Burton Township (part 1 of 7)

By W. J. Ford

1878. In the golden sunshine of a midsummer's day, the sweet-leaved clover grew green on the hill. The strong stalks looked up to the clouds, floating lazily over, as if asking for the refreshing rain to give new life, before the red bloom of the field should, in the grand benevolence of nature, offer up its choice fragrance alike to the poor and the rich of the village. Already had the first crop of the field gone to the mow of a neighbor. The whet of the scythe, and the clip of the stroke that cut it, had been noted by the passers along the day's walk, and was forgotten a month later, in the sight of the new growth on the old sward. Dark the green, with here and there a blossom opening in advance of the wide sea of color, so soon to spread its red beauty to the very rim of the border. In this field of flowers, thus waiting for the hay man's blade and fork, stood a building with green blinds and a square tower above its entry doors, on the east. Trees were here and there, some from the cold climes of the spruce and Norway pine; here one with the silver white bark of the birch; beyond, one with a strange name and "imported," but from the grand old woods that had escaped the axe, many a beautiful maple was set in rows, or carelessly shade for when they should be larger grown. This lot was cut in twain by a walk of plank, and around it a white fence. On either side were streets, and beyon d, the houses of the villagers. To the northward a broad avenue, with its wall of brick and mortar, and across the way the "old stores." On either side, the places where men sell and buy and get gain, and where the ways of trade keep men from the rising to the going down of the sun, and away into the darkness of the night. Eastward, southward and westward from this field, run the ways of travel, and people drive along them, or come and go with familiar step.

The rattling hum of the last improved mowing machine may be heard in the distant meadow, where some belated farmer sweats away the hours in the dry grass. A Champion reaper lays the swath bundles of the season's first cut of oats, the dropping gavels being as uniform as the bundles of the rakers who followed the swinging cradle forty years ago.

The sun goes slowly down the west, and the cows travel to the yards, on a hundred farms around the town. Started from the sweet pastures, they are driven in by the faithful shepherd dogs, trained from the flock to the dairy of the region, and are milked. Then the rattling cans of the wagon bear away the greatest product of this agricultural region to the factory, the profits to return in dividends that enlarge the credit side of the farmers' bank account.

Smoking a fresh Havana, beneath the shade of the maple or apple at his door, dreams a youth. To the gate drives the unshorn yeoman of the farm. "Step out, John, and hitch," says the youth. "Here's chairs for the folks. Sit by the door, and take from the half box, and we'll curl "hoops" of blue upward while the sun sets " ; for there is still left something of the early neighboring kindness of those who lit the pipe by the old cabin fijp.

Night shadows the twilight, and from many a farm-house goes out the incense of offering, when the skilled hand of a child makes melodies that, wafted on the evening air, are dreams of peace and lulls of rest on the way heavenward to many worn and weary hearts. So, too, the piano note or wave of flute, was the breath of the hour, in the village evening. Perchance the bugle's ringing call sounds down the valley. A dozen youth or more answer back, and coming with the returning echoes, join to charm the multitudes that gather in, from miles away? to enjoy the free gift of this cornet band of 1877, skillful in the operatic music, or lulling the hearts of all in the touching strains of "Home, Sweet Home."

If it may be that a stranger wanders in the moonlight of the hour, his eye looks far up the spire of the Congregational church, standing across the street from the northwest corner of the clover field. Beyond it, westward, is the cheerful house where the Methodist people gather regularly for devotion. On the south the Union school-building, and farther still, on the spot long known as the "Umberfield tavern-stand," is the four-story Exchange hotel. Northward, from the brick block, is the Brewster house, Above the stores, in the brick, the Masons go to their hall to attend sessions, as they did long ago. Southward, and well on the face of the hill, below the water trough, Carlton's wagon shop, weather-beaten and dull as the gloom of November, still gives the clang of the saw or the sound of the mallet ; and near it two shops have their smith and lorge. The academy that stood by the grand plume of a maple, west of the Methodist church, and sacred to the memory of many a boy and girl, w'ho in it learned "rithmctic and jography," has been swung round, gable to the south, and on its classic upper floor carriages receive their finish, while from below goes out the ring of the anvil and hammer.

Thus it is written of the clover-grown park and its town hall, of the villagers and their homes, of the public buildings and the places of trade, of the music and the ways, the people and the farms in and surrounding one of the most beautifully located villages in northern Ohio. Quiet and solid in its ways, this village of Burton, on the first day of August, 1878.

Turn now, all there is of the record, backward eighty years and behold the contrast: Two axemen, who cut the first bush from the undergrowth ahead of the chainmen and compass for the party, who, little more than forty days before, set out to allot township No. 8, in 7th range, of the Connecticut Western Reserve, have spotted their last tree, and laid down the flags and the instrument. The survey work is done. John Adkins and Levi Tomlinson find other labor than "cutting away for lines" that day.

Three men are together. If they sit by a table, it is made of puncheon logs, and probably in the company's house, near to a spring of good water. The record states that they spent the whole day in preparing and drawing the lots. This was August 1, 1798. Before this, they had laid out the square, and fixed the lines of it, and had allotted a village plat, and now that the survey was complete, they were together to divide the lots among the owners.

This square of eighty years ago was shaded in by a gigantic growth of forest trees, and the park, and the village of to-day, were the wild w-ood.

The three men of the record ware : Turhand Kirtland, William Law, and David Beard, the surveyor. The first of these men, Kirtland, made a diary memoranda of his own and the doings of many others who came to this country during the years 1798-99 and 1800. Could he have had any thought that this data and fact would be used to*verify history. Aye! that it was history then w'ritten. To this diary, in w'hich there is no word of complaint, no shadow of regret, no mention of discord among any of the parties in that far away time of untold trials, thus silently testifying of the grand spirit of this man Kirtland who kept it, comes the writer of these pages for many a fact of those years - otherwise lost.

Survey

1798. The survey of the Reserve in 1796 fixed the location of No. 7, in 7^ range of a five mile square tow nship, nowr known as Burton. The proprietors, to whom this town fell, in the original drawings for the division among the company owners of 1796, decided to allot the town in tracts of one hundred and sixty acres, making four lots of every one in the original survey.

Named with the party coming in the spring of 1798, and wrho were at Stowe castle, Conneaut, May 31st, are: Colonel Thomas Sheldon, Joel Yale, John Moss, Bennett Rice, Jason Rice, Mathews, Glines, Byington, Foot, Rising, Carter Spafford, Titus Street, Captain Bishop, Jonathan Brooks, Isaac Fowler, Eli Fowler, John Adkins, Reed Beard, A. Baird, Edw'ards and family, Honey and family; as were also Turhand Kirtland, William Law, David Beard, Levi Tomlinson, Phineas Pond, and Thomas Utnberville and family. These last named, with Jason Rice, arrived at Grand river, Sunday, June 3, 1798, with three cows, one calf, three pairs of oxen and a bull, and two boats and stores. They encamped in the interval, and Kirtland says, "found as fine ripe strawberries as I ever saw." On Monday they worked their boats up the river about four miles,, to the Indian town at the old fording, and found quite a settlement and several huts. This Indian village was on the bluff bank of the river, on the land afterwards bought by General Paine, and thereafter known as the Paine farm, or homestead.

The first movement for a road to Burton began on Tuesday, the 5th of June. Mr. Law, and Mr. Beard, the surveyor, started a line from a point about three miles from the mouth of the river, where Mr. Skinner afterwards laid out the town of New Market, ahd where the old Skinner bridge was built. The next day, with Kirtland, Tomlinson, Pond, and Rice, they began cutting the road, and by Friday night, the 8th, were about Tour miles ahead, to a stream running eastward. On Monday night they encamped about eighty rods in No. 9 township, 8th range. The road came up what is now State street, in Paines vi lie, and kept easterly, through to what was afterwards Perkin's camp, one-half mile east of the "Old Log tavern" on the present road in Concord. On Tuesday they run more westerly, to avoid deep runs, and camped two and one-half miles ahead, on lot 2, township 9, 8th range. Working on the camp Wednesday, the 13th, was within one mile of township 8, 8th range, and B. Rice and Yale, who had been, with the boat and families of Edwards and Honey, up the lake to Cleveland, came to this, camp. On Friday the 15th, they arrived at No. 7, 7th range. Kirtland and Bond, having marked the road for the men and teams to come on, two miles, to the northwest corner of the township, went on to find a place for a tent and garden: making nine days that the first team and sled, with Mr. Umberville as driver, were on the road, the first trip ever made to Burton: an average, from Painesville, of two miles per day. Afterwards, the stages made the distance in one-third as many hours.

The camp - was fixed by a fine spring, about 15 rods east of the town-line, on lot 11, and about 45 rods south of the north line of said lot, and southeast of where Judge Stone afterwards settled. Linsen Patchin once had a tannery near this spring. Samuel Burridge, of Painesville, now owns the land. North of the spring, the tent was pitched, at noon, on Saturday, the 1 6th of June, and a place cut in the opening and cleared of underbrush for a garden. It was a sunny spot, and fertile. They planted the first seeds on Wednesday, the 20th. Long after, this was known as the "old garden." From this northwest comer the survey began, and the explorers went out.

1798. The streams. - Surface, timber and rocks were of more interest to people then, than now. The West branch of the Cuyahoga river was crossed by the exploring party June 15th. It comes into the town from the northwest, on lot 3, has good banks, and runs through a fertile valley southwesterly.

The Geography And Geology

then to the southeast to the junction, in a low swamp of cat-tails, bull-frogs and alders, with the east branch, about one mile south and a little westerly from the centre of the town, and goes on out southward in a heavy marsh, which is underlaid with clay. The east branch enters the town at the northeast comer, on lot io, and flows half a mile when it spreads out over thousands of acres, and continues to stagnate and lie along full three miles to the junction, making good paddle ways for the canoe of the trapper. Since then, much of the waste land has been reclaimed by channel ditches. West from the center one mile, runs a stream which these surveyors crossed in the marshy waters on No. 14. It has since been called Hopson's creek, and has its head in what has been known as Hewitt's spring in Claridon. It flows into the west branch about a mile above the junction. East of the river is a small lake, called Fowler's pond, and southwest are two known as Little and Big pond on Oak Hill, and the third still southerly as "South" pond. The Little pond is a small circle of water, very cold and deep.

Surface. - At the southwest corner of lot 36, when the timber was cut away, the outlook was ten miles southward along the Cuyahoga to a point, where the hills slope low down on the sky, and the course of the stream is lost against the horizon. Forest covered then, much of it is to-day the same, long a woody expense of fertile* valley, and the bottom lands of improved fields wedge back in the timber to the river. Viewed from this hill of the center, set to divide the river, the valley east, was a gentle incline westerly to -the stream, and beyond, seven miles the highlands of the water-shed to the Grand river. Northeast on No. 19, the water had cut through the rocks, making a fall and ravine. It came to be known as the gulf. Northward gentle hills and spring brooks invited the herdsman and the agriculturist. Westerly, the high lands of the west branch, along the line of the township, rose far above the valley, cutting off the view beyond. Springs of sandstone water came from out the hills on every side.

Soils. - The plow shares that afterward went beneath the new mold of the leaves, found in the valleys, much of a rich sand and clay loam, especially on the southwest - Oak Hill, and on the high lands a fertile clay loam from which the water-wash brought a good showing of sand. Along the margin of the eastern Cuyahoga had gathered wide deposits of muck.

Timber. - The trees grew very large, the chestnut sometimes being six to eight feet through at the stump. Oaks, white, black and red; poplars, or whitewood, one hundred feet high, round and straight as a shaft, choice for lumber; beech, maple, ash, elm, hickory, basswood, pepperage, boxwood, ironwood, and here and there a choice black walnut, and along the ravines or broken hills a little hemlock. In the southwest corner of the town, and also east of the river's junction, were spots of choice pine. All the various kinds of timber for every need, and more. The wild plum fell and the grape ripened in its season, and the hickory, butternut, and .chestnut shed their fruits to the children, whose feet crackled the grass and leaves in the frosts of October. As then, so do they to this day.

Geology. - In this there is need to say very little, it being the same as the county generally. Bituminous coal was found in the hill south of the square, near where George Carlton now lives, by Rev. Dexter Witter and Daniel L Johnson, esq., but not in paying quantities; and also about three-fourths of a mile north of the "old garden," near the residence of Judge Stone.

The new red sandstone crops out in the hills, and dresses finely for building purposes. The "hard heads" of the granite formation dropped out of the "drift period" upon the face of many a hill, and were too profusely scattered for the comfort of the ploughman and his plodding team, when he should drive that way some centuries later.

The Original Owners

In a till of the recorder's office of Geauga county is a deed unclaimed, and all the parties named in it have long since passed away. On it is endorsed: "Received, December 29th, and recorded December 30, 1828, in Geauga county records, book L, pages 445, 446, and 447. Edward L. Paine, jr., recorder. Fee, two dollars and six and one-quarter cents; paid, two dollars." This deed was executed March 13, 1799, by John Caldwell, John Morgan, and Jonathan Brace, original trustees of the Connecticut Land company, which was formed September 5, 1795.

The company had selected standard townships, and all townships below the standard were equalized in the division by adding to each a certain number of acres from some other town. Burton was below', and had an annex. The deed conveyed to the grantors:

The deed was witnessed by George Pierce and Epm Root, before Epm Root, "Justs - Paies" Mch 13th, 1799. It conveyed interests in Burton and its annex to:

Early Data And Facts

1798. The First Arrival - June 15th, at the "old garden" is chronicled. Tarhand Kirtland and David Beard were the men. Kirtland w?as in charge of the business management, and kept so faithful an account that his name is rightfully first The following memoranda is but a reproduction of items connected writh his busy life in the first three years of the settlement.

Passing over the journey from the east, which he gives as being six hundred and sixteen miles from Wallingford, Connecticut, to Cleveland, and very interesting, a single item must suffice.

The seventh day out, cutting the road from the Indian town and Painesville to Burton, June 12th, they "camped as wret as water could make us," he says, "pealed bark to sleep on, by a good fire, drank brandy and a dish of good chocolate, and were as happy as if keeping election at home."

1st Home. - On Saturday, June 16th, the w'hite wings of a tent were spread in this wilderness. The noonday sun cast the shadow's of great trees upon the canvass and shot beams of light through the blue smoke that lifted awray from that i st Sunday - the 17th, they mended up. Kirtland put two pockets in his frock. Tomlinson made "over-alls." Umberville started back, to bring his family. He was accompanied by Jason Rice. Esquire Law had been unwell, and the singular account of the

1st Sickness - is, that he "ointed for the itch." The remainder "kept Sunday in preparing for surveying on the morrow." Were these pioneers more observant of religious rules, than their descendants of the 3d generation?

1 st Garden - did not amount to much, as they buried the seed and it sprouted before the ground was dry enough to be prepared, and the seed was mostly lost.

1st Road - was begun the 25th, and cut from the camp easterly two miles from No. n to lot 35, which Mr. Umberville had chosen as the place for his location.

1st Rattlesnake - noticed was killed, when cutting this road. He had 13 rattles, and was carried to camp, dressed, cooked and eaten with a great relish. Kirtland protested, but ate, and says, with the greatest candor, "I never ate better meat."

1st House - in Burton was commenced on lot 35, southwest of the spring, near where the Plymouth cheese factory now stands. On Sunday all hands gave him the day, at work on his house. It was named the " Umberville Coffee House," in honor of him, for bringing the first family on No. 7. The family moved in Friday, July 6th, being the first night they had slept in a house since leaving "Genesea" the 22d of April.

1st Indepedence Celebration - was a very quiet demonstration of patriotism, given in camp on No. 11, the record being: "Wednesday, Independence, drank a can extraordinary, and sundry patriotic toasts, after which all set out to surveying and work on house."

2d House. - It was to be built for the company, Yale and Tomlinson peeling bark for it on the 12th. It was to be built on one of the center lots - nearest to good water ; and in running out the lines of the village plat, Kirtland says, "we found, in my center lot, about thirty rods south of the square, an excellent spring of water." This company house was built a few rods north of the Hickox spring, which has so long supplied the water-trough, on land now owned by James Peffers, who dug out the stone of the chimney-bed, not long ago. It is probable that this house, used for the stores and tools of the company, was owned by Kirtland, and was also called Kirtland's house. In 1803, it was known as the Emigrant house ; a kind of place where families stayed, cooked and slept, until they could throw up logs and make a cabin of their own.

1st Haying. - Early in July, a place was found near the Cuyahoga - south of the center - to cut hay. The care of stock was early thought of. One of Mr. Umberville's cows died, from the drinking of salt brine, and the loss "caused great grief." The first men in the hayfield, began Monday, July 16th, in the wild swamps of the river. These were B. Rice, Byington, and E. Fowler. The next year work was done in the hayfield as late as August 19th.

Law, Bishop, Bond and Kirtland, went to look out the lands in Kirtland, in July, and on to Cleveland. Expenses: seventy-five cents a day each, including liquors. Moderate, compared with four dollars a da' hotel bills, and drinks extra, of this generation.

i st horse purchase mentioned, was by Kirtland, of Mr. Young, for $65, and at a sale, in 1799, a horse brought $60 - to be paid in wheat and corn, and labor is noted as paying Mr. McBride 50c per day.

1st seed wheat was brought in, September 9th, by Captain Bishop, who had been for it to Grand river; and the first sowing was dragged in by Umberville, on Esquire Law's lot, September 12th. Kirtland dragged wheat with oxen, and on Tuesday, the 18th, finished sowing four acres, on which he put 6olbs to the acre, that cost $2.00, and expenses, $1.34, making $3.34 per bushel. He sowed grass seed after the wheat. Wheat was also sown for Mr. Holbrook and Titus Street, as appears from the account of harvesting the next year; but the location of their fields is not given. Colegrove gives an account of four acres of wheat being sown, for Street, a little south of the square, and the same for Holbrook on the east.

The 26th of September, Kirtland started east by way of Poland and Pittsburgh. His provisions, a towel and a shirt were rolled in his overcoat, and jolted out, leaving him dinnerless and shirtless, but he went on to Warren.

2d Family. - Amariah Bairds came in this fall of 1798, and shared their house - which was probably the third one built - with Mr. Honey, a brother-inlaw of Mrs. Beard's, and his family. This Honey family went on with Edwards, as before mentioned, to Cleveland, and the story is told, that being in Mantua, they were afraid of Indians, so came to Burton, and the two sisters, Mrs. Baird and Mrs. Honey, lived together during the winter. Mrs. Honey gave birth to a son, the

1st White Child - Born in Burton. They called him Riley, and he was almost a New Year's gift, being born December 31, 179 8. Going with the Shakers at an early day, he has been an honored member of their community at North Union, in Cuyahoga county, and now, over eighty years of age, his memory has verified for the writer several questioned points in this history. Peace to the declining years of this elderly brother of the Shakers - Riley Honey, the first child of Burton.

1799. The 1st Wagon. - Kirtland succeeded in getting on from Poland to Bauder's, in Warren, but no farther; the roads were so bad, the 21st of May. June 8th, Isaac Clark brought a wagon with the party that came to build the mills, and they left it at Young's road, beyond the swamp or river, and Moss probably used it to go for mill-irons to Fort McIntosh, on the Beaver, this season.

1st Planting - Of corn and potatoes, was Monday, May 27th; weather very cooL Hoeing began three weeks later, June 18th, and Kirtland picked good com with Eli Fowler, October 15th.

1st Fruit Trees - Were sprouted in Kirtland's stable, and he worked in nursery August 26th. The last stump of these trees was dug out by Sammie Ford, in the meadow south of his father's residence (the Hick ox brick), in the spring of 1877. By the spring east of the nursery Kirtland built a spring house.

Thursday, the 18th, the 1st pair of tressels were raised, and Monday, the 29th, the bridge over the Cuyahoga, south of the center, was finished so as to be crossed.

Harvesting. - Wednesday, July 24th, Hopson cradled wheat, and August 7th, Kirtland sledded his wheat into the barn. An interesting item would be the yield of the four pieces of wheat sown the year before, but it is not recorded. The next year corn sold for $1.00 per bushel, and Kirtland paid Mr. Clark $20 to boot on horse trade, in wheat at $1.75 per bushel. Flour was sold for 5 cents per pound ; beef, hind quarter, worth 4 cents per pound.

4th House. - Thursday, August 15th, a company of men gathered by a spring, now in the "old Governor Ford orchard", and raised a house for Esq. Law.

1 st Sermon - Preached on the Western Reserve, was by Rev. Win. Wick, of Washington county, Pennsylvania, at Youngstown, Sunday, September 1, 1799, which Mr. Kirtland went to hear.

1800. The early settlers, seemingly alone and shut off from the world, and civilization could not forget the sacrifice their States had made, in the struggle for freedom and here, first upon the lands ceded, because of such sacrifice - the woods resounded with their rejoicing and songs of liberty. The record gives it

July 4, 1800. - Sundry of us assembled on the green at the center, and erected booths with tables and seats for dining, where an excellent dinner was prepared. The inhabitants of Burton, amounting to 42 in number, were assembled, and the day spent in social and festive mirth. This number, no doubt, included some from beyond the present limits of Burton.

McMahon's Trial. - September 17th, Judges Meigs and Gillman opened court in Youngstown. Joseph McMahon had been indicted for the murder of an Indian - "Capt. George, or George Tuscarora." The prisoner was escorted from Fort McIntosh by the sheriff, and guarded by 25 troops from Pittsburgh garrison, to protect him from the Indians. The charge was the killing of two Indians by him and others at Salt Spring July 20th. It created great excitement, and 300 people of Warren and the country turned out, at the time, to treat with the Indians. A Mr. Sample was counsel for McMahon, who was acquitted on the 2d day of the trial. Mr. Kirtland was at the court.

Mails. - September 15th, he received the first letter, of that season, from his wife, and one from Holbrook ; so uncertain was the mail in those days.

In the prime of life, his three years of work was done in Burton, and the record kept. The time of his selling out and moving to Poland is not given. He was long known as Judge Kirtland. His son, Dr. Kirtland, was prominent, and will be long remembered by the people of Cleveland.

Early Settlers

1798. Had it been told to a seven-year old boy, playing in the dirt and chips of a woodshed doorway, now and then looking up in the sunshine with a smile of roguery, as he flipped a chip at the old man, and saw his scowl and heard his gruff "You young rascal, you;" or again, listening with the charmed ear of youth, to the story of the Indian hunter, and his dusky child, from the lips of "Grandpap" Umberfield, that, forty years later, beneath the same roof shelter, stayed by the same timber that crossed above that doorway, this neighbor boy would sit down to write the history of that man and his family, settling in a new country; there would have been more of seeming fable in the prophecy than reality. But it has come to pass. The writer remembers, with a feeling of reverence, the last days of this first man, sitting for hours in the shade of the shed of that little house just west of the big maple, where Mr. Shaw's house now stands, eighty rods west of the park. His long hair was then white, and when his story was told, the wife, a kind old lady, and very gentle, she seemed to us boys, would call us in to a cup of tea, and tell our fortunes. So, we were all children together - the two Howard boys, this aged pair, and the writer. When our boyish glee drifted away in the wonders and marvels of the pioneer tales, we were sober and thoughtful. How dark seemed the words then, and huge the bears, while every tree hid an Indian. Thus, with respect, comes back the memories of this age-worn couple, as thought turns to the fact of their lives in the wilds of Ohio.

1st white woman - in the town. She received from the original owners of the township sixty acres of land, being the southeast part of lot 35, a gift in recognition of her being first. He was born the year 1754. Her birth occurred in 1756. Her maiden name was Lydia Hotchkiss. The name first written Umberville, afterwards came to be written Umberfield. William Law married her sister.

With Esquire Law, they took a boat from Buffalo, and were at Conneaut May 28, 1798. Sailed out on the 31st, and arrived at Fairport June 3d, stopping for a few days three miles up the river. At noon, Thursday, the 21st, their ox team reached Burton. What an arrival! Step from a rude sled, beside a white tent door, in a great woods, absolutely first and alone, the mother and her children; bringing beauty and grace with the naturalness of girlhood into the unbroken forests. How the stories and discouragements of this far-off land must have come up, in the long journey of months, now ended in the thicket of this wild. No wonder that the tales of mud and slough, believed by many an emigrant, had been so fixed in the mind of this woman, that in unloading the household goods they found the veritable

Bag of sand - she had packed in old Connecticnt, for use in scouring here, where there was none. Even now, early settlers remember of her exclamation, on seeing the great waves of sand along the lake shore, " Had I known this, I would not have brought my bag!" Strange notions and many misgivings laid hold on the early comers, marching westward.

years old; Stella, n; Betsy, 5; and Mary (always called Polly), 2 years old; Harry, a youth of 12 years, the first boy in town, making a family of seven.

In less than four days the family and the party at this "garden spot" were out of flour, and no telling where it could be obtained. J ulv 6th they occupied the new house on lot 35. This house stood on a knoll southwest of the spring, and when the woods were cleared, commanded a view of the valley wrest, and was sought by travelers. Byington, Isaac and Eli Fowler, Brooks, John Adkins and Captain Bishop join?d the home surveyors there, on Sunday, July 10th, and were in good health and spirits.

The Indians were soon friendly, and camped near the house. A chief took a fancy to Limery, the oldest daughter, who was a beautiful girl. He was so enchanted that he offered $1,000 and his oldest son for her. Being refused, he gave warning that he would steal her. For a long time she was not permitted to go out of the house alone. Polly (afterwards Mrs. Edson), being little, had many a swing at the hands of the Indians, in a grape vine near the house. Putting her on the vine, and giving a strong push, she went high, and they would set their half-wolf dogs chasing after her with a yelp, and laugh to see

Slaven.- It is related by her granddaughter, of the Edson family, that Mrs. Umberfield was of a Cuban family on the father's side. This Cuban had come to Connecticut for his health. He saw, loved, and was wedded to one of the fair daughters of that then slave State. Returning to Cuba, he sold his plantation and slaves, reserving only the family servants, which he brought to Connecticut. The last of these was a colored boy, given to Mrs. Umberfield by her mother. She brought him to Ohio, where he soon died. She felt the loss, as being the last of the old plantation family. Was it significant of the fact that in this then boundless northwestern territory, slavery could fix no foothold on the free soil of its afterwards glorious Western Reserve, on the bulwarks of whose defense have stood such men as Giddings, Wade, and Garfield? The story may be founded on fact, as early settlers corroborated it, in the recollections of a colored boy with the family.

Manners.- It, as said, this first lady brought with her manners and customs that seemed high-toned, in the wilderness of this new country, they would only serve to refine a family far removed from the old civilization, and settled now where they often saw the Indian camp, and heard the yell of the war dance around their own home.

Pigeons were caught, 5^2 dozen at one haul, by Mr. Kirtland, who served some of them with green corn, August 25, 1799, to Messrs. Baird and Umberfield, guests invited to dinner.

1812. In the time of the war, the family lived in Huron. One day Mr. Umberfield thought the British or Indians were coming to capture him. He saw two men running toward the house, and he prepared to elude them; but they proved to be messengers coming to tell of victory and the probable close of the war. After they returned to Burton, he kept tavern, where the Exchange hotel now stands. Silver coin was so plenty that he had half a bushel of silver half dollars on hand at one time. At an early day, in the barn of his tavern, a man hung himself.

The family record is incomplete. Limery, born 1783, married Simeon Rose. She died October 20, 1835. Harry, bom 1786, remained single. He learned to speak the Indian tongue, and was quite a hunter. Died May 13, 1838. Stella, born 1787, was married to Eleazer Hickox, in November, 1808, and died October 25, 1855. Mrs Umberfild died March 25, 1849, at the advanced age of 93 years. Mr. Umberfield's was a long life. He died December 21, 1850, aged 96 years. All these rest in the lower yard, on the bank of the Cuyahoga. Polly, born 1796, was married to Robert Edson. She died, in Chicago, March 17, 1857. Betsey was born March 1, 1793, and married Oroon Johnson, and Ab^ bey, married ( Charles Earle. Both are dead. Lydia - called Lottie - the youngest, and only survivor, was born, in Burton, November 10, 1803, and now lives near Emery, in Fulton county, Ohio.

Of the descendants of this family, two deserve especial mention. Lottie married ('lark Howard. They had four children. Anydia married a Mr. Carter, and lives in Fulton county, Ohio. Delia, the second daughter, was bitten by a cat, and died of hydrophobia, April 13, 1848.

1861. - Veloice and James, the sons, saw the red ensign of war, when the Rebellion broke on this country, and went with the Union army. Veloice, always thoughtful and dignified, could not have made other than a faithful soldier. There is nothing of his record at hand, only that he was a member of the 3d Ohio cavalry, and died in a hospital, at Nashville, Tennessee, February 4, 1863.

He had the good will of his men and superiors, and there, as when a school boy in old Burton, was a favorite. He sickened, while on his way to New Orleans, and died a soldier - May 28, 1865.

The Umberfields entered with spirit into the improvements of the town, and were of Che original number that gave the land for the public square. He was a tailor, and his "goose" did some work, pressing the coarse seems of "linsey woolsey" for the pioneer population.

He was not a member of any religious organization. In her old age, she professed faith with the Disciples, and died in the hope of immortality, at Mrs. Howard's house, in the old room they had occupied so long. He died in the same room, after the building had been detached and drawn up beside the Hickox brick, on the square, and that room adjoins the one where these words are being penned. They came first, and by right have been thus fully noticed.

1798. Amariah Beard - with John Morse, of Euclid, came to Burton June 22, 1798. On the 23d, helped Umber field select his location for a house. He was early at clearing a field here, for July nth Yale and Tomlinson are mentioned as chopping on Tomlinson's lot, beween Umberfield's and Beard's clearing. Prior to the coming of this

2d Family - he was here, and seems to have made some preparation for them, and disappearing from the record, in July, it is probable that he met them at Buffalo. From there they came in a boat, and landed at Chagrin river August 4th. Raised among the rugged hills of Massachusetts, where he was born, the 26th of August, 1770, he was prepared for trials. Married to Eunice Moss, November 12, 1795, they, with one child (Rufus) were in an open boat coasting along Lake Erie, in August, 1798. The goods wrent by land, with an ox team, and they camped with the train at night. Passing the Pennsylvania line, they were driven, by adverse winds, into the lake three days. The wife suffered untold anxiety during the storm. There seemed little hope for any of these forlorn voyagers, buffeted by winds and waves, in an open boat, three dread days of wild tossing on that tempestuous sea. At last, the cove was gained, and the solid earth was rest to a weary woman. Six days later, she gave birth to a daughter. August 10th Clarinda Beard was born, almost a castaway on the shores of this great wilderness.

In September they settled in Burton. Their log house stood southeast from a spring near where Giles Taylor now lives, on the Governor Ford farm. Sixty acres, being the northeast part of lot 35, was a gift to her, from the original owners of the township for being the second w oman arriving in tow n. Not gift of land, nor w'ild w'ood air, could lift the cloud and storm of that voyage. In the years long after, it came back, and in the wanderings of her mind, wras repeated in all its fury. 1802, he exchanged the land in lot 35, with Esquire Law, for land in Chester, half a mile east of the cross roads - lots 34 and 35 - and went there to live. After the great windfall of 1804 he returned to Burton, and located on lot 4, wrhere Silas Beard, a grandson, now resides. He died there, July 31, 1864. The child, Clarinda, went with the Shakers at the age of 18, and lived there until she wfas 40.

Daniel Beard w*as a half brother, and a leader among the Shakers near Cleveland. Mrs. Beard was insane for many years, and a house wras built for her, in which she had to be confined. It took fire and she wfas burned in it. Mr. Beard was a life-long member of the Congregational church, and was kindly known as "Uncle Ami." These first settlers sleep in the family yard of No. 4. Their children were: Rufus, Clarinda, Ichabod, Myron, Silas, and Anna. A younger son died early. Silas, a grandson, is a good farmer, of solid qualities, keeping well the old farm. He has been elected several times county infirmary director, and also towmship assessor.

1798. David Beard. - The surveyor of the party coming to Burton in 1798, was with the original company of 52 that came to run out the country, "east of he Cuyahoga in 1796." He finished the survey of Burton, east of the river, on Saturday, July 28, 1798, and the drawing of lots on Wednesday, August 1st. His neice, Harriet W. Beard, lives in Painesville, and his son, D. A. B.eard, reides in Buffalo, New York.

Capt. James Beard, his brother, once a sea captain, had charge of one of the boats of the party of 1796. In a storm on Lake Ontario, Capt. Beard went overboard. The fears, that he was lost, were hardly expressed' by parties who had landed safely, before he appeared, saying, "Nothing lost, but a gun and an oar." He married Harriet Wolcott, of Hartford, Connecticut, in 1810. The bridal trip was by lake to Chicago. Mrs. Beard was the second white woman, visiting the then low swamp on lake Michigan.

A Hutchinson family had lived on the flat, southeast of where Delos Williams now lives, and north of the brook, in a log house, previous to 1821. Before that, Chatfield built the house, and staid in it some time. It was his first location. This year Capt. Beard located there. During a storm the lightning -truck a tree. Calvin Williams ran down the hill, expecting to find the family all dead, but no one was hurt.

A great snake that Capt. Beard killed. It is told that it was so long, that Selden Brooks, a tall, young man hung it over his shoulder to carry, and both tail and head touched the ground. It was over ten feet long. Probably a black, not a rattler.

Capt. Beard died in Painesville in 1824. Mrs. Beard was a lady of high culture, and for 69 years years a member of the Episcopal church. She died February 9, 1876. William C. Chambers, editor of the (Painesville) Journal , married one or the daughters, Anna. They occupy the home, where the mother had dwelt 50 years. Harriet Beard lives with them.

1 799- Colonel Jedediah Beard - A brother of Amariah, came out in the fall of 1799, October 17th, bought lot 27, where Noah Pages now has the stone house. The next spring he bought Tomlinson's lot, in the town plat, at $5.00 per acre. This is the 1st record of sale of town property. Originally from Massachusetts, the Beards located for a time in Granville, Washington county, N. Y. Mrs. Beard's maiden name wras Charlotte Nichols.

1800. February 22 - They started from Granville for Burton with three children - Thomas, Thalia, and Amey. All the household goods of this family were in a two-horse sleigh. From Buffalo they drove one day on the lake ice, at night camping at the mouth of Cattaraugus creek. Beds were made of hemlock brush. The snow melted, and in the night Mrs. Beard was awakened by the uncomfortable feeling of water rising through the brush. Lake winds shifted the ice to Canada, and they built the next day shanties of their sleigh and one that General Paine and his family had come in, and camped. John Moss was -ent on to Burton for Amariah Beard, who got a batteaux boat at Fairport, and went to them. Paine had secured a boat, and they loaded goods and sleighs, and sailed out together, Amariah and another man bringing the cattle through the woods.

Mrs. Beard, fearing the boats, walked all the way to Fairport, carrying in her arms a child one year old - Amey (afterwards Mrs. Orrin Canfield, of Chardon),

( ieneral Paine's hired girl walked with her. The boats were signalled in, and the land and boat parties camped together every night but one. At Fairport Mrs. Beard was sick in General Paine's tent for several days. Two pairs of < )xen and sled were sent from Burton for their goods, and hauled them through. Mrs. Beard was so weak as to fall five times from her horse in riding from Painesville. There was not a house on the road, and but 5 or 6 in Burton, when they arrived May 4th. The fall before he had made some trade for the mill property on the west branch, and took possession this year in June, locating himself in a bark shanty, east of the stream near where the bridge now is, west of the village. Seth Hayes lived with and worked at the saw-mill. A large double log house was sooh built on the top of the hill, east of the mill, near where Vicroy's barn now stands, on lot 32.

One evening Mrs. Beard and the children were alone, the door unlatched. An Indian head peeped in, then two came in. They went to the fire and laid down to warm. One was drunk. She ordered them out. The Indian said, "no go out - sleep." She taugh| them respect. Deliberately grasping the fire shovel, she drove them out and fastened the door behind them. They had so wholesome a fear of Beard as* not to return, but went to Parks' house, south, and broke in the windows.

A hurricane came upon Mr. Beard, Kirtland, and John Ford. They were out dividing land. The roar was fearful, and the cry was, "run for the alder swamp," which they did, escaping the crushing fall of the heavy timber.

The Kirtland story of cooking snakes was current. Col. Beard expected him to dinner, and, Hayes says, killed one of the charmers and served it up, Kirtland pronouncing it good.

1st death was by drowning, in the spring of 1800. A man by the name of Sharon undertook to cross the west branch, riding one horse and leading another. In the current he reined up stream and was rolled off the horse and went beneath the foaming water. Col. Beard got within 30 feet of him, where he was caught on a submerged bank, and, being a good swimmer, would have saved him, but he seemed to lose nerve, slid off and was lost. His body was not found for nearly a week. Elijah Hayes thinks he was buried east of the square.

Atwater - afterwards Judge Amzi, of Mantua, left Painesville in December, 1801 or 1802, and walked all day. The track was filled with heavy snow. At night he was near Butternut creek, his clothes wet and freezing. He was tired and nearly frozen, but waded on, until near Judge Stone's, as he thought. At 10 o'clock he was so chilled and sleepy that he concluded to "lie down and die." The snow was kicked away from a tree ; he laid down between two roots and pulled his coat and knapsack over him, and the snow over all, bidding farewell to earth, never expecting to wake again. The snow covering took away the chill, and after a sleep he awoke, the first thought being, "Am I on earth or not." He was answered by a screech, as if a panther was ready to pounce upon him. Breathless, but listening for the yell, he found the sound was regular, and bethought himself of saw-filing at Beard's* mill. Rubbing his limbs into life, he started forward, all the time fearing the sound would cease. It did; but the saw started, and the wooden mill made such "a power of noise" that, guided by it, he waded on, and came to a log crossing the stream at the mill. He could not walk it. When the mill stopped he halloed, and Silas Burke, the sawyer, came to him and put him astride the log. He was so cold and numb he could not stand. Burke, working carefully, step by step, drew him backwards on the log, across the stream and up the hill to the house. Mr. and Mrs. Beard were up with him the rest of the night. He was badly frozen. More than 40 years after he told to Alfred Beard, a son, the story of their kindness, and on his manly face unbidden stood the tear of gratitude, and words were %low of utterance.

1812. In the war - Col. Beard commanded the regiment of militia in the district composed of what is now Geauga, Lake, Cuyahoga, Lorain, and Huron counties, and was with the men who went to Cleveland to meet the foe, at the time of Hull's surrender. Gen. Paine was the militia brigade commander.

- The Indians Were Coming - was the fear expressed one morning, on hearing strange noises, and the people prepared to run away. It was an amusing scare - when they found the sounds were bull-frog songs - from the beautiful river C\iyahoga. This "beautiful river" - and its swamps, likens to the marvelous, as did the story of the "May apples" (Mandrakes), described to eastern people as a choice product of this region.

Thomas - the oldest son, learned surveying. He was a determined youth, and one night packed his clothes and climbed from the chamber window. He was missing for several years. In Illinois, about 1815, with a man named March "took up" a township of land, and buift up Beardstown, on the Illinois river. He was afterwards a judge. Thalia married Edward Collins ; Amey, Orrin Canfield; Charlotte, Alvord Beals; Hannah, Cyrus Loomis. Alma died in Burton, November 15, 1827. Paulina was married to Thomas Metcalf, and is now living in Chardon. Salina married Mr. Crawford, and is now living in Rantoul, Illinois.

Colonel Beard - will be remembered as tall and erect, in his old age, with white hair braided in the old-fashioned cue, that trailed behind upon his shoulders. Oftentimes in the house of John A. Ford, he listened to the preaching of Elder William Collins, and, with his wife, became a Disciple.

She was a lady of quiet and domestic habits, with strong attachments, never quite loosing the desire to return east. At Beardstown, Illinois, January, 1840, she died. In the house of his son Thomas, an acid, or preparation for polishing brass band instruments was mistaken by Colonel Beard for salts. He took a dose and was poisoned, living only a few days, dying in Beardstown, in 1843, aged 75. . . - »

Alfred N. Beard - the youngest son, born in Burton in 1813, resided there 42 years. His first wife rests in the "old burial ground." He took "graduation papers" in the old log school-house north of Hickox corners, and had such teachers as Simeon Rose, Linsen Patchin, and Hamilton Utley. His home for many years was on lot 51, where O. S. Granger now resides. A Congregationalism he was faithful in attendance at church. His recollection brings back awful music from the recesses of the deep forest. Thalia, Amey, and Chatlotte, with Delia Benton, and two or three of the Parks' girls, came from Eli Hayes' one night through the woods. Losing the path, Amey and one of them got down on their hands and knees to feel for it. They heard a noise in a tree, and all rushed together instantly, in mortal fear, and the forests echoed their shrieks of terror. A panther struck the ground at the spot where the girls had been. Missing his prey, and frightened at their noise, he crouched, and went screaming away west of the Cuyahoga. Seth Hayes heard the wild yells, and, knowing the children were out, sprang for his rifle, exclaiming, "Good God! one of them girls is gone !" At the door he heard the panther pass, giving a fearful, angry cry, every few jumps, and then knew the girls were safe. They rushed home at once, white w ith fear.

In the winter of 1816 or '17, "Priest Humphrey" held service in Beal's hall Near the close of the sermon a heavy but quick step was heard on the stairway, and Elzar Cook's curly head "hove in sight." He said: "Sala Hewitt is drowned in Beard's mill-pond, we w'ant good swimmers." Everybody felt called to swim, and left the minister and empty hall behind. Colonel Beard recovered the body and the next day the funeral was held. 0

1798. Isaac Fowler - was here with the settlers during the summer of this year, and worked with the surveyors. He was one of the number who met at the "Umberville Coffee House" July 15th. He helped in the survey of Po-

Born in Guilford, Connecticut, he married Asenath Hopson, a sister of Samuel Hopson, in Wallingford, in the spring of 1799, and on the 23d day of May, in company with Kirtland, this

3d Family - reached Burton. Coming from Poland, they found the streams swollen by heavy rains, and the 2 2d encamped beneath a tent of bark on the bank of Grand river, in Farmington, and rested well. Next morning swam the horses across, keeping the baggage above water.

Coming to the Cuyahoga swamp with the horses and two cows they had driven, they bridged, waded and mired, but reached the hill at noon, having been nearly four days from Poland.

Mrs. Fowler went into the company house, and cooked for the hands during the summer. For this work, she received twenty acres of land situated across from the fair grounds west. In his items of Munson, Mr. Miner tells of Mrs. Fowler's pounding corn. Edwin Ferris gives a little different wording of the fact. Provisions were scarce, and the party ate all at breakfast, the house afforded, trusting that a supply would arrive that day. It did not come, but the plucky woman blew the horn, and the men reported at the table, where the) found a dish of mush for each. How's this? asked they in surprise. She showed a block of wood and a hammer, and told how, all the forenoon she had pounded the kernels of corn. In June he went to Warren for their household goods, with a pair of oxen, sled and horse.

His labor was given to clearing, planting, hoeing and harvesting this year. He purchased lot 25, where Dean Tucker now resides, and traded it with Jon athan Brooks for lot 3, and moved onto that lot in the fall of 1802, into a log house about 30 rods southeast of where Thomas Osborn s house stands beyond the west branch, in what is now a large meadow. He died at this house in 1811, and was buried in the lower yard. Mrs. Fowler aftewards married Israel Coe, and went to Rootstown, Portage county, to live.

Hiram Fowler - the oldest son, was born in the company house March it, 1800. Eli Fowler went to Warren for a physician. Starting about sundown he reached there the next morning, after a tedious journey. He rode a mare belonging to Eli Hayes. Coming to Grand river, he found the stream swollen. The mare was so thin and weak he did not dare to ride her across. Cutting a pole he took it in one hand, and with the other grasped her tail, and started in behind her for a swim, guiding her across with the pole. He returned that evening with the doctor, but a squaw had been called from the camp down the Cuyahoga, and the child was born when the doctor arrived. Hiram married Minerva Stone, and settled in Munson in the year 1831, where they now live.

1798. Eli Fowler - was in the work this year, and with his cousin, Isaac, having set out with the company together, they are cutting the road, May 31st, from Conneaut to Cleveland, and did not reach Burton until July 15th. He was captain of the boat that brought the party to Conneaut this trip. He after wards made five trips to Buffalo by lake in an open sail boat for provisions. At one time he saw a deer swimming across from a point where the bluff banks were so steep it could not land, to a shore beyond. Fowler turned bow after the weary animal, and three men pulled the oars in the race. The deer was overtaken, and Fowler grasped and pulled it into the boat, cramping it down, and with a knife cut its throat; the only deer he ever killed. With Byington and B. Rice he had been counted yard, by the Cuyahoga. Contracting for land in July, 1800, his house was raised the 24th, on lot 46, on the bank of the brook nearly south of where Austin Conant's mill fell down. 1 1 is clearing, this way, gave the hard land running down to where the upper bridge now crosses the river, the name of Fowler's point In anticipation of a college being established here, Kirtland gave him, for the improvements he had made, his choice of 100 acres east of the river, and be built the* first frame house on lot 60, on the hill east of the house now occupied by Wm. Arnold. He worked at clearing on the public square, and it is claimed that in cutting for Isaac, on the 25th, he left the sapling, near his hous^, which afterwards became so grand a maple, on Cheshire street

The Wolf -which the lawyer, Woodruff, shot, was trapped by Fowler and Ephraim Clark, in the summer of 1800. They pinned his head to the ground with a crotched stic k, strapped his feet, and put a bark halter on him, and led him to the square, and the lawyer had the first fire at the animal in bonds, that he might go back east and say he had shot his wolf.

He killed a great rattle-snake, chopping the head off with an axe. Its skin was taken off, and stretching the width of it on a beech tree one foot through, it reached more than half round the tree. The meat was cooked and eaten. Hearing that the chewing of a snake would cure the toothache, he forked the head of a rattler down with a crotched stick, and a man held the tail, while he bit the whole length of the snake's back. It is said his teeth never ached afterwards.

The Indians came whooping into his house one night, making a great noise and fright, but asking for "squash-a-gun" (bread), were soon pacified.

Andrew Laird was hired to hew timber for his barn. He came and asked where the scorers were. Fowler held up both hands. Laird laughed; but found him equal to the task. He scored the timber for a 30 by 40 foot barn in two days, and it was hewed. The logs, cut on his own land, were rafted to Punderson's mill, at the Rapids, and boated back, in lumber, to Fowler's landing, above the Troy road.

He was a great Episcopalian, and his wife a strong Methodist. He gave generously to the building of the church in Middlefield, it is said, giving more than two-thuds the cost of it. He kept two buggies. She drove alone to Burton, to church, while he went to Middlefield. They often rode on horseback.

He was full or humor, and the boys used to try his piety. The rats were very thick, and one Sunday, Elias Sperry was asked to put a little load in his gun, and shoot a few. He banged away. "By jupiter," said Fowler, "I guess he means to scare the rats all out of a Sabbath day."

Judge Kirtland offered him a dollar to "cut up" an acre of corn near the square. Just as the sun was up, and Kirtland was out in the morning, he had it all cut, and had thrown it all down - claiming the dollar for cutting it up.

In his old age, he had tbs big chimney, with bac k-logs, and would build a roaring fire, saying, "She burns like a frolic." They had no children.

The pair spent their lives on the farm where they settled. She died January 23, 1839, and at the age of 86, January 12, 1865, he passed away. They sleep in the lower yard.

Caleb Fowler - his father, was a soldier in the Revolution. December 31, i75S» in Guilford, Connecticut, he was born; and his wife, Molly Chittenden, the mother of Eli and Anson, was born March 28, 1760. Olive Meigs, the second wife, and mother of Captain Elias Fowtr, was born at Guilford, October i5» 1767, and died in Troy, Ohio, April 27, 1848. He died at Burton, October 12. 1822. The daughters of this old soldier were: Mollie, married to Jessie Bishop;

Clarinda, to Theopolis Stone; Rhoda, to Lyman Benton Harriet, to Jacob Burroughs; Desire, to Anson Messenger, of Windham, and Phebe, to John Dayton, of Troy. October 21, 1812, he reached Burton. He was hauling rail cuts in the woods at the time of Perry's engagement. He heard the firing, said it was home-made thunder, commenced whistling, and man hed off to the house with regular step and martial air. In the Revolution, his company was on duty as a reserve force, on the memorable Sunday, at the battle of Monmouth. Out with a scouting party, on North river, he captured a musket from the British while they were eating breakfast. It is now in the possession of his grandson Caleb Fowler. Captain Elias told that he used often to sit on his knee, and that he could give the day and date of every battle in that war.

Elias Fowler - born April 16, 1798, was married to Abi Sperry, January 16, 1822. His 2d wife was Anna Hotchkiss, married Feb'y 9, 1826, and 3d, Electa L. Richmoud married May 16, 1837. He located on lot 50, where Timothy Fowler is now living. The tales learned on the knee of his father, developed in the boy a military spirit. He was commissioned ensign and then lieutenant of the 1st company, 2d regiment, 1st brigade, and 9th division of the Ohio militia, by Gov. Jeremiah Morrow, 1823. The number of the regiment was changed and he was elected captain of the same company. 5th regiment, May 22, 1824, and was so notified by order of S. H. Williams, colonel of the 5th regiment. He held this command 3 years and served as township trustee 3 years. He lived to the advanced age of 80, dying February 17, 1879.

Timothy - the son, residing on the old homestead, and Hezekiah and Elias Sperry, have related many things interesting for these sketches. The story of Indians trading with Eli comes to his mind. They paid after so many "moons." A saddle was sold to one who did not pay. The old chief, John, said he was no Indian, but a "Massasauga," meaning he was of a low tribe of Indians known by that name.

Anson Fowler - born in Guilford, Connecticut, December 23, 1786, arrived here October 12, 1825, and settled on lot 50, where he now lives with his son, Caleb. The years of life he has passed number almost 93.

After long prostration with nervous fever, at the age of 22, he mended up, but his hands, never again steady, were shaken by nerves over which the will had lost its power. For many years he worked at shoemaking.

The year 1808 he was wedded to Lois Hotchkiss. When there were so tew Methodists in the east, that it took 5 townships to start up enough to make a class, he was with them, joining at the age of 29. Mrs. Fowler was a Baptist, and went to Middlefield to church. He bought a "dug out," put it on the Cuyahoga, and, on Sunday mornings, took passage in it from the upper bridge, accompanied by Mrs. Eli Fowler, and went paddling away up stream ; then took across the woods on foot to Andrew Durand's to meeting. On the organization of the Methodist class in Middlefield he was leader, and continued for some years.

1812. - In the war he served three months, being stationed in the fortifications on the river, at New London, Connecticut. He niarched with the same musket captured by his father from the British in the Revolution.

Caleb - his son, has followed in the footsteps of his father, and is a strong worker with the Methodists; is a class-leader, and w'as a faithful superintendent of the Sunday-school some 6 years.

1798. Levi Tomlinson - has been mentioned with the men coming in 179S, and in the survey and clearing work. He was, without doubt, the first owner of the lot where the majority of business was done for many years, as his clearing was between that of Umberfield's and Beard's. The county records show' that the lot given to Mrs. Beard was bounded on the south by lands of Lydia

Umberfield and Levi Tomlinson, and east by Tomlinson and the highway. This was the lot where the stores so long occupied by Beach, Boughton and Gaylord stand, and once sold for $5 per acre. In 1817 he was chosen deacon of the Congregational church, and was an earnest worker for the upbuilding of Zion. He died in 1831. His first location was on lot 2. He purchased of Captain E. Patchin, and lived there until his death. Captain Patchin's wife was his daughter.

1798. - Phineas Pond is one of the early names that has been mentioned in the survey party of 1798. He was chain man, the 1 8th of June, and with peg and awl, was the

The short supplies of the settlers gave opportunity for heroic adventure. The heavy winter, at the beginning of 1799, found this young Pond and Jonathan Brooks willing to risk their knowledge of survey lines, and be guided through the woods, in the snows of winter, in search of corn for the famishing people. They started by the gulf, and struck lines for the State road, southeast of No. 9, not far from the present railroad depot, then followed on to Poland, and brought com on their backs to Youngstown, where it was ground. With their loads of meal they started back. Night came too soon, on the return. Pond, discouraged and wearied out, laid down, helpless. Brooks cleared the snow, built a fire - and no doubt sung a song - to inspire Pond. His hatchet flaked out a chip from the wood, and with snow, melted in his hands, he wet the meal upon it, baked the corn of Egypt on the chip, and served it to his friend, who, when Brooks had eaten, was aroused to care for himself and to new hope - eating and being comforted. In the light of the fire, they wearied through the cheerless night, and brought comfort to the settlers the next day. What became of this shoemaker, and his pegs and awl, is not given.

Mr. Doolittle, one of the land owners, and Eli Fowler, who had been east to winter, and with them was Samuel Hopson. Rose was one of the first who began work on the river bridge July 12, 1799, a little south of where he afterwards settled and lived on lot 56, where the old Rose family house still stands, at the foot of Burton hill. The last family occupant was Dudley Rose, a bachelor, who lived there alone, and died alone, in this old home by the shades of the Cuyahoga. This son was a good man and neighbor, but odd. Mr. Rose was an agent of the land owners, and quite active in selling. He was justice of the peace, and an old docket shows his official signature as late as 1836. From the first family his wife was chosen. Limery Umberfield - the beautiful, who enchanted the Indian chief - was the maiden who gave her heart to him, and kept a glow of hospitality at his fireside, on the margin of the river. Their children were: Belinda, Augustus, Joel, Henry, Dudley, and William. The wife died October 20, 1835, aged 52, and he soon followed - March 15, 1837, aged 57, and they have long slept in the old ground on the knoll.

Samuel Hopson - located on lot 43, near where the old Ephraim Cook house now stands, east of Horace Cooks, and not far from the spring. From him the mill stream east took the name of Hopson's creek. He married Acenith Sperry. Esquire Hickox has told it that Ephraim Clark, jr., Eli Fowler and Hopson courted three sisters, Sperrys, who lived in Mesopotamia. The swamp and mud was bad, and going on foot, they carried their best suits in a bundle. When near the house they stepped asid^into the woods and shifted the muddy clothes for the Sunday suits. After the visits they changed again and walked home. He sold out in 1814 and moved to Mesopotamia, but finally settled m Munson in 1816.

1799. Isaac Clark - arrived with his family on Saturday, June 8th, from Guilford, Connecticut. His wife was Susan Gates. They had one son, Isaac. Electa and Almon were born here. Ephraim, a brother, was with them. Kirtland says they came to build the mills, and on the 1 ith he went with Clark to find a mill place. Seth Hayes, Nathan Parks, and perhaps others, were with them. The mill site was selected on the west branch, and long known as the Beard mill. He located on lot 33, on the north side of the road, building on the line that divided the east from the west half of the lot, probably to be near the spring on lot 43. Almon Clark, of Mesopotamia, often spoke to Horace Cook, and pointed to the spot where he was born. He bought the half of this lot June 12, 1800, and the same day one Glines is mentioned as buying the half of lot No. 1. Work was done on a dam and saw-mill this summer, but it was not completed, and Colonel Beard bought out the property. It was in his house that the first religious meeting was held in 1802. Moving from Burton, he located at the village of Mesopotamia, on the corner, opposite the present stone store building. The son, Isaac, who came with them, was the Bloomfield Clark, and his daughter, Mary, taught in the old school-house east of Luther Russel's, and is remembered by the writer, who walked from the village to her school in the winter, as a model teacher.

Ephraim Clark - the brother, must have traded his interest in the mill property, as he afterwards built a log house and settled on lot 27, where Noah Page now lives. This lot Beard had owned. He was married to Aile Sperry. It was afterwards sold to Noah Page, father of the present owner of lot 27, by Mr. Law. Mr. Witter and Hayes say his barn was the first frame barn and second frame building in the township. Ephraim Clark, sr., was the builder. He removed to Talmage, Summit county, Ohio. His son, Newel D. Clark, is in the First National bank at Ravenna, where he is an old and respected citizen.

Ephraim Clark, the father of these two brothers, came with his family in 1800. They settled on lot 27, east of Page's, where Beardsley now lives. His wife was a Blakeslee. They had four daughters with them. Acenith, the oldest, was married, and remained east. These four girls were a sensation in a new country, and led the young men captive, smiting with the glance of the eye, and foreclosing on the heart with the red blush of the young blood of girlhood. Abi married McIntosh, of Mantua; Polly, Joseph Moss, and afterwards Luther Russel; Rachel, Jonathan Brooks in 1802, and Hannah, David Hill.

The Revolution- - made him a soldier, and the canteen and powder horn which he carried through the war, are now in the Historical Society room - - brought by his granddaughter, Lovira Hoadley. The quality of the men of his day finds fitting record in his answer to a brother, who was an officer in the British army. They met on the field, and the officer of the king said, "In justice I ought to cut your head off," and I would, were you not my brother." The cool reply of this federal soldier was, "You can try it." He followed his son to Talmage.

1800. Nathan Parks - settled on the hill east of the west branch, not far from where the old Barrett house now stands. The time of his coming with the family was most probably the year 1800. He was with the mill men in 1799, and purchased of Kirtland October 17 th, lot 56, afterwards the Simeon Rose farm, for $227.50 - $1.50 per acre. His girls were spoken of by Alfred Beard in the panther story, and his house had the windows broken by the Indians.

Hickox came in 1804, and he mentions Parks as one of the settlers he found here. His wife was Mary Ann Mallorv. They brought six or seven children into the country. She died about 1030. He afterwards married a widow Bishop, of Twinsburgh, a zealous, religious lady of the Baptist persuasion, who joined the Disciples. They lived many years, where Mr. Cheftis now resides

Solomon Parks, - a son of Nathan, it is claimed, worked on the Beard gristmill, and that he cut the stones for the mill at Fullertown, in the year 1820, from common "hard heads." They came originally from Springfield, Massachusetts. At the age of 12 years, he was sent with oxen and sled with provisions to men in Auburn, building a bridge. Starting before day, he carried a torch to scare the wolves.

1812 in the war, he was under General Paine, and went to Huron, and told of seeing Tecumseh, the Indian chief, early in the morning, up in a tree, counting the numbers of his enemy. He married Lucy Williams in Westfield, Massachusetts, and located on Oak Hill, northeast of Elisha Chapman's present house, in November, 1819. He caught 9 turkeys aF one fall of the trap, in a pen, baited with bundles of wheat. The last payment upon his farm was coming due. Although sick, he managed to work on his knees, until he threshed out 41 bushels of grain, in the winter, and his wife sold a white dress that had cost six weeks' labor to embroider, and the silk for another, and the money was raised to make the payment. Delayed by sickness, he did not reach Warren, and some man told that he was dying, and paid the balance and took the land. The family felt this was worse than robbery.

Mrs. Parks was a tailoress, and toiled with the needle to raise her family in respectability. Mrs. Lucy C. Matthews, of Thompson, is a daughter, as is also Mrs. John Cutler, wife of Capt. Cutler, of Troy. Mr. Parks died July 8, 1834. The widow married J. Cutler, of Newbury, in 1844.

1800. Seth Hayes - had been here before, but the family came this year, and probably occupied the bark cabin, which Colonel Beard had left They came originally from Russell, Hampshire county, Massachusetts. Kirtland mentions, under date of August 2, 1799, giving Hayes an order for $170, to get mill irons, and that, August 17th, Moss returned from Fort McIntosh with mill irons. Riddle says, Hayes bought them at the new works in Pittsburgh, and boated them up the Big Beaver. Moss met him with an ox cart. Probably the cart was Clark's wagon.

Ira and Enos were children with the family. When a log house had been built on lot 14, north of the road leading west from Gilum Hotchkiss', and on the high bank west of Hopson's creek, they moved in. The barn across the road, south, was built in '1810. Lorin, Olive, Betsey, Marilla, Martin and Riley, were born in Burton, making 8 children. He was a strong man, and a hunter that could pick his game from under cover, by surprise - or fight. From Parks pen a pig was stolen; Hayes pursued, and the bear dropped the pig. Lyman Parks was sent back for a gun. Hayes scared the bear away, and he returned, only to be scared away again. The third time he came back within a rod of the pig, stopped, and raised on his hind feet. Hayes knew this meant fight. Off came his big hat, and shaking it before his face, he jumped at the bear with a yell. Over went the brute, and ran off, not to return again.

To a Cave - in the rocks of Claridon, jnst over the line, he tracked a bear. The winter had set in, early in December, 1800. The thought of its severity and length, the scarcity of provisions in the cabins of the settlers, and the destitute condition of his own home, brought no comfort to his mind. Not 40 rods southwest from where the diagonal road leading from Burton to Chardon crosses the run, at the foot of Martin's hill, is a ledge of rocks. In this ledge was his game. Closing up the holes, where the bear might pass on through and out, he stood a moment. That recollections of General Putnam nerved him for the entrance is not certain, but as m«ch cool courage served him. Deliberately he cut stakes and drove them at the mouth of the den, making ^10Jes^r two already shanpened, but these he did not drive, thus leaving room for his body when he should come backing out. He had punk wood and sticks ready for a fire, close by the opening. Crawling on hands and knees into the cave, he assaulted him with hatchet and knife. Retreating, foot by foot, he was followed by the enraged brute, snapping strong white teeth on his sight, in the rays darting through the entrance ; but he managed to so defend as to keep beyond the paws and the awful hug that would have crushed every bone in his body, until he reached the entrance, and, springing out, drove the twro stakes, holding his prey back while he struck his flint and punk and started the fire, which would intimidate bruin. Having only shot for his gun, he was busy, between driving the furious bear back from the stakes, with bis hatchet, and cutting beech slugs, with which he loaded. The flint of his lock was bad. He aimed as best he could, touching his gun off with a brand from the fire. William Hayes told it to Seth Burton, that he drove the bear back with the hatchet from breaking down the stake, until he had fired eight slugs into him, and ended his struggle inside the prison. The result of such daring was 400 pounds of meat, the supply of the neighborhood that wdnter. The fat on the ribs was so thick that a case-knife wras just long enough to cut through it.

A nephew, Seth, and his sister, Hannah, came with their uncle Seth, in 1800. She went with her husband, Benjamin Babcock, and settled in the Chagrin valley. This nephew and his brother, Ebenezer, went east for their mother, and brought her here in 1810.

Seth - the nephew, built the first log house, in the north-east corner of the orchard, north of Luther Russel's house, on lot 28, about 1820.

Ira Hayes - settled on lot 29, and built a log house across the road from where Krum Olds lives, on the Stewfart farm. The old pear tree, by the door, still stands and bears fruit, but they who planted it are all gone.

1801. Eli Hayes - a brother of Seth, the elder, came out in 1800 ; bought lot 13, 160 acres, and worked on the Beard mill. He was north of the mill one evening, and heard strange sounds. He hurried back, thinking the Indians were killing Seth's family, but found it was the howl of wrolves. He returned on foot to Massachusetts that fall. The spring of 1801, accompanied by his brother, Joseph, and their families, he came by way of Pittsburgh. He settled on lot 13, the first house south of where Gilmore's mill was afterwards built. With the ox team w*hich he drove into the country, he hauled the logs for Peter Beals, in the first clearing in Troy. Daniel Hayes came with him, and Ebenezer with Joseph, to Burton. Ebenezer afterwards moved to Fairport. Mrs. Hayes' maiden name was Lucy Bishop. The children - Polly, 7 years old; Elijah, 5, and Simeon, 2 - came with them, and six - Amos, Lovisa, Amanda, Albert and Alma (twins), and Paulina, were born here. He had ague, and wras sick of the country only at that time. The Indians came and ground their knives on the stone, and alarmed his wife, but coming in a squaw* pointed to the oven. She gave them a loaf. The squaw shook her head and made signs for a larger one, which was given and they went off good natured.

Elijah Hayes - the oldest son, was born August 29, 1796. He married Sally Fowler, and his second wife was a Mrs. Hepzibah Whitney. He lived long in the house by the spring and big maple trees, on lot 22, where the hill slopes to the west branch. His recollections of early days have greatly aided the writer in verifying many facts of pioneer times. He relates that Captain Eleazer Patchin, Loveland, Holbrook and Parsons were, in the early day, spying out the land. They espied a big mud-turtle in the sand. Waiting until she had deposited the precious eggs in the hot dust, they robbed the nest of 18, and having two quarts of whiskey went to Eli Hayes', broke the eggs and, stirring them with sugar in the whiskey, made lively "egg-nog," which was drank by the whole party, the family sharing this "Ohio turtle soup," with a relish. Mr. Hayes has been a faithful member of the Methodist church, and is quite active, though past 82. His eyesight has been good the last three years. He reads common print readily.

Simeon, - born March 29, 1799, lived on lot 22. He married Lucy Lindley. At the age of 21 he joined the Methodist church, and was constant in his religious faith. His death occurred February 13, 1879. The text of Rev. G. H. Fairbanks, at the funeral, was from the 119th Psalm, 165th verse.

Amos. - The year 1816, a fever took off some of the family. Amos was sick and went on crutches a number of years. The last seven years of his life he was in bed. The disease did not affect his head or neck, but the joints of his frame became ossified. His limbs were rigid and could not be bent. 1826, he was married to Laura Miner. His death occurred November 22, 1859, aged 58 years. She died January 5, 1871, aged 60.

Joseph Hayes - settled on lot 23, south of Elis', bringing his wife, Lydia, and four children - George, William, Josephus, and David. Ezra, Porter, Lovina, Lucinda, Mary, and Rhoda were born in Burton. He was a hunter, and his daring was equal to the emergency. Several of the Hayes had treed a bear. They cut the tree, and in failing it broke, and the bear ran out at the break, followed by the men. "Joe" was behind, and when he reached the break another bear ran out. "Joe" pounced on his back, and grabbed hold of his ears, shouting " here's another bear ! - another bear ! ! " Seth tried to cut his throat The bear bit him, and was stabbed to the heart. They secured both bears.

George, William and David, east of Oak hill, on the Cuyahoga, hunted at night. In the morning each would take his deer on his back, and lug it four miles to their homes, on the west branch. The writer recalls the strange weird sound of George Hayes imitating the bullfrogs, saying they always called " G-eo-r-g-e H-a-y-e-s - G-e-o-r-g-e H-a-y-e-s." Hayes told of crossing the river one night with Capt. Joe Eastman, both 'full of whiskey. He said the bullfrogs called out " G-e-o-r-g-e H-a-y-e-s d r-u-n-k," and the little frogs said " J-o-e, t-0-0 - J-o-e, t-0-0."

Josephus Hayes - was a strong swimmer. He w*as "put up" to swim from Detroit twice across the river and return. He swam the first round, but returning the second time, gave out and was drowned. Mrs. Josephus Hayes was Abigail Miller, of Shalersville, Portage county, Ohio. They lived on the " Holbrook" lot, west of Hopsons creek. With them lived Dr. Justin Scott, an army surgeon of 1812.

Dr. Justin Hayes - son of Josephus, was born October 26, 1823. He heard the talk of the professional men of medicine. His youth was influenced, and he grew with the idea of being a doctor. He graduated at the medical college in Cleveland in the year 1850; practiced in Shalersville, successfully, 14 years; one year in Cleveland; two years before graduation, and has been 17 years in Chicago. In his profession he has attained a high position. Naturally a gentleman, he has well served the opportunities for culture. He is the proprietor of the Medical Electrical Institute, 167 Wabash avenue, Chicago, where hundreds of patients have sought treatment, and found cure at his hands. In 1877 he published a work on the " Electro Thermal Bath," giving the profession the benefit of his experience with electricity as a curative, in a well written and interesting book.

Mrs. Josephus Hayes died in Altoona, Kansas, in August, 1871. At one time Dr. Hayes tried to recover the farm upon which he was raised, and pay up taxes of ten years standing against it, but the matter got into the courts, and he gave it up.

1800. Dr. John Miner was the first man locating on lot 55, at the spot where Thomas Brown now resides. He must have sought out the spring on this hillside early in 1800, as he was one of a committee to divide Trumbull county into townships in August, 1800. Origen Miner tells that his father came this way and stopped with his brother in 1802, and that the brother preceded his father a year or more. He adds that the winter of 1801-2 was warm, and that his step-mother ate lettuce at the house of Amariah Beard on Christmas or

- New Year's day of that winter. The year 1803 Mr. Miner moved to Chester. He was killed in the fearful tornado of 1804. Mrs. Miner died in Burton, and was buried at the foot of the hill (old yard).

1801. Jonathan Brooks, a young man of activity, and much in the early surveys, came with the 1798 party, the 15th of July. He was from Cheshire, born there July 25th, 1777. John Adkins was with him much during the summer of 1798. Brooks did service in the surveys for Atwater, of Mantua. From apple seed saved by his friends at parties, the winter of 1797 and '98, in the east, he started a nursery in Mantua, the fall of 1800, and his hut was built near the State road, from Chardon to Ravenna, where it crosses the Cuyahoga. The fall of 1801 he bought land in lot 25, and also in 15, in Burton. Forty rods west of Marimon Cook's north line he sank troughs in a bushy pond, and started the

Esquire Law had started on a journey east, going by Conneaut and Buffalo-,, and made his first day's ride from Warren to Burton. J udge Kirtland discovered that evening, a package of papers had been left, covering the important business part of the journey. These papers must ^>e forwarded to Law by daybreak the next morning, to overtake him before he set out from Burton. To think of it was hopeless. Part of the distance the roads were not cut through, and only blazed trees marked the way. Streams and high' water and swamps must be crossed. A distance of at least 30 miles must be traversed in the perilous darkness of the night. Brooks said he could do it; Kirtland doubted, but consented in so strong an emergency. With compass, and hickory bark torches to light the way and follow the lines by the blazed trees, he started on foot and alone. At daybreak, soiled and tom, mud smeared - an imp of darkness from out the night - he appeared before the astonished Law, and delivered the papers, who then found they had not been put in his portmanteau, and that his journey would have proved a failure had not young Brooks, the skilled surveyor and woodsman, been the bold and swift messenger to overtake him.

Isaac Fowler had built a log house a little way northwest of where Dean Tucker's house now stands. Brooks traded with him for the land, and this house fell into his hands. No doubt the thoughts of some fair occupant had then impressed his mind. A tall and very graceful girl, charmingly near to the age of 18, one of the four attractive daughters of Ephraim Clark, had already set bewitching eyes on him. Rachel they called her, not long after her advent in the family, which was July 22d, 1784. Mrs. Fowler and her husband vacated the log house the 30th day of June, 1802, and that evening the

1st wedding - of the town, took place. Rachel was the choice of young Brooks, and Judge Kirtland came from Poland to unite them in marriage. They went to their new home the same evening, and the young bride found a pleasant surprise. Mrs. Fowler had left both bread and cake prepared on the shelves of the cupboard for the first meal of this new pair.

The axe of Eli Fowler had spared a little tree by the road side, when clearing in front of the house. The maple grew to fine size, and was, long years after a splendid land-mark on Cheshire street, and its summer shade fell far along the highway. But the axeman came ; the cool shades have passed away, and only yet is the stump seen. From the apple seed planting in 1801, 20 years afterwards, a good bearing orchard stood north of the house.

Mr. Brooks was in Claridon, near where Gomer Bradley afterwards lived, the day of the tornado of 1 804. He sought refuge beneath the root of an upturned tree, and the crushing timber fell upon the log and all about him, without harm to him. He was a fine singer, and led the singing in the first religious meeting held in Burton, and at the house of Isaac Clark. His son Linus relates that about 1809 provisions were scarce, and, with two men his father went to Detroit. He bought pork at $40 per barrel. Wind and storms so delayed their return that his wife gave up hope, and one night, being so alone in her anxiety and grief, sought encouragement at Deacon Cook's. The two boys, Selden and Linus, were left asleep. On her return she heard a sound from the bed of the children, and knew it was the voice of her husband. The joy of their meeting can be imagined. The boys awokje, and to their sparkling eyes, by the log fire light, the red of two great apples seemed wondrous as they looked at him who was lost, and the big apples he had brought them, the first they had ever seen. He brought a corn cracker from Cheshire, Connecticut, on his back. It weighed 45 pounds, and was said to be the first mill in this section. His bold venture in the snows of winter, to Youngstown, for corn meal, has been told in the story with Phineas Pond.

1812. On the 1st Friday of September he was drafted for the war, but his family being sick, Stephen Ford went as his substitute. His death came suddenly April 24, 1828. He had been to mill with an ox team, and the load was lumber, with grist bags on top. His wife knew that at the crossing of Hopson's creek, west of their house, the oxen had sometimes acted badly. Returning this way, at the creek he must 'have had trouble, and fallen, as the wagon wheel had passed over his chest, and three ribs were broken off at the backbone. George and William Hayes found him and went for the doctor, leaving word at John Ford's, from whence the distressing news went to the family; but he died before his family could get to him, and while they were yet in sight. His widow married James Morgan, and lived in Bloomfield, Trumbull county. Her death came September 4, 1852, and she rests beside Mr. Brooks in the lower ground.