Bainbridge Township (part 2 of 2)

In the year 1818 or '19, the family of Asahel North came from the State ot New York, and purchased the farm now owned by R. P. Osborn. There were eight sons and a daughter in the family, several of whom married and resided for some years in the township. The daughter, Sarah, married Frederick Clover, and died in Bainbridge in 1845. The sons were Alvin, Thomas, Asahel, Samuel, Jesse, Seymour, Myron, and George. Samuel lived a short time on the place now owned by Mrs. Hill, and from there moved west; Thomas first located on the farm now owned by H. H. Briggs, and later on the. place recently owned by E. French; Myron resided many years in Kentucky; Alvin spent most of his life in Madison, Lake county; Thomas died in Illinois; Asahel occupied the homestead till 1847-8, when he removed to Chagrin Falls; - he is now a resident of Clyde, Ohio, and is much esteemed as a citizen ; Seymour went west, and is now deceased; Jesse remained in Bainbridge many years. He was a very eccentric individual, who ignored the counsel of the wise man, found in Proverbs xxv; 17. We presume there were few households in the county, thirty years ago, where Jesse had not made from four to forty visits, the length of w'hich was in proportion to the amount of "goodies " placed before him. It is scarcely necessary to add that he was the butt of many practical jokes. Asahel, sr., died in 1845; his wife, Hannah, in 1844.

In the fall of 1818, Josiah Nettleton, in company \\rith six other young men, started on foot from Penfield, Monroe county, New \wk, with the intention of visiting the Allegheny region of country, where they designed purchasing land, should the location prove a desirable one. The young men were Timothy Fuller, James Moore, Hiram Washburn, Joseph Thompson, Paul Thomas, and Lewis Nettleton, a brother of Josiah. At the close of the third day, Fuller and Thompson were tired of the undertaking, and turned back. On the fourth day they met a man returning from the west, who told them they had better go no farther, as the climate was so cold near the Alleghenies, no one could succeed there in the business of farming. They inquired what the prospects were for emigrants in New Connecticut. After giving a very unfavorable report, he closed with the statement that "rattlesnakes were so numerous there that they dried them and used them for bean-poles." "Sam Hill !" exclaimed one, "Pm not going to any such country as that." The next morning two more of the adventurers took the back track. On the fifth day, at noon, Fuller and Thompson decided to return home, leaving Josiah to prosecute the journey alone. When he reached the Allegheny mountains the ground was covered with snow to the depth of four or five inches, and he decided to go to Ohio. After leaving the mountains he traveled ten miles through the dense forest, with no companion save his rifle. He arrived in Painesville in the latter part of November, where he stayed one night at a tavern kept by a man named Cowles. From Painesville he went to Chardon (at that time there were but two houses between the places), stayed over one night at a log tavern kept by Norman Canfield. The house stood on the site now occupied by the Chardon house. There were then four houses between Chardon and Punderson's mill, in Newbury. From Chardon Nettleton went to Auburn, where an uncle named Fuller had settled. He arrived at his uncle's cabin near the close of the fourteenth day of his journey, which was Sunday. Soon after his arrival he took up a piece of land in the eastern part of Bainbridge ; cleared a small spot and built a cabin. During his stay he killed thirty deer, filled a barrel and a large trough (which had been used to store sap in), with venison, a part of which he hung in his cabin to dry. Previous to his return east, a grand hunt was planned, in which he participated. All the men in the townships of Russell, Bainbridge, Newbury, and Auburn, were to form a circle, the center of which was to be the point where the corners of the four townships meet, and the game not killed was to be driven towards that point. In accordance with that arrangement, they started out on the day appointed, some armed with pitchforks, and with clubs; and, all who could obtain one, carried a gun. When they met at the center, sixty deer had been killed, all of which were within sight from that point.

Mr. Nettleton remained in the place about four weeks, and returned to New Wk State for the purpose of moving his family to Bainbridge, which he accomplished in the month of January, 1819. When he arrived at his cabin with his family, they found it well supplied with dried venison, which was appreciated ky the younger members of the group. They remained here about three years

In the fall of 1819, Mr. Nettleton states, the first training of militia of the township took place, on the farm of Joseph Ely, two miles east of the center, where a company from Auburn met with them. After the companies were dismissed, Mr. Nettleton came very near being killed, by Edson Kent, who was about to salute the captain. Nettleton chanced to look around, and seeing Kent's gun pointing at his breast, instantly struck it down, and received the contents in his arm, instead of his breast. His clothing, being all of linen, was set on fire by the powder, and was torn from his person by P. D. McConoughey and Deacon Childs, which prevented his being fatally, though he was quite seriously, burned.^ Kent was a diffident, inexperiensed boy of seventeen, and deeply regretted the occurrence, which was purely accidental.

Mr. Nettleton was married when nineteen years of age, to Sally Fuller, of Penfield, New York. Nine children were born to them, viz: Mary, Martha, Fanny, Lewis, Tiffany, Daniel, Franklin, Sarah, and Lorette. Mary married Henry Haskins, and died in 1847. Martha married Rev. A. N. McConoughey in 1835, and resides in Illinois. Fanny married Jesse Robbins in 1841. They reside in Bainbridge. Eight children were the offspring of their marriage. Lewis married Maryette Eggleston, of Aurora. He died at Chagrin Falls in i860. Tiffany married D. M. Burnett, of Russell. He is a resident of Michigan, as are also Daniel and Franklin. Sarah married William Bridgeman, and removed to Wisconsin. Lorette married Dr. H. Decker, of Newburgh, and now resides in Rome, Ashtabula county.

Mrs. Nettleton died in the autumn of 1847. She was regarded as one of the most amiable and intelligent women in the community. In 1849 Mr. Nettleton married Marilla Howard, who died a year subsequent to her marriage. After the death of his second wife, Mr. Nettleton married Lucy Ann Worrallo, of Chester. Two daughters and a son were born of this marriage.

Nettleton was quite a famous hunter. On one occasion, while on his way to the pidgeon roosts of the Cuyahoga, in Troy, he shot a deer, and sat down for a moment's rest. Upon looking up he saw a deer,' drew his rifle and fired, when two deer came toward him and fell, while a third started in the opposite direction and fell also. He killed four deer in a day several times, but could not go above that number, except at the time mentioned in connexion with Mc- Conoughey, when he killed five. He killed the last deer, bear and wolf, in his native town, and the last deer seen in Bainbridge was shot by him. He was in the war of 1812 a short time. He resides on the farm where he first purchased, and, at the present writing (March, 1878), he is eighty-one years and seven months old. He is able to drive his team all day, and take care of it at night.

In 1820, Watts Kingsley, a brother of Enos Kingsley, and a native of Becket, Massachusetts, came to Bainbridge, and located on the farm now owned by J. Fowler, where he remained until 1832, when he sold and removed to Windham, Portage county. He is now' a resident of Oscaloosa, Iowa.

In the winter of 1818, William R. Howard and John Bowles, young men of twenty-one, came from Washington, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, on foot, and stopped at the house of John Fowler, w'ho was an uncle of Howard's. Bowles

'On the twenty-second of June, 1879, Mr. Nettleton was stricken with paralysis, from which he died March 23, 1879; aged eighty-two years and seven months.

stayed a short time, and then returned to Massachusetts. Mr. Howard purchased land in lot fifteen, tract two, and in the spring went to Aurora, and worked lor Moses Eggleston, and others. In the summer of 1819 he worked for Dr. Case, in Hudson. In December, following, his father died, making it necessary for him to return to Massachusetts. He started on his journey, with the intention of going through in eleven days. He reached Kirtland the first night, and stayed at Madison the second. He made the journey of five hundred and fifty miles in eleven and one-half days, having been detained one-half day, when near home, by a heavy snow storm. After leaving Madison, he ate but two warm meals before reaching home. He remained in Massachusetts a year and a half, settled the estate of his father, and made arrangements to remove to Ohio. In June, 1821, he was married to Miss Martha Codding, of Washington, and, on the third of July, with their stock of household goods packed in a covered lumber wagon, drawn by oxen, they started on their journey, accompanied by the mother of Mr. Howard, a younger brother, and three sisters. They arrived in Bainbridge on the fifth of August, having been delayed three days by one of the oxen giving out. After reaching their cabin in the woods Mr. Howard went to the brow of a hill, a short distance away, cut several large trees (standing nearly in a direct line), nearly down, so that a small force would compel them to fall. He then felled a large tree against one end of the row, when, one after another, they fell with a loud crash which was heard at a great distance, announcing to his neighbors his arrival. All within hearing of the falling timber came at night through the woods to welcome them. They lived on the farm where they first settled forty-one years. In the interval several additions were made to the original purchase, and a fine frame house took the place of the little log cabin. In 1862, Mr. Howard sold the homestead to his son William, and removed to a smaller one, near Chagrin Falls, where he died in January, 1867, at the age of seventy years.

For many years he took an active part in the business of the township, served in its various offices, and was three times elected to the office of justice of the peace. He was an intelligent, public spirited man, respected by all. He was an attendant of the Congregational church till it ceased to be, when, with his family, he united with the Methodist Episcopal church. His wife survives him, honored and loved.* She is now (1878) in her eighty-third year. They were parents of four children. Artemas, the eldest, married Amanda, daughter of Deacon Childs, and settled near the old home, where he resided till his death, in 1873. He was a man of superior judgment, and regarded as one of the best financiers in the township. His wife died in 1877. Both were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Phylena, eldest daughter of W. R. Howard, married Wm. Richards, and resides in Auburn. The second son, William, married Lorinda A. Osborn, and, at present, resides in Chardon. Martha married D. L Fenkell, and settled at Chagrin Falls, where she died, in 1870, aged twentyfour years. She was a member of the Baptist church. At the birth of her youngest child, Mrs. Howard was fifty years and six months old.

In 1820 or '21 Robert Root came to Bainbridge, and purchased land of Simon Perkins in tract three, wheie he built a cabin, and kept bachelor's hall a year or two.

In January, 1822, he was married to Rhoda, eldest daughter of Simon Henry. He built a small frame house, to which he removed soon after marriage, and resided on the farm till a few years previous to his death, when he removed to a small place near the homestead, where he died June 3, 1866,

*Mrs. Howard died at the residence of her son-in-law, Wm. Richards, esq., on the twelfth of May, 1879; aged eighty-two years and eight months.

aged sixty-nine years. Mr. Root was a native of Connecticut, from whence he emigrated with his father's family to Aurora, Ohio, some three or four years previous to his settlement here. He was a man of commanding appearance, much intelligence and good business capacity. To Mr. and Mrs. Root seven children were born, two of whom died in infancy. The survivors are Harriet, who married C. R. Howard, and resides in Aurora; Norman married Nancy Miller, and resides in Bainbridge; Delos married Eliza Barton, and occupies the homestead; Nelson married Amarilla Collins, and resides on the farm formerly owned by R. G. McCartey; Lorette married John Hatch. Mrs. Root resides with her son, on the homestead, esteemed and loved by many friends. She is eighty years old, and in feeble health.*

In 1822 Dexter Peaft purchased the farm now owned by John Patterson, married Anna Parsons, of Aurora, and removed to his farm, where he remained till 1858 or '9, when he sold and went to Newburgh, where he died. He was married four times. His first, second and third wives died in Bainbridge. The fourth survives him.

Joseph Chamberlain came into the township in 1825, with his mother, two brothers and a sister. They purchased in tract one, lot five. They came with two ox teams from East Haddam, Connecticut, and were six weeks on the road. Joseph carried on his mother's farm till 1838, when he bought the farm now occupied by C. R. Post, of Lord and Barber. While clearing, he kept bachelor's hall three years. In 1838 he was married to Louisa Brown. They have two daughters: Juliett, the eldest, .married C. R. Post, and occupies the homestead; Medora married Oscar Davis, of Chagrin Falls. Mr. Chamberlain was a man of industrious and economical habits, and highly respected. He died March 25, 1877, aged seventy-four.

In 1824 or '25 Eber Kennedy and family came from Aurora, and purchased where his son, Henry, now lives. He died a few years after his coming here. There were several sons, one of whom is a minister of the Baptist church. Mrs. Kennedy, after her husband's death, married Warren Little, of Aurora, where she now resides.

Lewis and Daniel Miller, with their families, came in 1827. Lewis built a log house on land now owned by William Howard near Henry Haskins. Daniel purchased the place now in possession of A. Ely. In 1833 they sold, and went to Chester, where some of their children now live.*

Andrew Phillips came to Bainbridge from North Adams, Massachusetts, in 1830. He was a young man of more than ordinary intelligence, and had obtained a good practical education. In 1831 he taught school in Mayfield, Cuyahoga county. He became quite popular as a teacher, and followed the business of teaching till 1843. In May, 1842, he was married to Margaret Roberts, of Munson, and settled on a farm in the north part of the town, where he resided till his death, which occurred in May, 1877, when he was sixty-seven years old. He was a man of culture and influence. His wife, a daughter and two sons survive him.

William Phillips, a brother of Andrew, came in 1832, with his wife and one child, and purchased of Horatio Fowler the farm now in possession of the heirs of Otis B. Bliss. This he sold, in 1833, to Otis Bliss, and purchased one adjoining that of his brother, where he resided till 1867 or 1868, when he sold to his son and removed to Chagrin Kails. None of his family are living in the township.

There were many families of prominent citizens who came late, and can scarcely be accounted as pioneers, of whom we can make but brief mention.

William Burgess and family arrived in the township September 12, 1833, and settled on the place now owned by G. L. Maynard, and resided there till the death of the father, November 9, 1848. He was born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, June 27, 1787, and married Esther Williams, of Lenox, Massachusetts, January 25, 1810. Mrs. Burgess died in Cleveland, March 10, 1872, aged eighty-one years. Their family consisted of nine sons, viz: John C., Allen, Joseph, Theodore, Charles, John W., Cornelius, Franklin, and Alvin, all of whom are living except the latter, who was for many years a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, and at the time of his death was a presiding elder. He died at Greenville, Pennsylvania, in 1873. He was regarded as one of the most able and efficient members of the conference. He married Laura Howe, of Mentor, who survived him but a year or two. Willi^n Burgess was a blacksmith, and worked at the trade during his residence in the township. None of the family remain in the place.

In 1835 Deacon Ebenezer Hopkins came into the place and located near the river, in the west part, and resided there till his death in 1850. He was an enterprising man, and one of the prominent members of the Congregational church. He had a family of five children, two sons and three daughters, none of whom remain in the township.

In 1833 Otis B. Bliss came from North Adams, Massachusetts, with his wife and one child, Oney R., and settled on the farm now occupied by his widow, where he reared his family of nine children, seven of whom survived his death, which occurred December 5, 1873, when he was sixty-five. He served in various township offices, and was elected colonel of a militia regiment. He was for many years one of the most influential members of the First Baptist church at Chagrin Falls, and lived and died honored and respected by all.

Ambrose, a brother of Otis Bliss, came about four years later, having married Miss Judith Pierce, of New Hampshire. He purchased of J. Converse the farm upon which he still resides in the northwestern part of the township. They have a family of seven children, two of whom are unmarried. Mr. Bliss is one of the most industrious and enterprising farmers of the place.

Josiah Pettibone, with his only son, Rufus, and a daughter, emigrated from Norfolk, Connecticut, to Portage county, Ohio, and from thence to Bainbridge, where they settled in the summer of 1832, on the farm now occupied by Rufus and his son, Henry \V. Mr. Pettibone, sr., resided on the farm till his death, which occurred in 1852, at which time he was seventy years of age. He was a man of strict integrity, and a worthy member of the Congregational church. In 1833 Rufus Pettibone was married to Betsy Dutton, of Auburn. They have a son and two daughters. An amiable and accomplished daughter died at twentytwo, and a son and daughter in infancy.

In 1831, Seymour Niece, a stone mason by trade, settled near Eggleston's mills. In 1832 or '33, he removed to the northwestern part of the town. Mr. Niece had a family of twelve sons and one daughter, viz.: Myron, William C., Charles, Nathaniel, Seymour, Oscar, Sarah, Lafayette, John B., Henry, Franklin, and two whose names we cannot now recall. Nearly all of the family were school teachers, and several were among the most efficient in the county. Nine of them were teaching at the same time sufficiently near home to enable them to meet there at the close of each week. William C., who was one of the prominent men of the place, died in 1877. He left five sons and as many daughters ; most of them reside in Bainbridge.

William Chase, a blacksmith, from the State of New York, came to the place in 1831, and lived several year in the northeast part of the township, from whence he removed to the center a few years previous to his death, which took place in 1868. Several of his children reside here still.

In 1832, Joseph Sprague came here and occupied the place for a few years, now owned by Mrs. Harphan. He sold to Dr. Shipherd, and purchased of Milo Henry the farm now owned by Oscar Niece. From there he removed to Auburn, where he died some years since.

Alfred Thompson purchased the farm of Gamaliel Kent, jr., in 1833, and in 1835 s°ld it to Jasper Lacy, jr. Lacy occupied the place till his death in 1844. None of the family reside in the place. Mr. Lacy was a son-in-law of Simon Henry. Mr. Thompson was several times a resident of Bainbridge.

In the spring of 1833 Deacon Joseph North bought of Jonathan Ely the farm which is now occupied by Henry Brewster. A son-in-law, Mark Enos, settled on the farm where Horace Cowles now lives, and to whom he sold it in 1839. After the death #of his wife Mr. North returned to Marseilles, New York. His sons also left the place many years since. Deacon North was among the first members of the Congregational church.

In 1834 Jeremiah Root purchased of Russell Osborn the farm now owned by Joseph K. Eggleston. He remained there a number of years, and removed to the Jasper Lacy place, from where he removed to Aurora in 1865, where he died about five years later. He was one of the most influential men of the place.

William Harpham, a young man of twenty-two, came in 1833, and engaged as a clerk in the store of John Mayhew, at the center, where he remained four years, when Mayhew sold to William Smith. Mr. Harpham clerked for Smith a year, and went into the mercantile business for himself, taking J. Pettingail as partner. The partnership closed in a year. He then effected a partnership with J. Stafford, which closed in two or three years. In 1863 he sold to E. French, and engaged in farming the remainder of his life, which terminated in 1878. He was the second postmaster in the township, and held the office twenty years. He was married in 1841 to Rhoda Thompson, who survives him. He was regarded as a cautious and conscientious business man, and was honored by all.

Shadrack Vincent, with his sons Chauncey and Jonathan, and Mr. Benjamin, father of H. H. Benjamin, came to Bainbride in May, 1833. H. H. Benjamin, his mother, and sister Eliza, came the following October. Nicholas Vincent came in February, 1834. Jonathan settled on the lot where C. M. Foot's residence now stands. His wife, Sally, died in July, 1833. Chauncey lived with Jonathan until fall, when he put up a log house on the farm, where he spent his subsequent life. Shadrack Vincent died in the October following his arrival. Nicholas settled on the farm now owned by John Harvey, where he died a few years later.

Eliza Benjamin became the wife of Ira A. Foot, and the mother of C. M. Foot, esq. H. H. Benjamin, and father, settled on the farm which he occupied the remainder of his life. He married Caroline, daughter of Chauncey Vincent; a son and daughter were born to them. Mr. Benjamin was four times elected to the office of justice of peace, which office he- held at his death, in 1876. He was a genial, generous-hearted, public-spirited man, universally respected.

The Vincents were the first settlers in that part of the township. Jonathan Vincent drew up a petition and caused a road to be surveyed from the center of Bainbridge to Chagrin Falls. Likewise, one running northeast from and intersecting that. He served as justice of the peace four or five terms. During the first years of his residence here he was engaged in teaching school. He sold his farm in 1863, and now resides at Chagrin Falls. His son Augustus, and S. P. Vincent are the only ones of the name now residents of the township.

The Sandersons, Marvin and Edward, came the same year as the Vincents. Later, a brother David came. None of them remain here now. Later still, the

In 1833, Peleg Brown came to Bainbridge, purchased land, cleared a few acres, built a cabin, and returned to his home in Madison county, New York, and soon married Miss Adaline C. Barton, of Herkimer county, New York. In the winter of 1834, they came to make their future home on the farm which he has since occupied, and to which, from time to time, new purchases have been added, upon which he erected a fine brick residence, in 1854. Mr. and Mrs. Brown were parents of five children, one of whom (a son), died at eighteen. They also had three adopted children. Mrs. Brow*n died in 1873. She was a very superior woman. Her intellectual endowments were far above the ordinary She possessed a keen, delicate sense of honor and propriety, to w*hich she was ever true. She was generous and sympathetic, and ever ready to assist the needy. As a friend, her fidelity* and devotion w*ere rarely equaled. Her influence was ever exerted to elevate and ennoble society. She joined the Methodist church when a young lady, and remained in its commnnion until her death. She was a true Christian, and a noble woman.

The family of Obadiah Bonney, of Madison county, New York, came and settled on the farm formerly owned by Rodney Parsons, in 1835. The family consisted of the parents, a son and two daughters. The son, Sidney O., occupies the homestead, his father having purchased and removed to a small farm adjoining it a few years since, w*here they still reside. Mr. Bonney is seventyeight years old, and his wife a year his senior. They have been married over fifty years. Both are hale and vigorous for their years, and each able to perform quite an amount of labor.* Their children married, and settled near them. The son has five children. The youngest daughter, Mrs. Lorancy Vincent, resides in Bainbridge, and the elder one, Mrs. Russell, in Solon.

Abner Ellis, also a native of Madison county, New York, came in 1834. He purchased the place now occupied by O. Bonney, where he worked for several years at the coopers' trade, and eventually sold, and removed to the center, w*here he died August 6, 1874. He w*as the father of six children, four of whom survive him. One only resides in Bainbridge, viz : Mrs. A. Chase. Mr. Ellis was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church about thirty-four years, and a class-leader many years.

In 1834 the families of Norman Sloan and William Logan came from the State of New York, and purchased homes in the eastern part of the town. Mr. Sloan was a blacksmith, and built a shop on the corner, east of the residence of A. E. Kent, where he worked many years. He died in 1858. Mr. Logan purchased the farm now* owned by Harmon Pardee, where he resided till his death in 1857. He had a family of nine children, only one of whom, viz: Paul, now resides in the place. Mr. Logan emigrated from Ireland to New* York, and thence to Ohio. The only daughter of Mr. Sloan married John Mayhew, and died in Bainbridge four or five years later.

In 1836 Paul Hannum . came from Massachusetts with his wife and several children. He purchased of Frank Forbes, the farm now* ow*ned by J. W. Collins, w*here he resided till his death in i860. Mrs. J. Collins, the only one of the family remaining in town, resides on the homestead. A son resides in Auburn, and one in Missouri.

In 1836 Samuel Collins, one of the pioneers of Chardon, came to the town, and settled on the farm, now in possession of Eugene Kent. The year following the family of Cristopher Hayden came to the same neighborhood, and purchased the farm now* ow*ned by the heirs of W. Collins. None of the family now reside in the township. There w*ere six daughters and a son - the latter, W. S. Hayden is well known as a teacher throughout the county. Of the family of Mr. Collins which consisted of eight children, but two survive, one of whom is now a resident of Bainbridge, viz: J. W. Collins, who is one of the prominent business men of the county, having served as one of the board of commissioners twelve consecutive years.

° Dr. David Shipherd, the first resident physician of Bainbridge, was born in Castleton, Rutland county, Vermont, March u, 1802. His father was born in Westchester county, New York. His father and mother were parents of five sons and one daughter, viz: Harry, Waight, Samuel, David, George, and Julia. David, at an early day, had a predilection for the medical profession. A medical school having been started in Castleton he wished to avail himself of this opportunity, but lacked the necessary means. A good opportunity for shingle making presented itself, and David, in company with Charles Styles, for a time engaged in the manufacture of shingles on the banks of the Screwdriver pond, taking shelter under the roots of a huge pine. The first money for educational purposes was earned in this way. David came to Ohio in the year 1826 or '27, where he taught school and continued the study of medicine. In the year 1828 he attended lectures on chemistry and pharmacy at the medical college at Cincinnati, under Prof. Elijah Slack. Here he was a classmate with Joseph Ray. At this time Ray cared little for anything but mathamatics. Dr. Shipherd went to Euclid, Ohio, in the year 1829 or '30, taught school and studied with Dr. Farnsworth. Shortly afterwards he came to Bainbridge, and continued to be a constant resident of the township until his death. He was married to Sally, a daughter of Robert Smith, by Rev. J. Seward, on the twenty-fifth of December, 1832. Prior to this time he made his home at Gamaliel Kent's. He commenced the practice of medicine in 1831. Having been educated in the allopathic school, he continued in that practice until 1846, when he chanced to procure a work on homoeopathy, with a few remedies left him by Dr. Burritt with the request "to try them." After a careful examination of this new work, and a thorough trial of the remedies left him by Dr. Burritt, not only in his own family, but in numerous other cases which he was called to treat, the doctor was convinced that greater and more satisfactory results could be attained by this practice than by the old school, therefore he at once fully prepared himself to follow the practice of homoeopathy, and for many years previous to his death he ranked among the first physicians of northern Ohio. He was very cautious in the use of strong drugs and stimulants, and in the treatment of the various types of fever, as in many other dangerous diseases, he was remarkably successful, which was attributable to his knowledge of diagnosis and therapeutics. Dr. and Mrs. Shipherd were parents of seven children - five daughters and two sons, viz: Lorinda, Sarah C., Delia C., George C., Henry B., Eliza A., and Mary E. Lorinda married J. T. Wing, and subsequently Harry Bancroft, of Chagrin Falls, where they now reside. Sarah C. married Hiamsel Giles, and resides in Waterville, Minnesota. Delia married Clinton Stafford, of Auburn, where they now reside. George C. married Myra Howard, of Aurora, Ohio, and resides on the homestead, near Geauga lake. Henry B. married Carrie Campbell, of Orange township, and now resides at Arrow Rock, Saline county, Missouri. Eliza married Robert Clark, of Orange, and now resides with her sister, Delia. Mary E. died in her fifth year.

The doctor's political ideas were more for men and principles than party. He was a Fremont man when he (Fremont) run for president. Since that time he has generally acted with the Democratic party. He was no seeker for office. The highest position ot trust held by him was that of county commissioner. His religion was quite liberal; he could accept no religion that must shake off science. He was a great admirer of "Renan's Life of Jesus." His librarj is composed mostly of medical and scientific works; though it contains those of a religious character. He died May 14, 1877, after extreme suffering for two years and eight months with disease of a urinarial catarrhal nature.

Other physicians have resided for a short period in the township, among 'whom were Dr. M. Baldwin, O. Bissell, J. Harmon and Wm. Thompson. The latter studied with Dr. Shepherd, and was considered one of the most skillful physicians in this vicinity.

The first saw-mill was built in 1S20 by General Chauncey Eggleston, a wealthy farmer, living in Aurora. The following year he built a grist-mill. The heavy frame of oak timbers are now ( 1878) in a fair condition. The sawmill is now making better and more lumber per day than fifty years ago. The property is now owned by James l ullcr.

In 1826-7, General Eggleston sold the mills to ( 'orning Eggleston, a relative. The latter, in a short time, built a distillery on the 'east end of the grist-mill, and over the mill-race. A Mr. Goodale was hired to superintend the process of manufacturing highwines and whiskey. The debts due the concern were written with a lump of charcoal on the rough inside walls of the building, and the numerous charges read like this: "A. to 2 galons of wiskey; N. S., r galon wiskey." Near the accounts was the following advertisement: "Wiskey for sail; 37 sents per bushel." After a few years of unsuccessful work, financially, the business was closed, the owner failed, and the mills and distillery passed again into the possession of General Eggleston. The distillery was pulled down and used for other purposes.

The first tannery was started in 1823 by John and James Lowry. It subsequently changed owners from time to time, and was closed in 1867, and the buildings made into a cheese factory, known as Rocky Dell cheese factory, and owned by F. H. Brewster.

In 1823 Harvey Waldo and T. Joiner built a saw-mill and factory for coloring and dressing woolen cloth, one and one-half miles below Eggleston mills, rhe enterprise had an unprofitable existence for four or five years, and failed.

In r^35» Deacon Ebenezer Hopkins bought the mill site, and in due time built a spar dam and saw-mill. The spar dam soon proved a failure. The deacon took into partnership William A. Hopkins, and the firm soon built a substantial stone dam, and a grist- and flopring-mill. Soon after their completion the deacon bought William A.'s interest in the mills, and in 1837 hired £- L Jones and Jehu Brainard to work up his lumber into furniture.

In 1846, the fever and ague afflicted nearly every family within a radius of a wile from the mill pond. The year following, Hopkins was arrested for keeping a public nuisance, which caused great injury to the health of the people. Ain r a long delay, during which time he cleared all the timber and flood wood out of the pond, in order to render it healthy, he stood a trial in county court, and was acquitted.

In 1845 Chauncey Carver built a saw-mill one mile below Hopkins' mill, and near the farm of G. H. Kent. One day, late in the fall, Mr. Kent was assisting Mr. Carver in sawing, and called his attention to the waste-gate, which had broken loose. Both went to the break in order to replace the gate. While at work Carver was caught under the gate, and pressed down, and either killed or drowned in a short time. Mr. Kent did all he could to rescue the unfortunate man, but, finding his efforts were useless, ran for help, and, in a short time, had men enough to raise the gate and get the corpse out.

At the raising of the grist mill of General Eggleston, in 1821, quite a serious accident occurred. Most of the men who had been invited to assist in raising had arrived, and were waiting for the return of Nathan White, the carpenter, who had gone to the woods for a ridge pole. A man named Ralph McCartey conceived the idea that it would be a good joke on the carpenter to put up the frame in his absence. Accordingly, he obtained Eggleston's consent, called the men together, and ordered them to put up the frame. When they had raised the first bent about five feet high, the foot not being chained, slipped, and the bent came back and caught Jerfcmiah Root, a Mr. Taylor, and Nelson Henry, beneath it. The men were so greatly frightened, that when they raised the bent to release them, they omitted to detail any one to take charge of the injured, and Henry, who was lying just on the edge of a bank, rolled down several feet amongst rocks, and was taken up for dead (the others were not much injured). Dr. Owen, of Aurora, chanced to be present, and administered restoratives. He was carried to the house of Sanford Baldwin. It was found, upon examination, that one thigh was badly fractured. He was confined to his bed at Mr. Baldwin's six weeks, in the long, hot days of mid-summer. The men living near were required by the doctor to visit him each day and pull the fractured limb an hour, to prevent contraction.

Previous to the building of the Hopkins, or Carver mills, the McFarlands built a saw-mill on the Plum Bottom creek, a few rods below the one now owned by J. Larue. It was built in 1825. All the McFarlands held an interest in it except Charles and Abel. It eventually passed into the hands of Jerome Southwick, who was killed while cutting ice from the flume.

In 1830-31, Deacon Childs and son put up a saw-mill, on the same stream, and nearly a mile above the McFarland mill. It changed owners several times, and was finally purchased by Jude May, and pulled down and moved to Auburn. Some years later, Daniel Phillips built a saw-mill on a branch of the Plum Bottom. It was in operation but a few years.

Of the the many mills and shops erected in the early history of the township, one only remains, and that was the first built, now owned by J. Fuller. At this date, 1878, there is scarcely a vestige to show where the Hopkins and Carver mills were located. Hugh Marshall is said to have been the first miller in the township.

Present Industrial Pursuits

The soil of this town is especially adapted to grazing and the growing of stock. Having an abundance of pure water, the citizens have found the dairy business to be the most lucrative, and are extensively engaged in it, as statistics will show. There are five cheese factories in town. One in the north part built about fifteen years since, by Emery Stanhope, was the first in the town, and one of the first in the county. It is now owned by John Pugsley. The next was built by Edward Richards in 1865-6, and is now owned by Nichols and son. One in the southwest part of the town is owned by F. H. Brewster. There are also the Pebble Rock and the Howard factories which are owned by joint stock companies. The number of pounds of butter

Box Factories

In 1871 Brewster and Reed put in operation a mill for making cheese boxes, located one mile south of the center. They also make spring beds, shingles, brooms, etc. Another mill and box-factory are owned by James Larne, to which he has added a cider mill and apparatus for making apple-jelly.

The following are the names of those who have engaged in the mercantile business since the settlement of the town: Daniel Leech, Dr. Loomis, John Mayhew, William Smith, Eggleston & Blossom, William Harpham, A. M. Treat and A G. Kent.

AM. Treat has been engaged in the business at the center since 1844. A. G. Kent has recently sold out to the Johnson Brothers, one of whom succeeds

Progressive Lodge No. 166, I. O. G. Templars, was organized in 1855, and continued three years, holding its sessions each Saturday evening, at the schoolhouse in district number two. It flourished about three years. Some years later, another lodge was organized, but continued only a short time.

The Division No. 186, Sons of Temperance, was organized in the winter of 1874. The principal officers for die present quarter, November, 1878, are: S. J. Henry, W. P.; Mrs. Anna Brown, W. A.: Alice Cowles, R. S.; J. W. Collins, W. T. The membership is sixty-three. Meetings, Tuesday evening of each week, at the town hall. The division has a valuable library of about seventy well-selected volumes.

Bennett Grange No. 976 was organized in 1874, with twenty-six charter members. The present membership is one hundred. The officers for 1878 are: K. W. Henry, M.; H. Scott, O.; Delos Root, S.; R. P. Osborn, P. A.; S. O. Bonney, treasurer. Meetings, first and third Saturday evenings of each month, at Edick's hall. The society is in a flourishing condition.

Statistics For I 878

The following are the names of the volunteers who served in the war of the rebellion. We regret that we are unable to give the Company and regiment to

Biographical Sketches William Howard

Auditor of Geauga county, was born in Bainbridge, Geauga county, November 7, 1833. His father, William R. Howard, of Washington, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, with Martha, his wife, removed to Bainbridge, Geauga county, Ohio, in the year 1821, where his aged and estimable widow now resides. The subject of this sketch, in early youth, evinced a desire for an education, and availed himself of the opportunities offered by the common schools for obtaing the same, supplemented by a few terms at a select school in the township and one at Oberlin. When his school days were ended, he continued to study and improve his mind, while engaged in labor upon his farm. He was married October 8, 1856, to Miss Lorinda A. Osborn, who for several years had been an efficient teacher in the schools of the county, and one of the most estimable young ladies in the township. In i860 Mr. Howard had prepared himself for the study of medicine, and procured books for that purpose, but circumstances, beyond his control, seemed to render his immediately entering upon the study, impracticable, and he reluctantly abandoned his purpose to engage in that profession. He served a number of years as township clerk, and in 1870 was elected justice of the peace, in which office he served till elected to his present position, in the fall of 1877. For nearly twenty years he has taken a deep interest in matters of religion, and has for some years been a member of an Evangelical church, though utterly opposed to the narrow spirit of sectarianism, which characterizes many. In politics he has been a staunch Republican since the organization of the party, and has ever been an earnest advocate of, and worker in, the temperance cause, and all reforms which tend to elevate mankind. He is a man of uncompromising integrity, superior judgment and excellent business capacity. By strict adherence to his convictions of right he has won the confidence and esteem of the community, and has promise of many years of useful and honorable life.

Henry F. Marsh

son of Aden and Elvira Marsh, was born in East Herrick, Bradford county, Pennsylvania. When he was three years old his father died, and in his eighth year Henry became the step-son of Colonel P. D. McConoughey, of Bainbridge, Geauga count)-, Ohio. From this time Bainbridge was his home until he was nineteen, whe n he enlisted in company F, of the One hundred and fifth regiment, Ohio volunteer infantry. He was taken prisoner at the battle of Chickamauga, September 20, 1863, taken to Richmond, and kept in prison two months. While he, with other prisoners, were being transferred to Danville, Virginia, Henry escaped from the cars and came within five miles of the Union lines, but was re-captured and taken to Richmond again and kept in a dungeon two months, and then placed on Belle Isle, where he spent the winters of 1863 and 1864. In April, 1864, he was removed to Andersonville, where he spent the summer until September, when he was removed to Charleston, South Carolina, from which prison he escaped September 20, 1864, and reached the Union lines at Hilton Head, October 7, 1864. As soon as he was safely on board the man-of-war, from whose mast floated the Union flag, there came a relaxation of his physical powers, and* for a time it was thought he would not recover. After two weeks he was taken to New York, where he remained two weeks in the soldiers' home, and was then brought to his home in Bainbridge. Th^exposure and ill treatment he received while in rebel prisons so much impaired his health that he was unable to endure much physical labor. In the spring of 1867 he graduated at the commercial college in Oberlin, Ohio, and in the fall of 1867 was nominated and elected treasurer of Geauga county. In September, 1868, he took his office, serving for the term of two years, and was re-elected in the fall of 1869, and had served one *year of his second term when he became a victim to consumption, and died suddenly at the house of E. V. Canfield, Chardon, Ohio, aged twenty-eight years.

Mr. Marsh was a young man of unquestionable integrity, with much more than ordinary business capacity, and highly esteemed by all who knew him. He was a gentleman of unusual independence and will power. Although during the la>t months of his sickness he was unfit to leave his room, yet by sheer determination he continued about the duties of his office, and only consented to be assisted to his room a few minutes before his death. Thus he avoided what he had dreaded most - that in his last sickness he would be a burden to his friends.