e's, in the northern jiart of the township, but owned land in the southern part, upon which they intended to take up their permanent residence, and naturally desired that the child should be buried tlici'e. The distance to the Webb clearing was four miles. Old man Shupe took the child in its tinyeofliu, in front of him, upon his horse, and followed the trail through the woods to the jihieeof burial, whistling ;dl the way, and, it is alleged, to the tune of Vaii- L'cfl Dijodlv. The body of tlie child was consigned to mother earth, and this was the beginning of the little burying ground lying upon a gentle slope, at the right-hand side of the South Ridge road, as one goes I toward Heiirietta hill. Others of the family have long been sleeping by the side of the little one whose rude burial occurred more than half a century ago.

The first child born in the township was Betsey, daughter of Jacob Shupe. She was born in 1811, was twice married, the first time to John T. Clay, and then to one Musselman; she died in 1878, in Michigan.

Alon^o and Lorenzo, sons of Roswell Crocker, were the tirst twins born in the township. They are both living - the oldest men born in Amherst. They wore liorn ill Ajiril, 1819. Captain John S. Reid, of Black liiver, promised to name a vessel of his, about to be launched, after the twins, on condition that tlieir mother would take them on board and remain there with them until the vessel was in the water. Mrs. ( 'rocker took the babes to Black River and accepted Captain Reid's offer, but became afraid at the last moment and refused to comply with the condition the caiitain had imposed.

The first male child born in the township waf 'n all probaliility a son of Stephen Cable, but this car A be alisolutely afflnned. The first acre of tindjer cut in the township fell under the blows of Roswell Crocker's axe. He was engaged to cut it by Judge Harris, and the amount of pay agreed upon was four dollars. The work was performed so satisfactorily, and so (piickly, that the Judge made Mr. Crocker a

The first saw mill, the first grist mill, and tlie first distillery were luiilt iiy .lacob Shupe. It is ]>robable, too, that l_)y his hand was sowed the first wheat that turned to gold under the summer's sun in Amherst. The firil log house was built liy .Jacoli Sliiqie, and he undoubtedly built the tirst frame house. The first brick house was erected by one of the Oustines, and is still standing in North Amherst village, just west of Beaver creek, dwelt in by Ilalsey Belden. Chiliab Smith is thought to have built the second frame house; and (laptaiii Redington is generally accredited with the erection of the tirst frame building at South Amherst. 'J'he first school house was a small log structure upon the North ridge. Caleb Ormsby planted the first orchard, where the house of James M. Worthington now stands.

(rame was not so alnindant in Amherst, as in s(.)me of her sister townships. Deer were very plenty, and a few of the early settlers killed largo nundjers of them. All kinds of small game were found, but bears were not by any means common. Several were killed in the early tlays, and one was slaughtered as late as 1830. by Theron Wliite. It pursued .James Jackson, about half a mile, at a somewhat leisurely run, but sutficiently fast to nudic him exert all of his powers of pedestrianism.

Among the wild beasts to he found in the woods, the "shack" hogs were more feared than any other, animals, except Bruin. They were very ugly customers to meet in droves, and if the hunter did not take gooil care of himself, he was liable to receive terrible wounds from their long, sharp tusks. A small herd of them once drove Michael Jackson and two other boys, Isaac and Joseph \V'hel[)ley, to take refuge in a tree, and kejit them there half of 'the night.

Deer, as has been before said, were killed in great niimiiers during the first ten or fifteen years after the township was settled. It has already been I'elated that E/ekiel G. Barnes shot many of them. Other hunters did nearly as well. After 1825, or 1830, but few were seen, though there are several instances of their lieing found still later. Dr. Samuel Strong disjiatched one which, after running along the road for some time in front of his house, finally got its leg fastened in a. log bridge. Royal Barney had a terrible encouutiu- with a s])ike buck, upon the middle ridge, and came very near being worsted in the encounter, the animal turning at bay. He succeeded in getting hold of the hind feet of the buck, iiowever, and kee])iiig ujion the op])osite side of a small sapling, worried him until he lost strength, and then cut his ham strings and killed him. Mr. Barney came out of the struggle an almost completely used up man.

Sometimes luiiits were engaged in with great .lutici- ]);itions, and tlie results were very small; and adventures jilanned wliieli ended ludicrously enough. Something of the kind was within the experience of Rosvvcll Crocker. He had lost several sheep, or supjiosed that he had, and finally, with careful preparor tion and all due precaution, a ti-ap was cunningly set to capture the hear or wolves wliicli had committed the depredation. The next morning one of his own fine fat hogs was found in the trap enduring the torture as coolly as could be expected of an animal supposed to love ease and comfort.

Rattlesnakes were very numerous in tlie stone ridges, and were often killed by hunters and others who happened to go near their favorite haunts. They were much dreaded Ijy the settlers. It is related of a man by the name of Putnam, a brother-in-law of one of the Redingtons, that when he first came to the settlement he stepped upon a rattlesnake, and was so frightened that he returned to New York, and remained there forty years before he again ventureil into the western wilds.

Lost In The Woods

On one occasion Ezekiel G. Barnes, while upon a hunting exhibition, found himself at night a considerable distance from home, resolved to camj) out in the woods. His doing so was the cause of a life being saved. The silence of the forest was broken by a ci'y which sounded like a woman's voice, and evidently was borne from a quite distant ])oint. The young hunter lighted a torch at his little camp fire, and started through the dense wood in the direction from which the sound came. He had ]>rocceded alioufc half a mile, when he discovered a woman on horseback. She had lost the trail, and, afraid to descend from her horse on account of wolves, was in great jjcrplexity and distress, and, as may be sujiposed, was overjoyed at Mr. Barnes' appearance. The woman was Mrs. Porter, of Elyria, the mother of Samuel Porter, of North Amherst. She was on her way, when lost, to Jacob Shupe's, to get one of his daughters to assist in caring for her sick husband. Barnes went with Mrs. Porter to Shupe's house, and then returned with her to p]lyria, acting in the capacity of guide, ])hilosoi)her and friend.

An Early Fouiitii Of July Celemkation

Orimel Barney relates a pleasant incident of 1827, the first Fourth of .July celebration held in the settlement. Preiiarations were made for an out-door meeting u})on Independence I>ay, and as the weather was fine the few settlers who assembled had a very pleasant social time. The meeting was held on the farm of Daniel G. Whiton, and there were present nearly all of the settlers then resident in the township, with their families. The dinner was a substantial meal of venison, with turkey, wild grape puddings, iron-wo d bark coffee, and was washed down with occasional draughts of Ohio whisky, which was doubtless necessary to take away the taste of the peculiar variety of coffee used.

A Spirit Medium

Whisky was in the beginning of the settlement a legal tender or a circulating medium. Notes were made payable in whisky upon condition that the corn crop pi'oved good, and payable in hickory nuts if the corn cro|) should be poor. Not long after Jacob Shupe started his distillery several others were put in operation, and one locality had so many at one time that it was dubbed " Whiskyville" - a name which it retains to this day. Nearly all of the whisky manufactured was for home consumption, and was often given in payment for a day's work or in exchange for various commodities. The liquor had at least one merit. It was an honest article. The equivalent in money, for a gallon of whisky, was from a shilling up to twenty cents, and even two shillings. The distillers after Jacob Shupe were Michael Oustine, Ste- ])hen Gunn, Nathan Edson, Lewis Shupe, Elias ilann, .John Hildebrand & Snider, and Ira Tillotson.

The Eakly Temperance Society

The first temperance meeting was held in the summer of 1833. being gotten up by Captain Stanton Sholes. A society was formed of which he was made president. Dr. Samuel Strong, vice-president, and Di: John Quigley, secretary and treasurer. There were fifteen members. One of them - Wesley Perkins - Being sick sometime after the organization of the society, sent to Orlum Winton's for whisky. Winton happened to be out of the required article, and thinking it would be a g(jod joke upon the newly fledged total abstinence man, sent him a bottle of spring water. Judge Harris, on learning of the trick, reproved Mr. Winton, and getting his own jug filled, took it to Perkins' house, where, soon after, another friend arrived bringing a bottle of wine and other delicacies, intended, jirobably, to counteract the effect of the water, in case the sick man had I'aslily drunk of it.

Mormonism

In IS.'Sl, or []w, following year, Mornionisni made its api)earance in the community, and gained from forty to fifty adherents. One of the jireachers was a man named Fuller, and the arch-ai>ostle, Rigdon, also labored in this field. They preached in ])rivate houses; iield meetings quite frequently, and at one time aroused a considerable excitement. A few of the converts made joined in the westward heigera, but most of them became lukewarm in the faith, or relapsed altogether into the old manner of life and way of tliinking.

The church history of Amherst, could it all be produced, would make a bulky and interesting chajiter. The zeal of the peojile for organizing churches

Geokge Bryant

George Biyaiit was born at Stanley, Gloucestershire, England, and is the eldest of a family of six children of John and Pamelia (Collins) Bryant, of Gloucestershire, who emigrated to this country in company with his brother's family and others in the year 1829, landing in New York on the 29th day of November of that year. They went from New York to Philadelphia, at which latter place they remained until April, 1830, when they returned to New York, and proceeded thence up the Hudsou River to Albany, in a packet commanded by Captain Littk'john. At Albany they took passage on the Erie Canal, and after a week's travel arrived at Buffalo. After a sojourn of a few days in the then infant Lake city, they embarked on the schooner " Young Lion," bound for Sandusky, where they landed in the early days of ISIay, 1830. From Sandusky they proceeded to Norwalk, and on the 8th day of October, just one year from the time of leaving their home in the old country, they settled in the present town of Amherst, and one year later purchased the farm now owned and occupied by George Bryant, whose name heads these lines.

On the 5th of January, 1837, Mr. Bryant married Adeline Lodoisk, daughter of Adinirum Webb and Deidamia Moore, of English ancestry, though Americans by birth. This niarria2:e was blessed with eiglit children, of whom five are living, namely: Mary D., wife of James Redford, of Hays City, Kan.sas ; George W., married Sarah Howard, lives near the old homestead; Parniclia C, wife of George Caiup, of Laport, Lorain Co., Oiiio; Elmer C, married

Hainiali Kelley, and resides in South Amherst; Charles C. lives with his parents; Ellen T., wife of Darius Plumb, she died May 10, 1863 ; Fernando D., died Feb. 18, 1841; Dorliska, died Sept. 11, 1841.

Soon after his marriage Mr. Bryant commenced clearing land, and cleared ninety-one acres on the farm now owned by Lyman Cole. On the 16th of February, 1865, he moved on to the farm he at present occupies, and has continued to improve it ever since. He now has a well-cultivated and productive farm, upon which are comfortable buildings. He is one of the pioneers of Lorain County, an<l a good practical farmer. He is now sixty-four years of age, and his wife is sixty-two, and they have lived together forty-two years.

In the year 1836, John Bryant, father of the subject of this sketch, erected u residence on the present site of that in which the latter now resides, and while on his way from Pittsburgh, whither he had gone to purchase windows and doors, the house was destroyed by fire. He rebuilt in 1837 the hou.se now occujued by his son George.

Mrs. Bryant is a member of the Congregational Church of Amherst, with which she formerly united in 1864. Mr. Bryant is a man of great personal integrity and general worth, and a firm believer in moral manhood. Himself and wife are both liberal supporters of all enterprises tending to the public good or the advancement of the community in which they have lived so long, and in which they are so highly respected and esteemed.

John J. Kendeigh

The Kendeigh family is of Genuan origin, the progenitors of the present stock having settled in Lancaster Co., Pa., some years prior to the commencement of the present century. Henry Kendeigh, Sr., of Lancaster, had two sons, Henry and John ; the former born Jan. 20, 1796; the latter, Jan. 8, 1800. When John was quite young, his father removed to Lebanon Co., Pa., and to Carlisle, Perry Co., in 1812. In 1823, Henry and John Kendeigh were induced to move to Ohio by their brother-in-law, Abram Rice, starting from Westmoreland Co., Pa. They occupied two weeks in making the journey. John made the entire distance of three hundred miles on foot, driving before him thirty sheep and three head of cattle, and keeping pace with the team which brought his family, and which was driven by his brother-in-law above named. Henry drove a team consisting of three horses and a Pennsylvania wagon, in which were his wife and two sons, Daniel and John J., together with their goods and chattels. Henry married Nancy Rice, and John married Mary Rice, sisters of Abram Rice. After coming to Ohio, John J. Kendeigh married Cecelia Tooze, of Tiverton, Devonshire, England, March 18, 18G3. She was born May 11, 1839, and came to Oberlin in the fall of 1856. To them were born three children, namely, - Henry B., born Feb. 19, 1866; Jonas E., born May 3, 1867 ; Mary Emma A., born March 27, 1873. The two latter were born in the old homestead at Kendeigh 's Corners.

Mrs. Kendeigh was an old and succe.ssful teacher, having spent some time in study at Oberlin. She taught school in Pittsfield, Oberlin, Russia township, and South Amherst, and also in the district in which she now resides.

John J. Kendeigh was born in Fayette Co., Pa., Aug. 5, 1820. His father died in 1836, leaving a family of five sons and one daughter to the care of his widow. John J., the subject proper of this sketch, being the eldest, though only sixteen, had to take the place of his father to some extent in assisting his mother to care properly for the other children. The fidelity with which he fulfilled this mission is best known to his brothers and sister who survive him, and remember with grateful aifection his labors of love for them. Through the whole of his life, Mr. Kendeigh has had more than an ordinary share of responsibility on his hands. For fifteen years his mother was a great sufferer from that painful disease, chronic rheumatism. For many years he cared for her alone, much of the time attending to the farm and doing the work of the house. After his marriage, as above stated, his wife proved a helper indeed to him, and cheerfully assumed a part of the care of his afflicted mother. Faithfully and well did each fulfill their mission of love for the dear one until her sufierings were terminated by death, July 14, 1871, after having been bedridden for four and a half years.

]Mr. Kendeigh was a mechanic by nature, especially as a carpenter and joiner. At an early day he acquired a dexterity and aptness for tools used in that branch of business, and buildings erected even in his boyhood arc among the most elegant in his neighborhood, and are regarded as superb pieces of workmanship. Mr. Kendeigh was a man of natural taste and refinement. He was a genuine musician ; sang well and played excellently. He had a fondness for sacred music, and held a place in the choir of the Congregational Church for many years. His soul was attuned to music, which had a harmonizing and refining influence on all the social elements of his life.

After an eminently useful and honorable life, he died June 2, 1876, and his earthly remains repose in the family burying-ground at Kendeigh's Corners. He left a most amiable and loving wife and three children (mentioned above) to mourn the irreparable loss of a fond husband and an affectionate father. They enjoy the consolation, however, that, owing to his blameless and meritorious life, their loss will be his gain.

seems only to luive been equalled by their cureless disregnrd of retaining records. Eiohteen or twenty churcbes have been organized, and ten are in existence at the present writing, but the older organizations which have the most interesting history, liave witiiout exception failed to preserve their early papei's, and in two or three instances have nothing whatever worthy of tiienanicof record. The historian has, therefore, been conij)elled to rely solely upon the menioi-y of early residents. A strange anecdote, but one of which the truth is attested by many persons, is related of the building of the first

A class had been in existence for some time, but no church building had ever been erected up to 1830, or perliaps 1833. Some time between the years here mentioned, Captain Stanton Sholes, an eccentric, but honorable man, of whom mention has been heretofore made, became the instrument, in the hand of Providence, for the establishment of a .place of worshij). He was riding his horse along the road one day, when the animal, making a vicious sidelong movement, unseated him. His foot remained fastened in the stirrup, and he was dragged along the rougli road for some distance at a terrible rate of s])eed. Ilis life was of course in great peril. Captain Sholes testified afterwards that he was never so thoroughly frightened and overcome with the fear of a horrible death as at this time, lie instinctively, as persons will when in danger, prayed that^ his life might be spared, and made a promise within his heart that if God delivered him from death, he would build llim a house of worship. Almost instantly the horse stopjjed, and hastily extricating himself from his perilous position, he resumed his ride. Within three days from this occurrence, the captain, true to the sacred promise he had made, began preparations for the building of a meeting house. Tlie work was soon pushed to comjiletion, but some obstacles to its i)rogress were met with and overcome. When the frame was in readiness to be raised, a large crowd gathered to assist in tlie work; but Captain Sholes, who was a staunch temperance man, refusing to furnish liquor, tlie men could not be induced to exert themselves. They had assembled with the expectation of having a wild carouse. They could not forego the pleasure, and they succeeded before they dispersed in having what was probably tlie largest spree ever known in Amherst. When they found that there was no hope of getting any li((uor from Captain Sholes, they purchased quite a quantity, procured miljc and sugar, and bringing a large churn out on to the village green, made up a collossal punch, of which all who chose to, imbibed, some so freely tliat the effects of the li(|Uor were very plainly visible. There are not a few gray-haired men now in Amherst who i-emember the scene presented upon the little park that day; and there are some who look back to the occasion as the first and only time they were ever under the influence of the ardent. The church was not raised until some days or weeks later, wlien Captain Sholes gathered together the total abstinence men of several adjacent townships, and had the pleasure of seeing the building go up.

There is no record left to show who was the first preachei' in this historical house, or who were tiio early otlieers of thechun^h. The building remained in use until it was replaced' in 1875 by a more commodious structure, at a cost of three thousand dollars. The trustees in 1878 were James .Jackson, Walter Seeley, E. C. Shuler, V. A. Criffin aud James Abel. Following are the stewards: James Jnckson, Walter Seeley, E. CI. Shulei-, Alvah T. Johnson (recording steward). Kev. S. E. Breen became ])astor in 1878.

None of the early records of this church are in existence, aud the information which the historian has been able to glean in regard to it, is not of an exact nature, as dates cannot be supplied. The church came into being soon after that of the Methodists, in whose house it was organized by the assistance of Kev. Dr. Betts and the Rev. Brown, of Brownhelm, Father Eells and the Rev. Goodell, of Birmingham. The original members were John Cliapin aud wife, A. S. Moffatt and wife. Freeman Nye and wife, Nathan King, Miss Bassett, Almond Chapin, Homer Tyrell,

Miss Harriet Chapin. John Chapin and A. S. Moffatt were elected deacons. Father Eells preached for a short time after the organization of the church.

The church split, in two or three years, upon the rock of abolitionism, several members who lived on the South Ridge withdrawing and forming a separate association. The church was one-half or two-thirds composed of whigs, with a sprinkling of democrats and abolitionists. A. S. Moffat, who is mentioned as one of the first members cast the first abolition vote in Amherst. The present church building was erected in 1840, after a long and tiresome exertion on the ]»art of a few strong sup[)i)rters of Congregationalism. The lot was a gift from Judge Harris. There were two factions iri the church. One of them strove to keep the church within the Congregational Association, and the other endeavored to achieve an independent organization. The latter was successful, but the church, after several years' existence in an inde ]icndent state, went back into the association. The preaching for a number of years was almost entirely by the professors from Oberlin College. At the close of the year, 1878, the church makes a favorable showing as regards membership) and general prosperity. The membership is sixty-five. Present pastor. Rev. H. C. Haskell. Officers of the church : clerk, Mrs. George Bryant ; deacons, E. P. Tuttle, Alexander Lambertson. Officers of the society: trustees, John B. Clough, A. L. Spitzer, A. Riggs ; secretary, E. H. Hinman; treasurer, Charles E. Cook.

Tills chui-cli was organized in the fall of 1824, and meetings were held at Welilj's house and other dwellings until 1838, when a jjhice of worship was raised which has since then been In use. ifcv. Charles Elliott was the first minister. George Dlsbrow was elected clerk.

The pastor, in 1878, was Rev. S. E. IJreen, who also has charge of the M. E. Ohuroii at North Amherst. The trustees at present are 0. A. Feleh, Jolin Petty, Edwin Durand, James Wyatt and Jonathan Messoll ; stewards, John Petty, Edwin Durand and James Butson.

The North Amherst Baptist Church

It is probalde that ]ireaclinig was Ijegun t)y the Baptists in North Andierst at a very early day. The Rev. Geo. R. Bryant is known to liave oceaslonallv preached there. The present Baptist church was organized in the winter of 1854. The Rev. Geo. W. Allen, having resigned his pastorate at Birmingham, came to reside up.ni the south ridge, and being disengaged, was urged to pi-cach fur the few Baptists in the vicinity. Tiie lirst meeting held Ijy him was in the Metiiodist ciiurch in Decembei' of 1853. In the following winter a series of meetings were held and many persons experienced religion. A strong desire for church fellowship being engendered, notice was given of the intention to organize a church, and on the 8tli day of Feliruary, ]8.")4, a number of persons holding, lettei-s of dismissal from various Baptist churches assembled in the Methodist meeting-house, where, after preaching by the Rev. S. Wadsworth, the regular Baptist cluireii in North Amherst was organized with the following members: Rev. Geo. W. Allen, Lewis R. Cook, Liith; r Owen, Beujamin Iirdfeni, Luther IJonner, Ansel F. Wattles, Reuben Allen, Phebe A. Bonner, Emellne C'ook, Rutli Crocker, Elizabeth A. Blanchett, Eliza Bonner, Mary Wilford, Lucy A. Barney, Nancy Owen, Hannah 0. Allen and Pearly Allen. Lewis R. Cook was chosen clerk. L. Owen and L. Bonner were made deacons. Rev. Geo. W. Allen was the first minister of the church. The first persons ba.]itlzed were Abigail Wattles, Bliss Remington, William Wilkinson, Anna Medlnirn, Anna Maria Foster and Emily G. Cook, March 12, 1854. The place of meeting was for two years the old school house or town hall, but In 185G was commenced the erection of I be l)resent cliurch edifice. It was dedicated in December of the same year, the Rev. J. I). Fulton, then of Sandusky, otficlatlng. The lot upon which the structure was raised was beught of the Cleveland and Toledo railroad company. Rev. Anuisa Heath became pastor in 1857 and was superseded in 1800, after nine years efficient service, ])y the Rev. Charles II. DeWolf, then of Seville. In Septendjer, 18G7, Rev. S. Jones, of Rldgevllle, became pastor, and two years later gave place to the Rev. William U. Stenger, of Zanesville.

Rev. C. C. Park entered upon his pastorate in November of 1870. The present deacons of the church are N. L. Cotton and Frank Snyder; and the clerk, Lester Cook. Ezra Straw, Frank Snyder and Lester Cook are trustees.

'J'iils German church was organized in 1845. The presiding elder was J. G. Zinger, and the constituent members were J. G. Tliouer, Adam Iloll, Phil Rau, John Berk, Philip Beal, John Holzhauer, Jacob Vetter, Geo. Miller and Geo. Ilosenfplug. The new church was established in l.sri4, and the building was brougiit from Browiihelm. Tlie j)ai'sonage was built in 1861. The jiresent jiastor is the Rev. Jacob llonnecker. Tills church Is in the village of North Amherst, but has a lirancli u]ion the south ridge road, of which Rev. Leonard Li ler was tiie first minister.

The Concregational Ciiurch Of Soi'Tii Amiieust

was organized on "the second day of December, 1834. Addison Tracy was clerk; Alexander Gaston was ajipolnted deacon in January, 1835. The church building was erected in the winter of 1838 and 1839. H. Tyler is the present supply pastor, and the following are the present officers of the church: Deacons, Lyman Cole, Alonzo Wright, Sr. , J. W. Humphrey; clerk of the church, George Prince; clerk of the society, Alonzo Wright; treasurer, D. J. Dulmage; trustees, D. J. Dulmage, (ieorge Prince and Luther Clark.

was established in North Amherst in 1874, and luis, at the present writing, a nienibei'siil|i of thirty-seven persons. Rev. Louis Damuiaiin is pastor, and has held that office for three years. The trustees elected for 1878 were L. Boeslng, William Ilintzand WiUiani tirugal.

was constituted ir. October, 1857. Tiie lirst trustees were Adam Ilargeniann, B. Ilililebnuid, Henry Young and John Sehaiier. 'I'he present pastor is the Rev. Jacol) Von Tabel, and the trustees are John G. Bans, (i. Cotli, H. Scliunch, John I'reidrlch, F. Reffennlg, (i. Roth and V. Fey. Tlie cburc-li is' in North Amherst.

of North Amherst originated in 18G8. Previous to that time Rev. L. Molon, of Elyria, had been for three years holding monthly services in a room belonging to John Plato, in the old Reuben Wooleott building. About six families attended. The congregation having considerably increased, it was decided, in 18G8, to have a snitablc place for holding religious services, and accordingly a lot was bought of Joseph Trost, on Tenney Street, upon which was erected a church building thirty by forty feet m dimension, which was consecrated ou the 15th of

August. Ill 1873, Rev. R, Roucliey was settled as pastor of the Vermillion and North Amherst Catholic churches, and, after he hud been with the society for one year, it was found that it had grown so as to necessitate an enlargement of tlie building. The addition was built in 1873. Rev. Roucliey was in charge of the congregation up to August, 1875, after wliich, the present ])riest. Rev. Joseph Roemer, was sent liy Bishop Gilmour to take charge of the church, and also that at Vermillion.

School houses wore built at an early day in the north and south parts of the township. It is now impossible to ascertain vyhich jiortion of the settlement tlie j^enple first did honor unto themselves, by providing for the instruction of their children. A school house located on lot forty-eight, ujton tlic south ridge, is said to have l)een the first in the township. Sophronia Rlair taught a small school tliere. Another was built upon lot thirty-eight, just east of "the corners" n,nd outside of the present corporation line of North Amiierst. Miss Fanney Barnes (now Mrs. David Smitii) was teacher here in the summer of 1823, and afterward Miss Philania Barney, (Mrs. S. N. Moore), taught in the same log building. Joseph Quigley erected a building near his home for the quaker Mollenoux to preach in, and it was also used as a school-liouse until Henry Walker bought it and converted it into a dwelling house. Miss Murray of Carlisle, afterwards the wife of Clark Eldred, of Elyria, was the first teacher in this school-house. The first male teacher was either Wm. H. Root of Sheffield, or J. A. Harris. Both of them taught at an early day in the (Quigley school. Joseph L. and Daniel G. Wliiton were also teachers.

The present district-schools of Amherst, and the public schools of North Amherst, compare favorabl}' with those of otlier places of similar size. Passing from the mention of tlie smaller district and sub-district-schools, we will follow the growth that ha.s created the present school of North Amherst village. It was not long before tlie accommodations of tlie old school-houses, with their rough slab seats with pegs driven in them for legs, were found insufficient for the growing needs of the community. The old town-liall, a frame building twenty-five by thirty-five feet in dimensions, was used as a school-house until 184!), when it was removed to its present location, on Clnirch street. Hereafter being made more appropriate for the use intended, by refitting, it was again made to serve as a jilace for the education of the youth until 1856, when it was found to be too small for the increased number of pupils. In the year mentioned the village of Amherstville, as it was tiien called, was organized into a union school-district, with Josiah Harris, Alvah T. Jolinson, Dr. A. A. Crosse, Dr. A. C. Moore, Daniel Axtell and M. Wilton as directors. Judge Harris donated a piece of land as a site for a school-house, and the directors, after some delay,made arrangements for the creation of a brick building. Charles Tjeach drew the plan, and the contract for Iniilding was awarded to Daniel Axtell and M. Durand. The building was erected, two stories in height, and twenty five by forty feet. The brick were made from clay taken from the cellar and baked upon the spot. 'I'hc cost of this building was about three thousand two hundred dollars. In 1874 the building was found inadequate to accommodate the cliildren of the village, and an addition was built, which nearly doubled the capacity of the school. Plans for the addition were drawn by L. Dickenson, and the eontract was let to Pliilip SilHe and Adam IIoll. The new part, and rejiairs ujion tlie old, cost six thousand dollars. 'I'liis Iniilding affords, at the present writing, ample accommodation for over five hundred children. The jtresent suiierintendent is J. P. Yarrick, and the school board is composed of John P. Jenne, president; George E. Biyant, secretary; E. C. Shuler, Joseph Barber, John G. Bans and Henry A. Plato. The first superintendent under the system now in vogue was 1j. a. Gray.

Prior to 1830 there was no resident physician in An;herst. Dr. Baker, of Florence, and Dr. Chairman, of Elyria, administered to the sick up to that year. Dr. Samuel Strong came in 1830, and was the pioneer of a host of medical gentlemen who came after. Following is a list of the physicians in the order of their coming : Drs. Samuel Strong, Cook, Smith, Luman Tenney, Wright, L. D. Griswold, B. F. Blackmer, II. F. Hulibard, A. A. Crosse, Sladiel, Tompkins, Smith 2nd, Charles Crosse, C. C. Orandall, J. Bryant, Woigaud, Evans, Price, A. C. Moore, Wilsey, More, Tuttle, Leuse, Gibbs, Oaks, Arndt, Mrs Arndt, Schenck, Schraeder, Reitel, Charles Rockwood, D. W. Starkey, H. Lilly, 0. P. Maynard.

Tlie present Middle Ridge road was opened as a trail at a very early day, and it is probable that the first mail was carried through the township upon the line of this road. Roliert Wolverton was the first mail carrier. The Telegraph or South Ridge road was next opened and put in good shape, and the stage coaches carrying mail and passengers went tlirougli on this road. The Cleveland road was next laid out, Hiram Belden doing much of the surveying.

Burial I'Laoes

The burying grounds in Amherst are more numerous than in most townships. The first one laid out was that on the Cleveland road just east of the village of North Amherst. There is one upon the Middle Ridge (lot sixty-three), one near Kendeigh's corners, lot (ninety-four), one at Webb's corners, one

The first tavern kept at South Amherst, was that of the Webbs. Stephen Cable kept soon after. At North Amherst, when it was known as "the corners," Judge Harris had a log tavern very soon after his arrival in 1818, and was landlord for many years. The Henrie house, or rather a small portion of it, was originally built by Dr. Samuel Strong. Following is a list of landlords at North Amherst down to and including thejjresent proprietor of the Henrie house: Josiah Harris, L. Foster, Father Champney (Old Pie), J. B. Whelpley, Wm. F. Ringland, L. P. Harris, Thomas Case, Ira B. Tillotson, Thomas Brown, .Tames Allen, .Joseph Hamlin, Franklin Blackmer, Smith E. Crandall, Orimel Barney, H. F. Hubbard, Smith Steele, John Steele, Horace Steele, Samuel Ketideigh, Joseph Trost, .James Jackson, M. .Jackson, Latliro]) & Walker, and M. .Jackson.

Industrial Pursuits

The vast formation of sandstone underlying a j)ortiou of the State, seems nowhere to be of better quality for purposes of architecture, than in the township of Amherst and its vicinity. Tlie quarrying business is here most eminently practicable, and the stone laud being near the lake, the question of transportation was ready solved, as soon as the work of taking out the treasure was commenced. The close pro.Kimity of the L. S. & M. S. R. R. offers another great advantage to those whose business it is to delve for a nation's building material.

Nature has formed here, and left accessible to man, what is practically an inexhaustible sup[)ly of the best building stone upon earth. Estimating the thickness of tiie stone at an average of only lifty feet, - -and good authorities say that it must be nearer an hundred, - the number of cubic feet afforded by one acre would be over two million. One hundred men could scarcely <juarry out a full aero from top to bottom in less than ten years" constant labor. Vast as has been the amount of stone taken from the Amherst quarries, it sinks into insignificance in comparison with that remaining. The stone lies almost entirely above the ground, and above the drainage level, and the huge blocks sent to all parts of the United States, Canada, and even Soutii America, are quarried without any of the obstructions found in other parts of the country. A list of hundreds of buildings built of the Amherst stone might bo given, imt we have space for only a few of the most important as follows:

The Stone business of Amherst, like all great industries, had a small and humble beginning. Before the great value of the stone was known, owners of the best quarry land in Amherst and vicinity would gladly have taken for an acre of the so called "waste land" what is now-a-days paid for fifty cubic feet of building block, or its equivalent in grindstones.

Henry Warner first opened the Browniielm quarry, now owned by the Worthingtons, in 1847, and is believed to have shiiqiod the first stone sent out from this section. The blocks were hauled on wagons to Vermillion, and from there shipped to their destination in Canada, having been jjurchased by John Worthington, then a contractor. Mr. Warner gave for this quarry six hundred dollars, worked it six years, and then sold it for six thousand dollars. He was a native of Middlesex county, Connecticut, and had a varied experience before he became one of the pioneer ([uarrymen of Lorain county.

Grindstones were taken out of the John Elliott quarry, lots fifty-nine and sixty in Amherst, in 1848, by Sylvester Silsby. There were no lathes then in use, and the work of shaping the stones was done entirely with the chisel. This quarry was worked for fifteen years by William James, who finally bought it of Elliott. Parks and E. C. Foster were the next owners, and they sold to Ceorge E. Hall, of Cleveland, who, ill turn, sold to Worthington & Sons. lilock stone was furnished from this quarry for the building of the abutments of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southein Kailroad bridge at Ashtabula, when -the road was established. It was taken out by Ackley & Smith.

Henry Warner was associated with Mr. Clark in the ownership of the middle quarry, now owned by the Clougli Company, in 1854. Baxter Clough bought into this quarry, and soon became the sole owner. Warner afterwards became owner of what is at this writing the Ilaldeman quarry.

Nearly all of the stone quarries of this townshi2i have l>assed through the ownership of many parties, and been developed in different degrees by each until to-day they form such a collossal interest as to have brought together ciiougli jteople to form a village of one tliousaiul and five luiiulred inlnibitaiits. North Anilierst has grown almost entiri-ly from the stimulus given by the development of the stone, and as it is lioth literally andfigurativelylniiltuponarock, its safety of existence and jirosiierity is assured. A great change lias taken place since tlie first small opening was made for tlic purpose of taking out stone. The whole northern and western part of the township may be said to fairly liristle with heavy iron rigged derricks which, worked t)y powerful engines, swing ponderous blocks of stone from the deep rugged walled caverns to the ground above, and deposit tiiem upon railroad cars, or swing them to the saw mill and turning lathe. Hundreds of men, assisted by the giant slave, steam, are toiling in the ledges and pits, taking out the rough stone, which under the chisel of the artizan shall be conformed into shapes of grace and beauty and strength, to lend majesty to the Iniildings in the great marts of trade.

Most of the growth of the stone industry of Amherst and tlie adjacent country has Iteen the result of the business, energy tact of the present proprietors of the quarries. Wo have endeavored to secure facts, which briefly related, will convey to the reader an idea of what has been acconijilished.

Ti[E WoKTiiiNfJTON QuAURiES are extensively worked by James M. and George H. Worth ington. The elder Wortliington was a man of great energy and business shrewdness, a native of Canada, and a large contractor upon government buildings. He came to Amherst and bought into the quarries in 1853. The business once embarked in, it was not long before he became one of the most extensive owners and operators of quarry property, in the country. His sons carry on the business in a large way, at present. They have quarries in lots fifty-nine and sixty, Amiierst, (formerly known as the Hall), also in Krownhelra, lots twenty-seven and twenty-eight, also valuable quarry projierty at Grindstone City, Huron county, Michigan, and an extensive dock at Vermillion harbor, from which point their Amherst and Brownhelm stone is shipped. This is supplied with three heavy derricks. They run seven engines, nine lathes, and six gangs of saws. Their houses and tools were valued in 1876, at fifty-eight thousand dollars, and tlieir real estate at one hundred and sixty thousand dollars. During the years 1871, 1873 and 1873, their sales of grindstones amounted respectively to fractions over seven thousand nine hundred and fift}', nine thousand seven hundred and twenty-six, and nine thousand two hundred and twenty-six tons. The sales of block stone were in 1871, one hundred and eighty-eight thousand two hundred and thirtythree cubic feet; in 1873, two hundred and forty-seven thousand two hundred and thirty-nine cubic feet, and in 1873, two hundred and five thousand four hundred and ninety cubic feet. Beside their office in North

The Wilson & Hughes Stone Company own quarries in lots fifty-nine and sixty-two. Their office is in Cleveland. The (juarries were opened in 1803, and all of the stone taken out of them at that time had to be hauled either to Black River, or the village of North Amherst, but in 18(18 a contract was made with the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Company, wherel)y they extended tracks into the quarries from the main road, and since then the business has been largely increased. The business has been successful from the first, and the average yearly sales have amounted to from fifty thousand to one hundred thousand dollars. The quarry property consists of about thirty-seven acres, and the company has all of the modern improvements, such as steam derricks, engines, saw mill, lathe, shojis and dwelling houses for the employes. The quarries are in good condition and working order, and among the best in Amherst. A. Hughes is president of the company, and William and J. F. Wilson are superintendents.

L. Haldeman & Son. - The quarry property owned by this firm, having their office in Cleveland, consists of about thirty-five acres in lots eighteen and nineteen, and the first stone was taken out by Wilson & Cook in 1808 or the following year. Messrs. Haldeman & Son purchased from McDermott & Cromwell, in March, 1873. The quarry had been worked but little nntil the ju'esent jiropriotors bought it. The valuation of the projierty is, including machinery, tools, etc., seventy-five thousand dollars. Average sales for the years 187-1:, 1875, 1876 and 1877, have been in the neighborhood of one hundred thousand dollars. The firm has excellent facilities for quarrying and shipping building and grindstone, and is largely interested in the manufacture of the latter. Their trade includes the prominent axe, edge tool and saw manufacturers throughout the United States and Canada. Block stone has been furnished for the construction of some of the largest buildings in the leading cities.

TriE Amiiekst Stone Company has for its officers: president, Truman Denham; vice-president, J. E. French; secretary and treasurer, W. S. Dodge. The office of the company is in Cleveland. Their property in Amherst is known as the old Quigley jjroperty, and consists of twenty-nine acres in lot four, and twentysix and a half acres in lot ninety-seven. The quarry was opened by the company in the fall of 1872, and is now ])rovided with seven derricks, grindstone lathes and a saw mill. The sales since the opening of the ffuarry have aggregated about two hundred and thirty thousand dollars.

The Turkey Rock Quarry - so called because the tracks of turkeys were found at an early day in tiie rock near the foot of some large trees - is the ]iroiierty of W. H. Bryant, who pui chased it in 1874 from Nathaniel Bryant. The quarry was opened the same year that this transfer was made. The projierty lies in lot fourteen, and consists of about twelve or thirteen acres. Most of the rock taken from this quarry has been made into grindstones because of its peculiar grit, and tliey rival the famous Wickersley stones of England. The grain in the rock pitches toward the north at a uniform angle, showing tliis was once the shore line of Lake Erie. The stone found below the shore formation is soft, and very much more open than any other fnund in tlic noigliborhood, and this soft stone is made a s})ecialty by Mr. Bryant for tool-grinding. The product from tlie quarry has amounted to six or seven liiiiidied tons, ])riucipally of the variety known as the American Wickersley.

.Tames Nichol, a native of Dundee, Scotland, came to tliis country in 1853. He was a stoae cutter by trade, and for the next nine years after arrival in New York followed this occupation iu various cities. lie took tlie management of the Messrs. Wortiiington's Urowuholm ([uarry until 1870, when he removed to Andierst and took up his residence upon a farm which lie bad bought of llaunab Hubbard and Sally Owen. Adjoining this farm, in lot fifty-nine, was the quarry which he purchased of Joseph Barber in 18G7, and which lias since been generally known as the Nicliol i|ii;irry. Mr. Nichol remained some time as silent partner of the Messrs. Wdrtliington, acting as general superintendent of all the quarries ()j)erate(l by that firm. At the expiration of that partnership, in 187<), he immediately entered the niarket on his own account, operating his own quarry, and manufacturing building, grind and scythe stones. In February, 1877, with Dudley Miller, of New York, he entered into the partnership of Nichol & Miller, each owning one balf of a quarry containing fifty-tliree acres, located in Florence township, Erie county, Ohio, with main office at North Amherst, Ohio. Tlie thorough and extended accpiaintance that Mr. Nichol had with all the details connected with the stone Inisiness, enaliled this comparatively new firm to at once occupy a prominent jiosition in tlie market. At the pivsent time they have a large and constantly increasing trade in building, grind and scythe stones, in the markets of the United States, and a large share of the export trade.

Besides the quarries heretofore described, there are a number of others which are small, and either not worked at all, or conducted u])on a plan iiuich less extensive than those mentioned in the foregoing. We mention the names and the location of each by lot number: Ohio Stone Company, fifty-nine; James Wyatt, ninety-seven; Grove Quarry, ninety-seven; J. D. Bothwell, fifty-nine; Samuel Keudeigh, ninetythree; Joseph Barber, ninety-three (opening); Butler Quarry, ninety-eight, owned by the heirs of Charles Collins. Besides these, again, there are many still smaller quarries located u]ion farms, and used only as a mine from which the owner may procure what

The first grist mill and the first saw mill were Iniilt by Jacob Shuiio, about 1814 or 1815. A few years after, he moved iiis grist mill from Beaver creek up to the corners, and connected with it a carding machine, which was at that time the only one in a largo stretch of country. He endeavored to run this mill with a horse power, but was not satisfied, and moved back to the old site and run it again by water power. The second grist mill was built at North Amherst, on the site that the brewery now occupies, by Hildebraud & Snider. A Mr. Smith built the third mill in the south part of the village, upon the Elyria road, and the same man, in 18G1, built the stone mill at the foot of the hill west of North Amherst park. Mr. Hitchcock built a mill on Church street, which was taken jiossession of, in 1865, by Hazel & Thompson. After this, Daniel Frees and Mr. Boardman built a mill on the flats between the east and west parts of North Amherst village. At present, those engaged in this business are John Ueyman and Jolui Uerloek.

After Jacob Shupe's mill, built on Beaver creek, at the north line of the township, Eliphalet liediiigton built a saw mill at South Amherst. A. T. Johnson limit one between the North and JMiddle ridges, and a Mr. S;i wtell built one in S.iuth Amherst just north of IJedington's. .Tosiah Harris ]nit up a mill on Harris creek, just south of North Amherst. Royal Barney, and a man by tlie name of Norton, built a mill on Barney creek (then called Beaver), in 1820, and sawed a great deal of lumber. Good whitj^'- wood was at that time worth but four dollars jicr thousand feet. In 1831, John T. Clay constructed a mill on the same creek, and Ephraim Tovvne had one a few years later. David Smith built a mill on Smith creek, near the South ridge, about 1S30. Pliilii> Oustine, the Graves Brothers, and Harry anJ William Oustine also had saw mills at an early day. Most of these were what were known ns '-thunder shower mills," and were only in running order during a small part of the year. Three steam saw mills have been built in the village of North Amherst, and four more in the township. Those now in operation are G. C. Prince's, South Amherst, lot ten; J. E. Keudeigh's and George Gill's, in North Amherst village.

MiscELLAXEous. - J. J. Ricc, Lcck & Cook, have an iron foundry ujion lot ninety-five, where they carry on the manufacture of plows and agricultural implements. It was started in 1843, or the following year, by members of the Rice family. "'

There are two cheese factories in the township. Eggleston, Braman & Co. own one which is located upon lot ten, just off from the south ridge road. They take the milk of about six hundred cows, and in 1878 manufactured nearly two hundred thousand pounds of cheese, and about thirty-five thousand pounds of butter. This cheese factory and creamery was established in 1874.

Henry Warner

Henry Warner was born in Middletown, Middlesex Co., Conn., Oct. 16, 1801. He was united in marriage April 21, 1825, to Elizabeth Whitcoin, of Wayne Co., N. Y. By this union were born eleven children, viz. : William H., John V., Esther A., Maria J., Malita A., Augustus A., Jerome B., Cyrenius P., Vandalia S., Irving N., and Valeria E., two of whom are living. Augustus A. resides in Ashtabula Co., Ohio ; Cyreniiis, in Michigan.

The subject of this memoir moved to Brownhelm, Lorain Co., Ohio, in 1847, having previously purchased the stone quarry now owned by the Worthington Brothers. From this quarry he shijjped, it

Some time in 1854 or 1855 he was associated with Baxter Clough in the quarry business, and was owner of the Haldeman quarry in 1847. He spent his days on the fai'm where he died, which is now owned and occupied by his son-in-law, J. R. Miller, and located about one mile east of North Amherst village, on the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway.

Another factory, the property of Eggleston, Horr & Warner, is located upon lot cighty-seveu, a few rods from the Elyria liuo, and near the telegraph road.

North Amherst Village

Early iu the history of Amherst township, the nucleus for a village was formed upon tiie north ridge, about a mile northwest of the center of the townshii). This settlement, - the embryo village of North Amherst, - was known for many years as "the corners."' .Judge Josiah Harris had (piite a tract of land here, and he laid out a portion of it in lots, and founded the village of Andierstville. Through the decades, beginning with the years 1830, 1840, and 1850, the gi-owtli of the village was slow, but it received an impetus from the building of the Lake Shore railroad, then called the Cleveland and Toledo railroad, and gradually increased in size, and built up in business importance until 1870, when the stone tjuarries began to lie worked upon a scale of enterprise much further advanced than ever before, and then for several years the population increased quite rapidly.

About this time Milo Harris purchased the interest of the other heirs of his father's estate, laid out an aildition to the village, changed its name from Amherstvillo to North Amherst, and in 187.'5 the jjeople secured a charter of incor])oration from the legislature.

The charter was gi'anted in April, and the cor})oration was organized by the election of the following ollicers: A. A. Crosse, mayor; J. W. (rilbert, clerk; .Joseph Trost, treasurer; John B. Robertson, marshal; tieorge Fuller, William Brown, and John Nathan, couucilmen for one year; F. 0. Barney, J. H. Clouse, and .James Manning, councilnien for two years.

In 1874, three couucilmen were elected to fill vacancies caused by the expiration of the short term, as follows: .J. M. Worthington, Daniel Freese, and Henry Hirsching.

In 187-5, the following were elected: A. C. Moore, mayor; C. (J. Hirsching, clerk; Joseph Trost, treasurer; .John B. Robertson, marshal; E. C. Foster, M. C. Sieley, John G. Bans, and Joseph Barber, coiTncilmen.

The officers in 1877 were: J. W. Gilbert, mayor; C. 0. Hirsching, clerk; Josejjh Trost, treasurer; John B. Robertson, marshal; Joseph Robbins, Henry Clouse, Jacob Hildebrand, Joseph Barber, and Conrad Fey, councilmen.

Masonic

Pl.ito Lodge, No. 303, was organized January 31, 1853. The original members who signed the petition for a charter were Theodore J. Eamcs, Orimel Barney, Robert B. Carhart, Milo Harris and James Walker. The present officers are N. G., A. E. Stiwall; V. G., J. B. Barrance; recording secretary, Ohas. M. Parsons; permanent secretary, G. H. Barnes; treasurer, Joseph Robbins.

Jaeger Lodge, No. 440, was organized July 7, 1870, by members of the order, who, previous to that time, had been in Plato Lodge. Following is the list of officers first elected: N. G., Wm. Jaeger; V. G., L. Horn; corresponding and recording secretary, John G. Bans; treasurer, Wm. Brown. The charter members were Henry Uthe, Sr., William Jaeger, Edward Biveus, Adam Holl, John King, L. Horn, John (}. Bans, Chas. Jaeger, Wm. Brown, Peter Meutz, Geo. Ashenbach, Daniel Freese, C. 0. Hirsching, Fondine Geolach, Henery Hagemann, AVm. Fullmer, C. Fey, P. Fey. The officers for 1878 are: N. G., John Kothe; V. G., L. Holzhaner; corresjjouding secretary, Wm. Beilor; recording secretary, C. Fey; treasurer, C. 0. Hirsching.

Knights Of Pythias Ancient Order Of Uihernians

Division No. 1, A. 0. F., was organized in A])ril, 1876. The first i)resident was Peter Brady, and the other officers were as follows : Vice President, James Smith; secretary, John Shelly, Jr.; assistant secretary, Thomas Kelch ; treasurer, J. W. Duress. The officers elected in 1878 are the following : president.

St. Joseph's Society was founded in the niontli of December, 1871, by members of the Catholic Church. Its object is benevolent. Members are entitled in case of sickness to tlie aid of the society, and in case of deatli assistance is extended to the family. The officers elected at tlie time of organization were : jiresident, liev. E. Roucliey ; vice president, Ilerrmanu Kauders ; secretary, M. Z. Gach ; financial secretary, Henry Plato ; treasurer, John E. Plato. The present officers of the society arc: president. Rev. Josej)!! Roomer; vice president, Henry A. Plato; secretary, M. H. Fehreubacli ; financial secretary, John H. Plato; treasurer, .loiin E. Plato; Marslial, Joseph Wesbecher.

Temperance

The Amherst branch of the National Christian Temjjerance Union was organized May 2'J, 1877, at the Metliodist Episcopal church, and the following officers elected for six months: president, Milo Harris; first vice president, W. H. Clougli; second vice president, E. C. Slmler; secretary, A. M. Hazel, corresponding secretary, C. S. Aiken; treasurer, E. C. Foster; executive committee, M. W. Axtell, chairman, James Duress, L. Horn, J. R. Miller, M. C. Seeley, Mrs. E. E. Mussey, Mrs. G. E. Bryant. The following are the officers of 1878: president, E. C. Foster; first vice president, T. M. Lewis; second vice president, E. C. Shuler; secretary, S. Crocker; treasurer, H. C. Haskell; executive committee, A. L. Spitzer, chairman, Thomas Milford, C. M. Parsons, A. C. Moore, M. C. Seeley. The society, though but a short time has elapsed from the date of its organization to the present writing, has accomplished considerable in the line of its intention. ITpwards of one tliousand persons have signed the i)ledge.