Carlisle Township (part 2 of 4)

All the men in Eidgeville, who were subject to military duty, were stationed at the block house, in Columbia, and tlius tlie women and ciiildren were left to the protection of a few old men. Thus things continned until September, 1813. Ou the tenth day of that month, the roar of cannon was plainly heard in Ridgeville, liooming, at first, so slowly that, it is said, Mrs. David Beebe distinctly counted sixty guns when the firing became a confused sound. Tlie inhabitants knew that a battle on the lake was in progress, and that on its result, depended the safety of their homes, and perliaps their lives, and hence their minds were intensely agitated. Soon the joyful news arrived that Perry jiad won a glorious victory, and further fears were dispelled.

The following are the names of those from Ridgeville who were on duty at the block house, viz: Wyllis Terrell, David Beebe, Jr., Loman C. Beebe, Samuel Beebe, Leverett Terrell. Oliver Terrell, Philander Terrell, Tillotson Terrell, Noah Terrell, John W. Hill, and Sheldon Wooster.

A few additions were made to the settlement during the war. Stephen Cables came into the township in 1813, and settled on lot thirty-three. Three years afterward, he removed to Amherst, where he lived the remainder of his life.

Asahel Morgan settled on center ridge, lot sixteen, in September, 1813. lie came into the country without his family in the fall of 1810, driving one of the teams of the party that came at that time - as far as the eighteen mile woods, in New York. He soon after returned to Connecticut for his family, but was dissuaded from moving at that time by the prospect of war. Mr. Morgan died in 1837, on his original

! Martin Shellhouse and family, and his oldest son Martin and his faniily, came into the township in 1813, and located on center ridge. Tlie old gentleman was in very feeble health at the time of arrival, and died a week afterward. The wife of Martin Jr. also died shortly after settlement. The rest of the two families, except two daughters who intermarried with the Sextons, removed to Florence, Erie county.

Moses Eldred came into the township in December, 1813. He was a native of Massachusetts, whence he removed to Dover, Cuyahoga county, in March, 1811. His location in Ridgeville was on center ridge, lot forty-six. At the time of his settlement there was not a liousc west of hiin nearer than Floronee, Erie county. He lived in Ridgeville until 183G, and then again took up his residence in Cuyahoga county, in Bedford, and later in Carlisle, where he died in .Tune, 1857. Mrs. Eldred died in 1833. They had a family of ten children, six of whom are living. Clark, Noah and Melissa (Mrs. Wm. 0. Cahoon) live in Elyria township, and Francis in Ridgeville. Aaron lives in Medina county, Ohio, and Jarvis in Michigan.

Mr. Eldred served in the war of 1813, and was wounded in a skirmish with the Indians on the peninsula, near Sandusky, in September, 1813. Joshua R. Giddings. tlien a young man, sixteen or seventeen years of age, was in the same engagement, and carried Mr. E. from the field of battle. He was the first postmaster in Ridgeville, and at a subsequent period was associate judge for Lorain county.

Calvin Smith and Zenas Barnum came into the township in 1815. The latter bought out Stephen Cables. His father, John Barnum, arrived the next year.

Chauncey and James Emmons were the first settlers on Butternut ridge, in this township, settling in 1811. In 1818, Joseph Cole planted himself lietween them. Buel Peck, N. H. Hinkley, N. Case, Pliilo Murray, E. Rice, Peter Cole, Miles Tyler, and a family of the name of Chanter, came about the same time.

Borden Beebe, originally from Connecticut, removed from Canandaigua to Ridgeville in 1813, and located on Center ridge, lot twenty-eight. A few years subsequent, he moved to Chestnut ridge, and bought the farm previously owned by his son-in-law, Truman Walker, and spent the remainder of his life tliere.

A;iron Sexton, father of the Sextons previously mentioned, with liis wife and three sons, arrived in 1810, and took np his abode on the lot on wiiich James and George were then residing, they erecting a house for him. His son AViDiam aflorward married and settled in Carlisle, and Piatt in Huron county. Tlie other son, Eastus, was a cripple and never married. The father died in 1837 or 1838, and liis wife many years after, in the uinety-fourtli yeai- of iier age.

Truman Walker was tlie first settler on Chestnut ridge. He located in the year 1813 or 1814. John Shaffer was an early settler in this part of the town. Harris Emmons and Seth R. Alcott located further west on the same road, in 1818.

John Kibby settled here on lot fifteen, in the summer of 1831. He and his wife are living, and on their original location. A little romance is associated with their marriage, which occurred on their journey from Connecticut. Having suddenly determined to emigrate witli Origen Adams and family to the "far west," a compliance witli the law, requiring the publication from the pulpit of the marriage bans for three successive Sundays preceding the marriage, was impossible. But as soon as the party got out of their native county, a justice of tlie peace was sought, to whom the young man stated his case, accompanied liy a request to unite him to his traveling companion, "if he could do so in view of the law." The magistrate expressed his contempt for the law, tied the nuptial knot, and the young people resumed the journey as man and wife. ilr. and Mrs. Kibby are now aged respectively eiglity and seventyeight. Mr. Kibby has been blind for the last four years. Adams located in the western part of tlie town on Center ridge. Some twenty years afterward, he removed to Wisconsin, where he subse(|uently die<l. A son, Elmer, lives in Elyria; and a daughter, Mrs. Jeremiah Van Wormer, in Ridgeville.

Ebenezer Porter settled on Sugar ridge in 1833, aud died here in 18G7, at the advanced age of ninet)'-two. Two of tiie cliililren live in the county, viz: Mrs. Cyrus L. Sexton in Ridgeville, and Mrs. Williams in Avon. Tlie family was from Massachusetts, as was also that of Richard Van Wormer and liis father, Jeremiah, who located on the same road in 1833.

Chester Beebe, son of David Beebe, Sr., witli his family, consisting of his wife and two sons, joined the settlement in October, 1818. He settled on the northeast corner lot of the township, known as tlie "windfall" lot, erecting his house on the location now occupied by his son, Sidney L. Beebe. He raised a family of five cliiklren, three sons aud two daughters, all of whom are living. The sons. Laurel, Lovel,

William Blain and his family moved into town in the same year. They were from New Jersey. Mr. Blain made his location on Butternut ridge. He cleared up the farm now occupied by the widow of his son, Richard, and lived on it until his death in 1849. Mrs. Blain died in 18G1. Tliey had a family of seven children, two of whom, Mrs. Lydia Abbey and Isaac Biain reside in the townsliip.

James Blakesley and liis family, consisting of his wife and five children, moved into town in February, 1820. They were originally from Waterbury, but came from Trumbull county to Ridgeville, Mr, Blakesley located on Butternut ridge, on lot fourteen, and lived there until his death in 1858, aged eightytvvo. His wife died in 1840. Chauncey Blakesley is the only member of the family now living in tlie town. A daughter, Eliza, married Elijah Rigby, in Trumbull county. He came to Ridgeville with his family in 1819, settling on lot fourteen. He subsequently went to Illinois, where his wife died. He now lives in Wisconsin.

Joseph Humphrey and family, consisting of wife and four children, came to Ridgeville from Connecticut, in 1823, He settled at the Center, on tlie location of the brick hotel, which he built in 1830, His tavern bore the name of "Farmer's Inn," His death occurred in 1853 or 1854, His widow died many years after, aged eiglity-six. Three children are now living, and in Ridgeville, viz : Mrs, Iciiabod Terrell, Mrs, Harry Terrell and Jlark Humphrey, He - Mark - continued the hotel for a number of vears after his father's death.

E, Byington settled in 1832 or 1833, Oliver Lewis moved into town in 1839, Otis Briggs in 1830, settling on the farm on which he now resides, aged eighty-one,

The first coujile married in the townshiji was Jethro Butler, of Dover, to Clarissa Beebe, daughter of Borden Beebe. They were married in the winter of 1813, by Joel Terrell, justice of the peace. The first child born in Ridgeville of civilized parents, was Harriet Terrell, daughter of Noah aud Esther Terrell, This event occurred in the spring of 1811, and, very appropriately, in the first house built in the township, Wyllis Terrell, in writing of this event in the Elyria Coiisfitiifion, says :

"During the winter fre<iuent rains and heavy snow-fall filled the swamps and low places with water, and at the opening of Spring, to make the matter still worse, there came an unusually heavy rain, and Center creek swelled to the size of a river. David Beebe becoming alarmed at t^'e situation, started up the creek to look after his daughter and famil3% and found her and her babe, three weeks old, in bed, aud the water four inches deep on the floor, and a little fire in a kettle near the bed. He moved the family to his home on the ridge, and thus the cabin was deserted after being the home of the first settlei-s for eleven months."

townsliij) was Nancy Beebe, daughter of David and Belinda Beebe. She was born April 18th, 1813. She became the wife of Mark Humphrey, now living in Hidgeville. The first male child born in the town was (_»\ven A. Cable, son of Stejihen Cable. He was born in 1813. The first death was that of Martin Shellhouse, an old gentleman who was brought from Vermont to Ridgeville on a bed. He died Nov. 27, 1813, one week after his arrival in the township. The second death was that of Lydia Terrell, daughter of Noah Terrell. She died in August, 1814, before conipletins the first term of school taught in the town. The first place selected for the burial of the dead, was on the farm of Asahel Morgan, on lot sixteen. Only a few interments were made there, however, the location being abandoned a few years after, and a site selected at the center of town, the ground for which was given by Joel Terrell. The change of location was the cause of much displeasure to Mr. Morgan, who is credited with the remark, when it was decided upon, that he would never be buried in the Terrell burying ground as long as he li red and had his senses. John Bariium, who died in 1819, was the first person buried in this cemetery. Most of the bodies in the old graveyard were removed to the new. That of Lydia Terrell, however, was never disturbed, and the precise spot in which it rests is not now known. The first frame erection in the township was the barn of Amos Cahoon, built in 1813. The old structure was destroyed by fire in the fall of 1878. The first frame house was the tavern of Wyllis Terrell, Sr., built in 1823. The first blacksmith was Zenas Barnum. His first shop was located at the center of town, and consisted simply of a few forked stakes and poles, with a roof of shakes. Afterwards he had a better structure in the west part of town. The first doctor that jiracticed in the town was Zephaniah Potter, of Columbia. The earliest settled liiiysician was Dr. John Butler. The first wolf killed in the township was shot by Garry Koot, in 1813, then a lad of fourteen years. This was quite an event, as the cunning animal was rarely bagged by the most experienced hunter. The uiaile in the township, and, very probably, the first in Lorain county, was made by Mrs. Belinda Beebe, in 1813. She }iressed it with a fence rail, one end of which was stuck in between the logs of their cabin, wliilo, on the other end, was hung a basket filled with stones. The basket consisted simply of a bark hooj) peeled from the body of a tree. A forked stick constituted the cheese ladder. Thus is necessity fertile in expedients.

First Law Suit

The first law suit was between Lonian C. Beebe, plaintiff, and Joseph Cahoon, defendant. It was held at the house of David Beebe, June 17, 1813, and before Asahel Osborn, a Justice of the peace of Columbia. It was an action for damages, the plaintiff claiming unfaithfulness, wasteago and poor work, on the part of defendant in the grinding of a quantity of wheat for plaintiff, in May of the above year. The decision of the court, rendered June 18, 1813, was in the following W(.)rds:

"It appears, from evidence before this court, that, from twenty -eight bushels of wheat, which said plaintiff carried to said defendant's mill, said defendant made one hundred and eleven pounds' weight less flour, and that not so good as Cajit. Calvin Hoadley generally makes out of similar wheat. From a mature consideration of the evidence and circumstances, it is the opinion of this court that the said plaintiff, Loman C. Beebe, is entitled to receive of the said defendant, Joseph Gaboon, the sum of six dollars damage, and five dollars and seventy -seven cents costs of suit, for which judgment is rendered in favor of the plaintiff against defendant by this court."

The first legal process issued by a magistrate of Ridgeville after its organization, was a writ of attachment, taken out by Loman C. Beebe, against Simeon Tylor. It was dated August 2, 1813, and signed by Joel Terrell, justice of the peace. This was served on Tylor by John Reading, constable.

Religious Matters

In emigrating to the new country, the pioneers of Ridgeville did not leave behind them the New England habits in which they had been trained. A religious service was held the first Sunday after the arrival of David Beebe and his associates. Joel Terrell conducted the exercises, which consisted of the reading of a jiortion of scripture, a prayer, and the singing of a psalm, or two, to which David Beebe "l)itched" the tunes. Very few of the earliest settlers were members of the church, and a church organization was not formed until twelve years after settlement; but during all this time, Sabbath services were regularly kept up. For this, much credit is due Joel Terrell, who was by profession a Baptist. He did more to establish religious worship, and to regularly maintain it, in the absence of a minister and a church organization, than any one else. He usually conducted the meetings, which were at first held at the dwellings of the inhabitants, and subsequently at the school house at the Center. The was formed December 20, 1822, Rev. Alfred H. Betts. of Brownhelm, and Rev. Lot R. Sullivan officiating ill its organization. The people, on the occasion, assembled at the school house, but it was found to be too small to accommodate the large number that came together, and the congregation repaired to the barn of Joseph Humphrey, on the opposite side of the road, where a sermon, appropriate to the occasion, was delivered by Dr. Betts. The organization was called " The First Presbyterian Church of Ridgeville," and was composed of six members, as follows: Chester Beebe, and Marcia Beebe, his wife, Hezekiah Case, Samuel Eldred, Seth R. Alcott, and Lucinda Cahoon. Mr. Alcott was appointed church clerk.

that occasion, presented letters for admission, and, on exiiniiiuition, were received into the eluirch, viz: Mrs. Hezckiuh Case, Marcns Case, Fjunra Case his wife, and Ora Case. The elinreli never liad a settled pastor, but dejiended uj)on neigboring towns for the ministry of the W(ird. Meetings were held in the school house, at the center of town, and in the school house at the west part of town, until the I'rcctiou of a house of woi'ship in .

The church was never very ju'osperous. It struggled along, under adverse circumstances, for many years, but gradually lost ground, until it practically ceased toexist. Such was the condition of things when, in February, 1841, D. C. White, a lay member of a church in New Jersey, came into the place, and began to preach the gospel. " Under his labors," (we cpiote from the church records), "the church seemed somewhat i-esuscitated, and agreed to renounce its creed, or articles of faith and covenant, and take the simple woj'd of God, as recorded in the Bible, for their only rule of faith and practice. They also agreed to have a communion season, and that they would covenant together anew; and although some cases of discipline existed, the past should be forgotten, and each member should receive his brother, and for the future walk iu love, one with another."

On the fourth of July, of this year, Mr. White was invited, bj- a unanimous vote, to become the jiastor of the church. He accepted, and, on the third of the following Sej)tcmber, he was ordained and installed by a committee of the "Lorain County Association," the sermon, on the occasion, being delivered by Rev. Chas. G. Finney, of Oberlin. The church embraced, at this time, a membership of tifty-flve. Oliver H. Lewis was church clerk, succeeding Ebenezer Porteiwho was appointed to the otlice January 31, 18'^.5.

June 27, 1873, work was commenced in the creetiou of the fine brick church edifice, now occujiying the former location of the old church, which was removed to the opposite side of the street, and now stands a few rods west of the residence ef Albert Terrell, and is unused. The new church was not (-omj)leted until January, 18T0. The first service iu it was held on Christmas immediately jireceding. It was dedicated January 12, 1871), Rev. Dr. VVolcott ])reacliiug the dedicatory seruKju.

According to the figures of Mr. Bradford Race, who was treasurer of the building committee, presented on tiiat occasion, the cost of the church was ten thousand, two hundretl and forty-four dollars and fourteen cents. Tlie churcii had jjreviously been named, at a meeting called for the purpose, the First Congregational Church of Ridgeville. The number of members now (January, 1870,) belonging to the church, is forty-seven. Chas. llerrick is clerk, and Henry D. Rogers, T. T. Winkles, Le Roy Race, Edward Ames, deacons. There is no settled pastor at present, but preaching is had once every Sabbath, by ministers from Oberlin. Job Lickerish is superintendent of the Sabbath school, which contains about one hundred and fifty scholars.

The Methodists

A Methodist Episcopal class was formed ou Butternut ridge in 182."), by Rev. Harry 0. Sheldon, one of the earliest circuit preachers in this region. There were seven members composing the organization, namely : Wilson Blain and wife, Elijah Rigby and wife, and Harris Emmons, wife and daughter. Wilson Blain was the first leader of the class. Jolm Kibby and wife joined the class the following year. The meetings were first held in the log house of Mi'. Blain, and later in the fra:ne school house then standing on the site of the present brick school house at the cross roads. The circuit preacher officiated once in two weeks. According to a class-book in the possession of Mrs. Richard Blain, the class contained in 184:3, forty-three members. Rev. Adam Poe was the presiding elder of the district. John Tibbals was the pastor in charge, and Richard Blain class-leader. The membei-ship now numbers twenty-eight. Rev. N. J. Close, of Avon, is the pastor of the church. James Nye is the class-leader. He is also the super, intendent of the Sabbath school. The church l)uilding was erected in 1850.

During the pastorate of Rev. Uissette, in 187.5, some eight or nine members of the church, including among the number some whose connection with it embraced a period of nearly fifty years, were expelled for non-attendance upon church service. The expelled members, who absented themselves for the alleged reason of dissent from the doctrines enunciated by the pastor, with a like number who withdrew from the church, were organized by a Rev. Mr. Bell into a class under the name of Free Methodists. The organization was effected in February, 18713. Meetings were held at the school house and at the house of Henry Dickson, until the erection of a house of worship on Butternut ridge, in the summer of 1876. Revs. Hart and Bell officiated iu the dedicatory services. Rev. Scott Marshall is the present pastor of the church. O.'jborne Hale is the superintendent of the Sabbath school.

This church was formed in February, 1875. It embraced a membership of some forty-five at its organization. A church building at the Center was erected in the fall and winter of the same year. The present membershiji is about sixty. The Sabbath school contains nearly fifty scholars. Rev. J. Heidegger, the priest in charge, has been connected with the church in that relation since its formation.

The first house in which .school was kept was built of logs, and stood on ground now occupied by the brick tavern at the center. The seats consisted of slabs resting on pins, and liewed on the upper side. In one end of the buikliag was a tire phiee witli stone back, but without janiljs, and the logs would frequently catch tire. In tiie end opposite was the window, made by cutting out, for a distance of ten or twelve feet, a single log of the structure, and placing glass in the opening. Along the window, and for a few feet at each end beyond it, was a rude desk at which the scholars practiced their writing lessons.

The first teacher was Lydia Terrell, who taught in the summer of 1814, but died before completing the term. The next school was kei)t by Betsy Shellhouse. John Reading was the first male teacher. Aliigal Davis taught in the summer of 1817. She has lived, until recently, in Cleveland for many years, and is well advanced in life. Samuel Mills was the last teacher in the old school house, which was destroyed in the winter of 1817 by fire of unknown origin.

Another house, also of logs, was built immediately afterwards ou the ojiposite side of the sti'eet, and a short distance further east. Wyllis Terrell, Sr., was an early school teacher in tliis structure, and he is thought by some to have taught in the old honse.

The town was subsequently divided into two school districts, and a house built in the west part of the town and one in the east part. The latter was the first frame school house in town, and, it is believed, the first in the county. It was erected in 1831. It was situated in what was then called the northeast district, on the farm then owned by Philander Terrell, now owned by Oliver H. Lewis. The uails used in the construction of this building were made in I'almadge, then in Portage county, and cost twentyfive cents per pound.

The first school tauglit in this house was kept by Peter Barton, in the winter of 1821-22. Merritt Osborne taught the following winter. His term ended with a school exhibition, a novel feature then. It was held in the bai-n of Asahel Morgan, old and young alike participating in the exercises.

The division of the township, with the location of the two school houses, as previously stated, was unsatisfactory to the people at the center of town, and they erected for themselves a house at the center. Subsequently they succeeded in obtaining a school district in this portion of town.

The present condition of the schools is shown by the report of the clerk of the board of education, for the year ending August 31, 1878, which gives the following statistics:

Value $8,800 Amount paid teachers 2,445 Number ot scholars 410 A catholic school was established at the center in October, 1876, with about forty-five scholars. The number now enrolled is fifty-five. The school is held in the town hall.

Organization

The township was organized the first Monday in April, 1813, at the Terrell tavern. There were fifteen voters, and they were all at the election, which resulted as follows: Wyllis T'errell, clerk; David Beebe, Sr., Ichal)oil Terrell and Joel Terrell, trustees; David Beebe, Jr., and John Reading, constables; Joel Terrel, Justice of the iieace.

The township officers elected at the spring election of 1ST8 are the following: Alljert G. Terrell, clerk; Wm. D. Fuller, Randall Stetson and Lester C. Sexton, trustees; Chauncey Blakcsley and James Healy, justices of the peace.

Post Office

A i)ost office was established in Ridgeville in 1815. Moses Eldred was the first postmaster, who kept the office in his own house. He held the office until 1828, his successors being as follows:

Edward Byington, until 1830; Levi W. Terrel, 18-42; Alonzo Benliam, until 184(i; Joel Terrel until 1851; Joseph Humphrey, until 1854; David Beebe, now of Elyria, until 18(;0; Alonzo Benham, until 1864; Doctor Palmer, until ]8C(i; John Browen, until 1867; H. (}. Linder, until 1868; George P. Burrell, until 1869; Bert Wilmot, until 1870; E. P. Smith, until 1874; Orson J. Teriell, is the present incumbent of the office, which is located ar the center of the town.

The first store in the township was kept in his own house by Lyman Root. There are at the [u-esent writing four stores in the town, the name of the owners being as follows: Orson J. Terrell, Nicholas Diedrich, 11. Ramsdall, M. Bruce.

Manufacturing Interests

In 1812, and prior to the partition of their lands, Joel, Oliver and Ichabod Terrell, and David Beebe, Sr,, gave to Joseph Cahoon sixty acres of land at the center of the town, the consideration of the conveyance being that the grantee build a grist mill on the land so conveyed. The deed was excuted December 3, 1812. This was the first real estate transfer in the townshii). In the spring of 1813 the mill was erected. It stood on the west bank of Center creek, a few feet north of the bridge that now crosses the stream. The mill was about eighteen by twenty fe'^t in size, constructed of basswood logs, hewed on the inside, and was the best mill in the county in its day. It had but one run of stone, which was made out of a common "hard head." Wyllis Terrell, Sr., bought the mill a few months after its completion and operated it until 1826 or '27, when he sold to Orson Humphrey. The mill long since ceased to exist, and there is now none of the kind in the township.

The Ridgeville Chair Works

Tliis eiitcrpri.si' has pi'own uj) to its present importance from ji sninll l)i'ginniiig. It was established by A. 11. Mooers, the present proprietor, in November, 1853, with a cai)ital of seven dolhtrx and iiftii cents. He served his ajuirenticeship with his father, wlio was a chair maker, and had worked in Elyria, making chairs liy the piece, the year jirevious to his location in Ridgeville. lie rented a room, eighteen by twentyfour feet in size, in Joel Terrell's saw-mill at the center of the town, and with the capital previously stated, a few tools and a turning lathe which he borrowed, started in business for himself. He was alone for over a year. He made about one liundred cliairs a montli and those of the cheapest character. For these he found a market, mostly at Elyria. After running for three years he sold out to William Young for two hundred dollars, but bought liack within two weeks, paying a bonus of twenty-tive dollars. Some two years and a half afterwards, during which he engaged in other enterprises, helionghta small building near the liuslinell mill, and moved it to its ]>resent location, ill I lie rear of his house. In this building-, which he now uses for a barn, Mr. Mooers prosecuted his business for about .six months, using a horse power, wlieii he conimeiiced tlie erection of the first of tlie three large buildings now comjirising his works. In addition to liis factory jiroper, Jlr. Mooers has a saw mill twenty-eight by sixty feet, two stories high, the motive-power of which is a forty-horse power engine. The goods nuide by these works consist of every variety of wood chairs, all kinds of double cane-seated chairs, settees and the round-cornered cottage bedstead. Mr. Mooers finds a market for his goods iiiOlcvcland. In 1873 he employed nearly seventy-five hands. At the present time he has forty employees, five of whom are women.

These works furnished for the Sajngerfest building in Cleveland, in June, 1870, six thousand chairs in nine days, all carried to the city in wagons. The capital invested in business at the present time is u})wards of thirty thousand dollars.

Since this enterprise was started by Mr. Mooers, nineteen similar establishments, within a radius of twenty miles, have had an existence and failed of success. He attributes a great part of his success to his strict temperance jirinciples, to which he has adhered from childhood, never having tasted a drop of malt or spirituous liquor.

Just south of the saw mill is a building used by Mr. Mooers, exclusively for the manufacture of an implement called the " Gritfin Land Leveler," of which Mr. Seth Griffin of Elyria, is the patentee. It is a combined roller, harrow and scraper, and is used for leveling roads and tracks, and for the preparation of land for seeding. It was first patented in 1874, and its manufacture begun in 1877. About thirty machines are turned out yearly, and there is an increasing demand for it.

- Recognizing the necessity of means for the greater security of the dead from the nefarious business of grave robbers, Mr. Mooers ajiplied his mechanical genius in this direction, and patented in the sjiring of 1878, a --Metallic Coffin Shield" which he is now manufacturing. It is made of wrought sheet iron, and is used in the place of the ordinary box in wiiich the coffin is enclosed. Efforts in this direction are most commendable.

Saw Mills

The first saw mill in this township was built by Major Wyllis Terrell, on Center creek, near his grist mill, in 1811). It continued in operation until 1830, when Major Beebe and Joseph Humphrey, out of sanitary considerations, bought the [jroperty and tore it away. It overflowed their lands with water murii of tiie time, causing a great deal of sickness.

Capt. Bush erected a saw mill on West creek at an early day, but it never went into operation. A fresiiet carried away the dam, and tlie enterpri.se was abandoned.

TiiK Herrick Mill, at the Center, was built by Jiiel Terrell, son of Major Terrell, in the year 1850. He established at the same place a button factory, which he oj)erated in the day time, and the saw mill at night. It ceased to exist some five or six years since. Successive owners of the saw mill were men by the name of Viets, George Burrell and Dr. Ilerrick, of Cleveland, the present owner.

The Roiunson Mill, located on lot fourteen, was built in 1850, by Messrs. Peck and Hesten. The former subse((uently bought the hitter's interest, and ran the mill until 186G, when the present proprietor, J. Robinson, came into possession of the property. It is a steam mill, and has facilities for sawing from two thousand five hundred to three thousand feet of lumber per day, but has been idle much of the time of late years.

The Mooeus Mill. - This is by far the most important mill of the kind in the township, and, indeed, in this section of the country. It was built and is used mainly as an adjunct to his chair works, but the mill also does a great deal of custom work. It was built in 1873. It is a two-story frame, thirty liy sixty feet, with a substantial brick boiler and engineroom with an iron roof, making it as nearly fireproof as possible. The engine is a forty-horse power. Tlie capacity of the mill is five thousand feet of lumber per day. The upper story is used by Mr. Mooers for liis turning works, and is replete with all the varied machinery necessary to thi'.t branch of his chair factory.

The only cider mill in the township is ownied and operated by W. II. Eldred, who, with his father, built it in 1856. The entire machinery, with the exception of the engine, is of Mr. Eldred's own manufacture. It possesses facilities for the manufacture of eighty barrels of cider per day. With a small force of hands the average is about thirty-five barrels per day. Mr. Eldred does a general custom business, and also ships largely to Cleveland. In 1874, he added a feed mill with one run of stone, and run by steam, the engine being a twelve-horse power. Its capacity is about twenty-five bushels per hour.

Cheese Factories

The ExcEr,siOR Factory. - The original factory on this location, lot twenty-four, was built in 1S09 by Jackson & Roe. It was destroyed by fire in 1871, when the jaresent factory was erected by Adams & Eldred. In 1873, Jackson & Eldred, the present proprietors took charge, and have continued its operation up to the present time. This factory makes a specialty of the manufacture of what the proj)rietors call "Cheshire cheese," the entire product being shipi)cd direct to England. It consumed the milk of about four hundred and fifty cows the last season.

The Fuller Factory was established in 1870, by a stock company. W. D. Fuller, the present owner, has operated it about three years. It formerly consumed the milk of about two hundred cows. It was supplied the last season by about one hundred and fifty.

The Briogs Cheese Factory, situated a short distance south of Briags' CJorners, was built in the spring of 1871 by a stock company. Tbe present manager of the factory is C. I. Mead. The directors are Homer Terrell, John McNelley and Edward Hill. The production for the season of 1878 was aboul sixty thousand pounds of cheese, consuming the milk of about two hundred cows.

C. Lester Sexton

C. LESTER SEXTON. Soon after the marriage of George Sexton and Miss Mary Cahoon, at Vergennes, Vt., in the year 1810, they moved into Ohio, stopping at Judge Kingsbury's, Newburgh, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, where they remained until March 1'^, 1812; tiien, with family, Mr. G. Sexton moved into the west part of Ridgeville, Lorain county, Ohio, where he resided until his decease, November 7, 1829, aged forty-two years, leaving a widow and seven children, five of whom are since dead. Mrs. Mary Cahoon died September 17, 1849.

The two children living are Amos C. Sexton, who is a farmer in Orange, Cuyahoga county, Ohio; the other, C. Lester Sexton, of whom this sketch is written, following the same calling as his brother, resides in Ridgeville, Lorain county, Ohio. He was born at Newburgh, as above, on April 20, 1810.

The parents of Mrs. Lester Sexton, viz: Ebenezer Porter and Miss Eunice Yale, were married at Lee, Berkshire county, Mass., in 1800. They left Lee, in 1822, with a family of eight cliildren, for Ohio. Spending the winter in Dover, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, in the early spring th y removed to Ridgeville, where they built the first "log house" on Sugar Ridge. As a farmer, there he lived until death, which occurred on July G, 18G7, he having reached the advanced age of ninety-one years; his more aged father having died at his son's residence, in 1839. ninety-four years of age. Mrs. Eunice Sexton died November 19, 1847.

Mr. C. Lester Sexton and Frances C. Porter were married at Ridgeville, December 5, 1833. Soon after they removed to Ashland, Ashland county, Ohio. Returning to Ridgeville on the 9th of March, 1838, they commenced in the unbroken woods to make for themselves and children a home. How pleasant that iionie and its surroundings have become, the artist shows in the view accompanying.

Mr. Sexton was father of five chihli-en. Lydia Louisa, their eldest child, was born in Ashland county, Ohio, November 2(j, 1834. Becoming the wife of Ilarlo C. Emmons, of Elyria, she was left a widow in March, 18G9. In San Francisco, California, she was re-married to John Dunbar, and has since resided in Pefaluma, California. George P. Sexton and E. Porter Sexton were both born in Ridgeville; the one November 5, 1838, the other April 15, 1841. At the commencement of the rebellion, both brothers enlisted in Con)i)any E, Forty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry. George died in hospital at Paiutville, Kentucky, February 7, 1862; aged twenty-three. E. Porter serving his full enlistment, was honorably discharged, since which time he has generally been in Ridgeville.

Frances M. was born August 21, 1847, and became the wife, February 9, 1809, of W. H. Bastard, of Columbia, Lorain county, Ohio, where they now live with their sons, Robert Lester and George Harry.

Mr. Sexton has filled, and now holds the otfice of township trustee. Still vigorous, at a ripe age, loved and respected by his neighbors, he remains one of the makers of Ridgeville. To him belongs the credit of being one of the first, if not the first, of using tile drains, to any great extent, in Lorain county, - he at an early day, laying over two miles on his farm.

Soon after tlie arrival at Elyria, of Judge Ely's first wife. Mr. Sexton's mother, and another lady, started on foot througli the woods, to make a friendly call on the new-fomer. Tlie visit heing made, the ladies commenced (heir journey home. Losing their way, and night coining on, they were forced to spend the niglit under a ])artially fallen tree. The next morning brought them kind neigliliors, who had passed the night in vain search for them. Such was "calling" in Lorain county pioneer life.

Richard Blain

Wilson Blain was born April 34, 1789, and married to Hannah Van Natton, in May. 1810. They moved to Ridgeville, this county, in Septemljer, 18J8, where he bought a farm on tlie Butternut ridge, and lived there until his death. lie had four children. Richard, the eldest son of Wilson, and subject of this sketch, was born October 13, 1813, ami married Faiiuv

M. Fuller, November 20, 183G, who was born October 18, 1820; she was the daughter of Warren and Vesta Fuller. Warren Fuller was born May 8, 1700, and died July 1, 1870. Vesta Fuller was born January 7, 1795, and died July 11, 1870.

To Richard Blain and his wife have been born four children: Warren W., born November 6, 18.37; James M., born December 30, 1839; \"esta II., born February 11, 1841; and Harlan I., born March 14, 1843, and died April 5, 185G.

Ricliard Blain united with the Methodist Episcojial Church in 1839, when he was seventeen years old, and remained a faithful, devoted member until the close of his life. In all these years, after he became of age, he was either class leader or steward, and usually both. He was always at his post, and tilled his place with honor to himself, and great benefit and credit to the church. He was a man of decided and iinlilemished character, one who lived to do his neighbors good; and was truly devoted to his wife, his children and the church of liis adoption.

Russia

This township is bounded on the north by Elyria, on tlie south by LaGrange, on tlie east by Eaton, and on the west by Russia. It luis but two streams of water, and these are the east and west branches of the Bhick river, the former of which flows from the southeast across tlie townsliip; the otlier from the southwest, and both cross the north line of the township near the northeast corner, forming a junction at Elyria.

The surface of the township is generally level; the soil is largely clay, .and for the most part well adapted to agriculture, the bottom lands being extremely fertile. The township is described and known on the records as number live in the seventeenth range, and was drawn by Joseph Perkins, John Richmond, Tracy, Uoyt, William Eldridge, John McClunnan, Daniel Tildeu and Jabez Adams - (Island number six, then Cunningham's, now Kelly's, consisting of two thousand seven hundred aiul forty-seven acres, was annexed to number five for the pur})ose of ciiualization.)

Kame

Before the township was organized, the western portion had acquired the name Mui-rayvillo from settlers of that name in that locality. This was not satisfactory to the residents of the eastern portion, Phinehas Johnson wishing to name it Berlin after his native town in Connecticut. Unable to agree on either name, a compromise was effected by calling it Carlisle.

The first settler of Carlisle township was John Bacon, of Windham county, Vermont, who made the journey from that ])oint with a team of horses and wagon, arriving in Ridgevillein the month of October, 1815. He remained there until the early months of 181G, when he came to Carlisle and made a permanent settlement on what is now known as Murray Ridge. lie brought with him from the east a few necessary household goods, and his family consisting of a wife and the following children: Clarissa, Hiram and Susan. The first and last are deceased. Iliram married Louisa Halford and yet resides on the old homestead, hale and hearty, though at the advanced age of seventy-eight years. .John Bacon died in 1864; his wife in 1857.

A few months after Mr. Bacon made a commencement, a brother-in-law, Abel Farr, came on from Vermont and located on the north line and near the center east and west. His family that came with him was a wife and four children. Others who were married remained in Vermont; two came on afterwards and settled near the father. None of them now live in the township, and the only descendants are the widow and children of a son, Lowell, who was one of the children who came with the family.

There was no further settlement made in the township until the spring of 1819, when Samuel Brooks and family arrived in Carlisle. They were of sturdy Connecticut stock, and made the journey to Ohio by the substantial method of that day, i. c, with an ox team and a stout wagon. In these later years of harnessed lightning iind rapid transit the idea of traveling six hundred miles with an ox team seems prosy enough; yet this slow method had its advantages. There were no collisions nor trains trying to " ]iass each other on the same track." The date of the arrival of Mr. Brooks in Carlisle was April, 1810. His log house was constructed near the eastern township line, and was the first in that part of the township. Samuel Brooks was born February 27, 1780, and died in Elyria, December 20, 1874; his wife, who was Sophia (Johnson) Brooks, was born June 22, 1791. The children who accompanied the parents to Ohio were: Lydia K., who died August 10, 1851; Henry J., who resides in Cleveland; Julia L. (Bishop) who resides at Cuyahoga Falls, and Ira K., who died September 22, 1869.

On November 5, 1819, Hezekiah Brooks, and family, consisting of his wife and three children; Martin L. (now Dr. Brooks, of Cleveland); Ann H., afterwards missionary to Jamaica, who died in Memphis, Mississippi; and Hannah M. (Vincent), now living in Elyria, James Brooks, (father of Samuel and Hezekiah,) his wife and two sons, Calvin and Ileman, together with Phinehas .Joimson and faniily, came to Carlisle, and with Elisha Brooks and Riley Smith and wife, - who arrived two weeks earlier, - took up their abode with Samuel Brooks, making a total of thirty persons in the little log house. However, other dwellings were soon constructed, and ere long, ipiite a settlement had sprung uj) in the wilderness. This locality is now designated as La Porte. There was, at one period, a flourishing little hamlet here, with numerous manufacturers and minor industries; but of late years, the town has lost its former presitgc.

The rest of Mr. Brooks' children are, Samuel C, of Cleveland; Stephen S., of California; Edward W., of Red Wing, Minnesota; Sophia, now Mrs. Dr. Briggs, of Elyria, (to whom our gratitude is due for assistance in the preparation of this history, as well as for favors sliowii us in our labors at the court liouse); Emeline L., now Mrs. Foote of Tal)or, Iowa; Mary L., who died young; and William M., who is now president of Tabor college, Iowa.

The children of Hozekiah and Ilannah Brooks, not before given, are, James, a physician, residing in New York; Hezekiah, Jr., of California; Sophronia (Hall), of Oberlin; George, who i.s the only descendant residing in the township of Carlisle; Harriet, of Ncwburgh, Cuyahoga county, Ohio; Emily (West), living in Wellington, this county; and Fllen (Ruggles), who resides at Newburgh, Ohio.

The children of Phinehas Johnson, a gentleman well and favorably known, in the earlier years of the settlement of Lorain county, are, Sophia, wife of Samuel Brooks; Hannah, wife of Hezekiah Brooks; Cornelia, wife of D. Griswold, now living in Washington Territory; Samuel C, who died before the family came to Ohio; Julia, who married Edmund West (deceased); Irene, who was twice married, and is now deceased; William II., who married Alma Otis (deceased); Lucretia, who died at the age of nineteen years; Phienhas M., who married Orra Ann Collins (deceased); Delia M., who married H. N. Gates, and lives in Cleveland; and Isaac M., the youngest, who married Cornelia Mussey. She died, and he married Mary Hale, his present wife. He resides at Oakland, California. This gentleman is the father of tiie |)resent deputy county treasurer.

The Brooks' and Johnsons' were of I'uritan ancestry, and in the journey to Ohio, which was of nearly seven weeks" duration, tliey religiously observed the Sabbath day, by encanijiing promptly each Saturday night, and not resuming the journey until Monday morning.

William Webster, in liis '"reminiscences," published in the Elyria Rcpiiblkaa, April 7, 1876, says that ''Asahel KeKsey came from Connecticut at the same time," referring to the Brooks' and Johnsons', '"and settled on the south side of the east branch of the Biack rivir."

Philo Murray and his family, a wife and five children, from Connecticut, made settlement in the township in 1820 or '21. His location was in the western part of the township, on the ridge bearing his name. As none of the family are now residents of Carlisle we are unable to obtain further data concerning them.

Salmon Sutliff, of Erie county, Now York, came to Lorain county in August, 1820. He made a temporary location in Avon township, coming to Carlisle the f(jllowing January. The journey from the east made with a horse team, and three cows and a few sheep were driven along. The family consisted of a wife and four boys: Silas B., William H. H., Asa G., (who afterward became the pioneer settler in Waseca county, Minnesota) and Oliver H. P. Another child, a girl, Lovisa, was born and died previous to emigrating to Ohio. Two months after they reached Avon a son was born, Charles B. The place of their location was on one hundred acres of land in section ten, now occnjiied by S. M. Mason. Upon this farm they remained until 1831, and during this interval the following children were born: Ralph 0., Lucetta, Warren C, Lucinda, and Jesse S. In May, 1831, Mr. Sutliff removed to section one, locating on the farm now owned by the son, Oliver H. P., where the father and mother remained until their decease. The former died in November, 1857; the latter May 18, 3870. Of this large family of children ten are now living, seven of them in Ohio. Warren C, (to whom we are indebted for the data of this sketch) married Jane A. Bennett, and resides on three hundred acres of land in section twelve, Carlisle township.

Channcey Prindle, of Waterbury, Connecticut, was the first settler at the center of Carlisle township. In the spring of 1823 he came through with his family, a wife and two children. He came overland with a team of horses. Mr. Prindle stopped at Capt. James Brooks' until he could cut a road to his farm, on section number thirteen, distant one and one-fourth miles, and erect a log cabin thereon. He then moved into the woods and began in earnest to make a farm. The children above mentioned were Maria, who married Aaron Bacon, and resides in Oberlin, and Henry II., who married Christiana E. Spafford, and resides on the old homestead. One child was born toChauncey Prindle and wife, subse(juent to their removal to Ohio. This was Mary J., who became the wife of .T C. Slaughter, and is now deceased. Channcey Prindle died in May, 1872. Mrs. Prindle died on the 23d day of the previous September.

Obed Gibbs, also from Waterbury, Connecticut, settled in Carlisle in 1822, on the farm now occupied by his son Ransom. With him came his wife and two children. Ransom, the eldest child, had a wife and one daughter, Jane, who eventually married George Boughton, and removed after a few years, to Nebraska, where she died. Sally the second child of Obed Gibbs married Merrett Clark. They did not renniin long in the wilderness, ere they became homesick, when they returned to their native New England. Obed Gibbs died in Carlisle in 1840, and his wife a few years later. The children of Ransom Gibbs, born subsequent to his removal to Ohio, were: Harriet, who married Alson Wooster, and resides in Elyria; Lewis, who married Martha Jackson, and lives in Nebraska City; and David, who married Jane Slaughter, and occupies the old homestead.

Daniel Bennett, from Londonderry, Windham county, Vermont, came to Ohio in 1827, and purchased one hundred and twelve acres of land in section twelve, Carlisle township (now occupied by his daughter, Mrs. W. S. Sutliff).- Mr. Bennett then returned east, and, the following spring, came to permanently settle on his farm. His family consisted of a wife and niece. In May, 1828, they arrived in

History Op Lorain Cottnty, Ohio

Carlisle. For a short time the}- lived ill a sliuill log house standing near where is now the Hart Cheese Factory. There was at tliis time but one family in this vicinity, that of Lewis Shumway, who had a wife and two cliildren. He was from the east, but only remained a year or two, going still farther west. Mr. Bennett erected, on section twelve, tiie first frame house in this part of the township. Here he lived, reared a family of six children, brought the land to a jirofitable state of cultivation, and died July Ifi, 18G3. His first wife died August 10, 1829, and February 6, 1830, he married Jane Galpin, of Elyria, who survives her husband and lives on the old homestead. From this marriage the following children were born: Polly, who died at the age of fifteen years; Jane, who married Warren C. Sutliff and occupies the old farm; Emerett, who married Curtis Webster and lives in Elyria; Celestia, who died in infancy; Melvin R. and Cassimar D., who live with their mother. Daniel Bennett was a justice of the peace for many years, and a very worthy citizen.

William Webster, of West Hartford, Connecticut, married Abigail Johnson, of Berlin, same State, .January 4, 1800, and removed to Onondaga county. New York, in 1818, and to Carlisle in 1838; arriving there on May loth of that year, he settled and cleared up the farm cue mile north of Laporte, now owned by William Brush. In 1832, Mr. Webster removed to the southeast corner of the township, where he died October 27, 1844. Mrs. Webster died August 16, 1862. The children were as follows: Harriet, who married Joseph Weston; Amanda, who married Calvin Brooks; William, Jr., who married Catharine Phillips (a daug'.iter of this couple is now the wife of Dr. Kelsey, of Elyria); Abigail, who married Levi Lee; Bethuel, who married Roxa Andrews; Louisa, who married Abram V. D. Bergh; Nancy, who married Harris R. Shelden; and Henry, who married Sarah Johnson.

The first settlers in this corner of the township were John B. Andrus, Paul Taylor, John Randall, Thomas Girard, Cornelius V. D. Bergh, Elias Morgan. William Cook, James V. Baker, Enoch Forbinder, Stephen Wiiichell, and a family named Shepard. Of these, but two arc now residents of the township, Stephen Winchell and William Webster, Jr.

Joseph Patterson moved into Carlisle from Berkshire county. New York, in 1834, locating on section six. His family were a wife and nine children. Of these but two now live in Carlisle: Hiram, at present the superintendent of the County Infirmary, and William, who married in the east and came to Carlisle in the spring of 1837, locating on section eighteen. This he cleared. He was elected sheriff of Lorain county by the free soil party. While occupying the position he bought the farm of one hundred and sixty-four acres, on which he now resides, in section fourteen.

his death, February 1, 187 J. His wife was Miss Sylvia Kent, of Dorset, Vermont. Mr. Tenney was a native of Temple, New Hampshire. Mrs. Tenney is living with a daughter at Thayer, Kansas. The children of this couple are Benjamin, Jewctt, Emily, George, Myron and Ellen who are dead, and Horace, Henry W., Maria E., Electa and Daniel K., now living, the greater part of them at least, in Kansas.

B. F. Marlett, the "Village Blacksmith," came from Steuben county. New York, to Carlisle in 1844. He was then 17 years of ago. Two years later he began his present vocation. He was for three years a soldier in Company K, Twenty-third Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. In 1840 he married Cecelia Breckenridge, of (Jrafton township, this county.

Fiust Events

The first birth in the township was that of a son to William and Clarissa Bacon Saxton, which event occurred immediately after a settlement was made on Murray Ridge. The child was named James, eventually married a Miss Flint, and removed to Iowa where he died. The pioneer birth in the eastern part of the township was that of Samuel C. to Samuel and Sophia Brooks. Cleveland is now the home of this, at that early date, important addition to the colony.

The first marriage was that of Miss Cornelia, daughter of Phinehas .lolinson, to Mr. Dudley Griswold. The ceremony was performed at the residence of the bride's father by Sherman Minott, Esq., of Elyria townshijj. This happened in the fall of 1820. The couple now reside in Washington Territory.

In the cemetery at Laporte we find a small sandstone slab erected to the memory of Lucretia M., daughter of Phinehas and Hannah Johnson, who died August 23, 1823; aged eighteen years. This is presumably the first death of a white person in the township.

In the western portion of Carlisle, lands were donated for the cemetery in section two by Philo Murray, and the first interment therein was the body of Emeline, daughter of J. D. Murray, who died- December 27, 1825.

The first post-otfice in the township, was established in about the year 1825. Phinehas Johnson was duly commissioned post-master, and the mails were received and distributed from his residonce. M. V. B. Pitkin is the jireseiit jiost-master at this jioint. Another office was established a few years later, in the western portion of the township, at Murray's Mills. This office was named " Murray ville." Charles Drake'ly was commissioned first jiost-master, or at least he was among the first. This office was afterwards removed to the dwelling of Ransom Gibbs, who was appointed post-master, and remained as such until the office was discontinued, in the spring of 1853.

Phinehas Johnson kept a house of entertainment as early as the spring of 1820, but it was not until about 1830 that he formally opened a hotel. This was at LaPorte. During the period of stage coaches, two large hotels were iu operation at this place. There is at })reseiit none. Anotlier hotel was erected Ijy Obed (libbs, in the west part of the townsliip (section twelve). Abiram Drakely also liail a iiotel on section nine. These existed at an early date. Botli were long since closed as hotels.

Tlie Hrst store was opei ed in about is;}'). Alonzo rha])nian was its pro])i-ietor and sole manager. The building occupied by liini, stood on or near tlie site of M. V. B. Pitkin's present mercantile establishment. Mr. Chapman followed mercliandising some years. There are now at Lal'orte, in addition to tlie store given above, C. L. Hnrlbut, general merchandise, and a tin store by II. Lake.

The first to locate in Carlisle, was Milton Chapman, whose residence was on the ridge. Dr. Chapman was a gentleman of excellent jirofessional attainments, and practiced there many years. Deacon Turner, tlie builder of the mills bearing his name in the western portion of the township, was also a physician, but did not, wo understand, practice his profession to any considerable extent. Dr. J. F. Butler, afterwards a j)r()niinent memlier of the medical staff of Elyria, prai'tiecd at LaPorte for a time. Dr. Hiram Thompson, now of Grafton townshi]), also practiced at La- Porte some years before removing to his present location. After he left, the physicians of Elyria were employed to compound atid administer the divers nauseous drugs by aid of which dame nature is kept in proper working order over in Carlisle. At present H. E. Ilaring is the only physician iu the township.

The first mills in the township were built by Phinehas Johnson and Asahel Kelsey, in 1820. The one built by the former was a saw mill. It stood on the north side of the east branch of the Black river; and that of the latter was a grist mill, on the ojjjMjsite side of the river. Of this mill, William Webster says: "The stones were home-made, and manufactured by a citizen out of hard-head stones found in the neighborhood. It required a strong and well-braced building to stand the motion of the stone when grinding, as they were not very round or true, but did the work well foi- those days. In the spring of 1838, the water made an ojiening between the mill and the bank, in consequence of wliicii it became necessary to renidve the mill to another loeation. This was done, and for some years the old mill was in operation. Dr. Turner built a second saw mill, in about 1834, at Murrayville. This is, we believe, still in operation, and is at present owned by Henry Morehouse. Dr. Turner also erected a grist mill soon after the saw mill was put iu operation, near the same place.

The first clieese factory was constructed near the center of tiie township, in the spring of 1869, by a stock company, composed of some twelve or fifteen persons. The patronage the first season was two hundred cows. This factory was burned in the fall of 1873. The present factory was erected the following spring, by H. H. Prindle, Clark and Eckley. This factory was operated during the season of '78, by A. Wilmot, who utilized the milk of two hundred cows.

Walnut Grove factory is located on sectiun eleven, and was started by H. H. Hart in tlie spring of 1872, and had four hundred cows the fii'st season. It was conducted by Mr. Hart until the spring of 1877, when Messrs. Braman, Ilorr and Warner became the owners. This enterprising firm established the "Cedar Grove Creamery," in connection with the factory. In the season of 1878, four hundred and fifty cows were in contribution. John T. Vincent is the maker. In about 1840, Anson Braman planted the first stock in the Carlisle Nursery. This was the first nursery in Lorain county, Mr. Braman was its proprietor for a number of years.

In the year 1849, a stone quarry was opened, on section twenty-five, Carlisle township, by Messrs. Lockhart and J. W. Hart. The last named became sole owner, and iu 1870 began the manufacture of grindstones, and this has grown to be the major j)art of the business.

In 1873, the Black River Stone Company was organized, with a capital of two hundred thousand dollars. The following well known capitalists were the incorpoi'ators: Selah Chamberlain, Dr. S. S. Steeter, William II. Grout, George E. Dascomb, John Dayton, and J. W. Hart. Mr. Hart retains one hundred and twelve thousand dollars of the stock. The officers of the comptmy are, George E. Dascom, president; Dr. S. S. Streeter, vice-president; J. C. Hills, secretary and treasurer; and J. W. Hart, superintendent. In 1849 and '50, a spur track was laid to the quarry by the C. C. C. & I. R. R., and a large quantity of the stone used in the construction of the bridges and culverts of the above road, was quarried here. The stone from which the Forest City and Arlington blocks, and the First Presbj^terian church, of Cleveland, were constructed, came from this quarry. Forty workmen are regularly employed, with a jiayroll averaging fourteen hundred dollars monthly. The company are now making heavy shipments of building stone to Toronto, Canada.

Just above the quarry named, is another extensive one, owned and operated by the Grafton Stone Coml)any, W. E. Miller, superintendent. They employ an average of thirty-five men. Their products are princijtally railroad and building stone. Both the above quarries are situated on the C. C. C. & I. and C. T. V. & W. railroads.

The Elyria Chair Company is located in Carlisle township, on the east branch of Black river, and wa> established March 15, 1878, by John Kelley, Jamo Measley, and P. M. Peabody. It employs seven workmen. The investment is one thousand dollars. Wood-seat chairs are exclusively manufactured. There is also a saw mill at the same point, owned by Clayton Johnson.

William Patterson comes of ancestors noted f\)r longevity. Ciiarles Patterson, his grandfather, was born at Danbury, Conn., where lie married Miss Martha Hall, born at the same place. Moving into Berkshire Co., Mass., Charles died there, ninetytwo years of age.

Joseph, his son, being born at Mount Washington, Berkshire Co., Mass., Oct. 17, 1780, took for his life partner Miss Elizabeth Kane, in 1808. He took up his residence in Carlisle, Lorain Co., Ohio, in 1834, and engaged in farming, moving to Minnesota in 1869. He there died in 1871, in his ninety-first year. His aged wife yet lives in Minnesota to mourn his loss.

William, son of Joseph, commenced this life at Mount Washington, as above, Feb. 27, 1811. To use his own words, " I lived on ray father's farm for years, amongst the rocks that afforded no advantage for either man or beast." Leaving such opportunities and going to Green River, N. Y., he there married Miss Phoebe Vincent, March 4, 1833. Following his father, he settled in Carlisle, in May, 1837, where he still resides. There, with little or nothing, a home has he wrought out by hard labor as a farmer.

In the relation of father, by his first wife one son and two daughters look back to his efforts for their welfare, more especially in the matter of education : Dr. Patterson, of Baltimore; Mrs. Camp, of Jackson, Mich., whom so many parents and pupils of the Union School of Elyria remember as the kind and efficient teacher ; and Mrs. Harriet A. Herdman, of Zanesville, Ohio.

Mr. Patten-son's first wife died in 1856, July 14. He was again married, in 1857, to Miss Caroline A. Blanchard, daughter of Dr. Jas. C. Blanchard, of Penfield, Lorain Co., Ohio, the happy mother now of an only son.

Again his fellow-citizens, knowing his fitness, made him commissioner of said county, and his own townshi]) have expressed their respect for him by electing him to every local office.

Proud of his children, with a competency, all who have to do with Mr. Patterson, love and respect, and regard him as a finished example of a self-made man.

Chauncby Prindle

Chauncey Prindle was born in Connecticut, in the year 1794, and resided with his father until the death of the latter, which occurred in 1812. Soon after this sad event he married a daughter of Johnson Mercy, a happy union, which resulted in a ianiily of three children, - one son and two daughters. The son, H. H. Prindle, who lives on the old homestead, has this sketch of his father, with the accompanyingportrait, inserted in this work as a token of filial regard. Maria P., a married daughter (wife of A. W. Bacon), now resides at Oberlin. The other daughter, Mary J., married J. C. Stanton, and resided on an adjoining farm until her death.

Chauncey Prindle removed to Ohio in the fall of 1822, and first settled on fifty acres of land located in Carlisle township, Lorain Co., which he had received in payment of a debt. He started from his native place in Connecticut with fifteen dollars in money and about the same amount invested in tinware.

The journey occupied six weeks, and he Ijartercd most of his tinware with tavern-keepers on the road West, and was glad to find that he could do so, and thus save what little cash he had on hand. The appearance of his land was anything but flattering when he arrived here, as it was covered with several inches of water, and presented anything but a brilliant prospect for the anxious pioneer. By dint of hard work, and assisted by his excellent wife, he soon had his land cleared, and added to it from time to time until he had one hundred and thirty acres well improved, and upon which he erected comfortable buildings.

One of the peculiar hardships he had to encounter was the construction of about a mile of road through the woods, in order to get to his land. He also experienced great difiiculty in getting his wagon ihrouoh the mud and mire.

Mr. Prindle continued a farmer until his death, which occurred May 8, 1872, his good wife having preceded him to the grave about a year, Sept. 23, 1871. They were in every sense a worthy couple, and enjoyed the esteem and respect of all with whom they came in contact, either in business or social communion.

Mr. Prindle held several offices in his township, all of which he filled with the same honesty of purpose and faithfulness to duty that characterized the management of his personal affairs.

Okoakiz-Ition

Carlisle and Elyria townships, then of Huron county, were organized as one township, for civil purposes, under the name of Elyria, on the 20th day of October, 1819. Tliis connection was continued until June 4, lS-3v', when the present townsliip of Carlisle was organized. The first record of an election we are able to procure, bears date April 4, 1825, when tlie following persons were elected: Lyman J. Frost, Obed Gibbs, and Samuel Brooks, trustees; I. A. Sexton, clerk; Samuel Brooks, treasurer; and Ransom Gibbs, Barton Waite, and Ilezekiah Brooks, supervisors of highways. Pliinehas .lohnsou's bond as justice of the peace, - and he was without doubt the first person to fill that office, - bears date February 19, 1823.

The officers for 1878 are, William Patterson, Julius Beuhring, and James McMullin, trustees; M. R. Bennett, clerk; John Booth, treasui'er; William H. Sutliff, assessor; William L. Taylor and John Einig, constables. There are twenty-six supervisors.

Justice of the peace, Phinehas Johnson, was succeeded in 1833 by Hezekiah Brooks, and following are the names, with date of election, of each person who has filled the office until the present time: April G, 1835, David Bennett; August 22, 1836, Joseph Patterson; February 25, 1837, Henry M. Warner; April 2, 1838, Solimus Wakcley; April 3, 1843, Daniel Tenney; October 23, 1843, David Bennett; 1840, both re-elected; 1849, Nelson Groat and J. P. Noble; 1851, Joshua C. Bassett, who resigned March 7, 1853; Adna Groat, October 14, 1852; Daniel Tenney from 1853 to 1850, Lyman Rawson, 185G; 1859, Tenney and Rawson re-elected; 1862, Nelson Groat and James Carroll; 1805, I. S. Straw and Daniel Tenney; 1808, William Patterson and Warren S. Sutliff; 1874, Patterson and Sutliff re-elected; 1877, Sutliff and Elbert Haring.

On the 29th of October, 1822, agreeable to previous aj)poiutments, the jjcople convened to consider the propriety of organizing a church in Carlisle township. The Revs. Joseph Treat and Alfred Belts, missionaries from the missionary society of Connecticut, and members of the Presbytery of Portage, were present, and the following persons were duly constituted the " Congressional Church in Carlisle," viz: Hannah (wife of Phinehas Johnson), Samuel Brooks and Sophia his wife, Hezekiah Brooks and Hannah his wife, Lydia, wife of James Brooks, Samuel Eldred aud Irene Johnson. Samuel Brooks was chosen clerk. This church was removed to Elyria and consolidated with the Presbyterian church at that point, upon its organization, November 25, 1824. It remained thus until August 2, 1833, when at the request of Deacon Samuel Brooks, the members residing in Carlisle were granted permission to form ! themselves into a church in that townshi^J. For a time the cliui'ch fiourislied. A substantial meetinghouse was erected in about 1830, and a Sabbath school was organized. Gradually, however, tlie ranks were decimated until preaching was abandoned and the church ceased to be.

The following sketch of the Methodist church is prepared from data furnished us by A. A. Chapman, a former member: Rev. H. 0. Sheldon, it is believed, was the first minister of this denomination to hold services in Carlisle township. This was in 1824 or 1825. A class was not formed, however, until 1830 or 1831, which consisted of the following persons: A. A. Chapman, Cornelius Vandebergh, Nancy, Jane and Catherine Vandebergh, J. B. Andrews and wife, (Andrews was local preacher,) Henry Spicer and wife, Stephen Winchell and wife, Enoch Fossfiuder, Paul Taylor, Harriet Taylor and James V. Baker and wife. Cornelius Vandebergh was first leader of this class, and it was formed in the western portion of the township. A second class was organized in the eastern part of the township, now called Laporte, in about 1833. Among its members were 0. J. Humphrey, leader, wife and two daughters, and Mrs. Abigail Webster and a daughter. The church edifice at this point was erected some thirty years since aud cost one thousand dollars. Thei'e is a present membership of sixty. The pastor is Chester L. Foote; class leader, William Brush; stewards, Thomas Pound aud Gilbert Fields; superintendent of Sabbath school, Gilbert Fields. The attendance is sixty. The following are some of the early ministers: Elnathan C. Gavit, George Elliott, William Runnells. He that is now Bishop Harris was on this circuit in 1835 and 1830. Thomas Barkdull, D. M. Conant, M. L. Starr, W. M. Safford, Wm. C. Pierce, Spafford

In the summer of 1821, Miss Julia Johnson taught the first term of school in the east part of the township. This was held in a little log school house erected the previous spring, on the hill east of the river. In the west part a school house was built on section ten, now the farm of D. C. Pember. This was erected about the same date as the one mentioned above, and the first term taught therein was by Miss Minerva Murray, - cannot give the exact year.

May 29, 1826, the township of Carlisle was divided into two school districts. The western half was number one, and contained the families of Abner, J.

D. and Philo Murray, William and loua A. Sexton, Abiram Drakeley, Dr. Milton Chapman, Noah H. Hurd, Obed and Ransom Gibbs, Henry and Charles Smith, Barton Waite, John Bacon, Salmon Sutliff', Asahel Powers, Anson Seward, Chauncey Prindle, Lyman J. Frost and Moses C. Baker. The residents

Carlisle township had in 1878 eight school houses, whose valuation, including grounds, was seven tliousand dollars. The total amount paid teachers for tlie same year was one thousand four hundred and seventeen dollars, and there were of the requisite schooj age two hundred and eighty-five children.

Source changes here: from History of Lorain County Ohio with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Men and Pionners, by Various, published 1879; 22,491 words in this source stream.

Carlisle Township

Residence of the Heirs of David Bennett . Portraits of David and Jane Bennett. Residence of Lorenzo Clark Portrait of William Patterson ce Chauncey Prindle was born in Westmoreland, Cheshire county, New Hampshire, May 26, 1788. He was the second son of David and Abigail Bennett, and third in a family of fifteen children. When about fifteen years old, he was apprenticed to a man named Dutton, living in Dummerston, Windham county, Vermont. Becoming dissatisfied with the treatment he received, he ran away soon after he was sixteen, and went to Homer, Cortland county, New York.

On the 6th of December, 1810, he married Miss Polly Wheeler, and lived in Londonderry, Vermont, on a farm on the east slope of the Green mountains. He came west, to look for a farm, in 1827, and moved from Londonderry, April 21, 1828, with his family, consisting of himself and wife, his wife's step-father, and his neice, Miss Malvina F. Bennett. They came by wagon to Troy, New York, in two days, thence by canal boat to Buffalo, by schooner to Cleveland, which took three days, then by wagon to Carlisle, - in all, a journey of three weeks.

On the 23rd day of August, 1828, he purchased of Joseph and Mary Perkins the south one-half of the southwest quarter of section twelve, town five, range seventeen, where he spent the remainder of his life.

He married, the second time, February 6, 1830, Miss Jane Galpin, of Elyria, daughter of Neri and Betsey Galpin. They had six children, four of whom are living. He held various township offices from 1830 to 1860, being three times elected justice of the peace. He was a man of strict integrity, and his word was as good as his bond. He died July 16, 1863, of paralysis.

JANE GALPIN was born in Woodbury, Litchfield county, Connecticut, August 11, 1810. She was the daughter of Neri and Betsey Galpin, and the eldest in a family of ninechildren. Her parents moved to New Milford, Susquehannacounty, Pennsylvania, when she was about nine monthsold. In May, 1818 they moved to Center township, Indiana county, Pennsylvania. In November, 1822, they left Center for Carlisle, Ohio, then called Murraysville, Huron county. They moved in a covered wagon drawn by a yoke of steers and a span of old horses. They were three weeks on tha road and had but two pleasant days in the whole time. In some places the wagon hub would roll on the mud. They moved in with Abner Murray's family until Mr. Galpin built his house, which stood just over the line in Elyria township. February 6, 1830, she married Dayid Bennett and moved on to the farm in Carlisle, where she still lives.

front of his office, which he had surrounded by forest trees, dreaming his happy dreams of the future, Charles H. Douglas lurked behind him and fired a fatal shot. The wounded man struggled to his feet, attempted to raise his arm, but aimed too low. He was borne into his office, where in intense pain he ctlmly awaited death, saying, '"'I am not afraid to die, but want to sce my brother before I go. Am glad I did not hit Douglas when I fired,.on account of his wife and little ones." Asking again if Theo- dore had come, for whom a messenger had been dispatched, he fell into a calm sleep, and as the Sabbath day dawned his spirit took its flight.

Marks of respect and tenderness were shown by the warm-hearted people, and with aching hearts loying hands consigned him to his resting place. And while the breezes of his mountain home chant the requiem above his grave, loving hearts will entwine and bedew with their tears an imperishable garland to the memory of Edwin Dorr Iolbrook.

Physical Features

In the western part of the township the surface is level. In the central and eastern portions it is undulating, but nowhere rough and broken.

The soil is generally a clay loam, varied in some places by gravel. It is one of the best watered townships in the county. Rocky river flows northward through the township, gathering up in its course many tributaries. Plum creek flows in a nearly parallel direction through the western part of the town. The timber native to its soil was beech, maple, hickory, black and white oak, black and white ash, basswood, elm, sycamore, buckeye, walnut and butternut.

Purchase

Prior to the apportionment by draft of that part of the Reserve lying west of the Cuyahoga river, Levi Bronson, Azor Bronson, Harmon Bronson, Calvin Howlley, Jared Pritchard, and some fifteen others, formed an association called the '* Waterbury Land Company." This company, together with William Law, Benjamin Doolittle, Jr,, and Samuel Doolittle, drew at the fourth draft, April 4, 1807, this township us number five, range fifteen, with two thousand six hundred and fifty acres in the townships of Boston and Richfield, in Summit county, annexed to equalize it. The draft was in the following proportions: to the Waterbury Land Company, twenty one thousand six hundred dollars; William Law, two thousand eight hundred and fifteen dollars; Benjamin Doolittle, Jr., one thousand five hundred and ninety-two dollars; Samuel Doolittle, eighty dollars. The deed was executed on the 28th day of May, 1807, by John Caldwell, John Morgan, and Jonathan Brace, for the Connecticut Land Company, to Levi Bronson, Calvin Hoadley, Jared Pritchard, Azor Bronson and Harmon Bronson, in trust for the Waterbury Land Company.

*Our thanks are due Ransom Bronson, for information furnished in the preparation of this history. He has kept a record of early events, for the past twenty years, access to which has been of much service to us.

Pending the negotiation for the extinguishment of the Indian claim to the lands west of the Cuyahoga, the company bought of William Edwards a thousand acres of land in tract two, town eight, range eleven, Kuclid, (now Hast Cleveland), and a number settled there the summer previous to the draft.

Survey

In the summer of 1807 the township was surveyed. A surveyor by the name of Lacey was first employed, but his chain was found to be of an incorrect length and he was discharged. In August of the same year Robert Worden, a surveyor from Columbiana county, was engaged, who, with Levi Bronson, Daniel Bronson, Benoni Adams, and Elias Frost of Euclid, as ax and chain men, set out from Cleveland taking a southwest course until the northeast corner of the town was reached. From this point they proceeded west two and a half miles, thence south a like distance to the center of the township. 'The party made their encampment here, on the west bank of Rocky river. A dvaghter of Levi Bronson, afterwards Mrs. Oliver Terrell, accompanied the party to do their cooking, to whom must be accorded the honor of being the first white woman that ever set foot on the soil of Columbia.

Settlement

In September, 1807, a company numbering thirtythree persons, left Waterbury, Connecticut, for this township. They were, Bela Bronson, his wife and one child; Calvin Hoadley, wife and five children; John Williams, wife and five children; Lemuel Hoadley, wife and three children, his father and his wife's mother; Lithrop Seymour and wife; Mrs. Parker and four children; Silas Hoadley and Chauncey Warner. Two months afterwards the company reached Buffalo, west of which place there was then no road, and they were compelled to choose between the dangers, at that time of year, of lake navigation and those attending a journey along the beach. The company divided, four families embarking on the lake, while the remainder preferred the land route. The little party set sail under a bright sky and with a favoring breeze, but not long afterward encountered one of those sudden gales common at that time of year, which carried them back a distance of several miles, where the vessel went ashore. A week was spent before another start could be made. Arriving in sight of Presque Isle the vessel was again struck by a contrary wind and driven back to a point on the Canada shore under which the yoyagers took shelter. They remained here two weeks for a fayorable wind, when the journey was resumed.

They proceeded without further reverses until within sight of Cleveland, then a pretentious place of three log cabins, when a violent wind struck their craft, and they were forced to retreat until near the site of the present city of Erie, where they went ashore. They were now thoroughly discouraged with their experience by lake. The season was growing late, and whether to make another attempt by water or undertake the long journey by land on foot was not a pleasant alternative. Calvin Hoadley determined to make another trial, and, with his family, arrived at Cleveland after encountering many experiences similar to those we have mentioned. 'The most of them, however, determined upon the land route. Bela Bronson, wife and child, were of this party; Mrs. Bronson carrying the child in her arms for a distance of fifty miles west of Erie, where they were met by teams with which friends had gone back from Cleveland in search of them. Arriving at Cleveland, the company made a location there, with the exception of Bela Bronson and family, who, with ox-team and sled, pushed on towards Columbia. 'They were accompanied by Levi Bronson, Jared Pritchard, John Williams, Silas Hoadley, Calvin Hoadley, and five or six others who went ahead and cut a road for them. The family brought along in the sled cooking utensils - with which Mrs. Bronson prepared the food for the company - and camp equipage. Their progress was, of course, slow, eight days being consumed in reaching Columbia. day of December, 1807 - they arrived on lot twentyseven, where Bronson and family made a location.

The company divided into three sections, commencing simultaneously the erection of three cabins, one for Bela Bronson, on lot twenty-seven; one for John Williams, on sub-lot three; and one for Calvin Hoadley, on lot thirty-four. During the erection of Bronson's house, the box of the sled was turned up against a tree, and under this the family took shelter until their cabin was built. 'The house was ready for occupancy by Christmas.

In 1810, Mr. Bronson changed his location to the Center, where the cellar of the house in which he resided can yet be seen. He died here in October, 1811. He was one of the ten sons of Seba Bronson. His wife's maiden name was Sally Twitchell. Mrs. Bronson subsequently married Benoni Adams. Two children of this pioneer family are now living - Rey.

Sherlock A. Bronson, D.D., who was eight months old at the time of the settlement of the family in Columbia, now an Episcopal clergyman of ability and usefulness, resident in Mansfield, O., and a daughter Sally, living in Ottawa county. In an address deliyered in this township July 4, 1859, Rev. Dr. Bronson gives the following interesting picture of their situation in the winter of 1807:

"Our post office was at Painesville, fifty miles distant; the nearest mill was at Newburgh, twenty-eight miles away; and but little provision could be obtained short of Painesville. That winter my father wrote back to his friends that he was the richest man in town. He might have written himself down the greatest nabob of all of Ohio that lay west of Cleveland and north of Wooster, and there would have been none to dispute his claim. For a time, that winter, ours was the only residence in Western Ohio. Gloomy, desolate and lonely as those times were, my mother kept up good cheer, and said she always hoped for better times. Taking into account the time of arrival, late in December, no house ready for occupancy, that in the company was a woman with an infant only eight months old, and the nearest dwelling twenty miles distant, you have before you a rare picture of pioneer life."

The second family that settled in town was that of John Williams, who moved in from Cleveland after spending the holidays with his friends there, arriving January 3, 1808. They took up their abode in the cabin already partially prepared for them on sub-lot three. In 1810 he removed to a farm a mile south of the Center on lot forty-eight. Mr, Williams died in the spring of 1813, and his remains lie in an unmarked grave in the Center burying ground. The only surviving member of the family is Mrs. Weaver Harrington, now residing in Eaton county, Mich.

Calvin Hoadley followed closely after Williams, arriving in the first part of March of the same year, and commenced life in the Columbia woods in the house previously built on lot thirty-four. In the summer of 1809, he built a grist mill on Rocky river, south of the Center, the first mill in the county. He afterward built a grist mill and also a saw mill, on the same river, on lot twenty-one. Captain Hoadley was a man of great energy of character, and became one of the most prominent men of the town. He -was a son of Lemuel Hoadley, S-., who raised a family of eight children. Calvin was the second child and oldest son. He was a carpenter by trade. His wife's maiden name was Marian Terrell. They raised a family of five children. A daughter, the only living representative of the family, resides in Berea, O.

Early in the spring of 1808, the following additions were made to the settlement: Lemuel Hoadley, Sr., and Lemuel Hoadley, Jr, on lot forty-seven; James Geer, on lot thirty-five, south part; Lathrop Seymour, on lot eleven; Jared Pritchard, on lot thirty-one; Silas Hoadley, on lot twenty-nine; Isaac Frost and his two sons, Elias and Lyman, on lot twenty-eight; Nathaniel Doan, on the north part of lot thirty-five; and Benoni Adams, on lot fifty.

The Hoadleys were originally from either Salem or Plymouth, Conn. Lemuel Hoadley, Sr., was the father of eight cnildren. Mary, the eldest, became the wife of Asahel Osborn. Of Calvin we have already given a brief history. The next was Lemuel; he was a colonel in the war of 1812. Sally married Zephaniah

Potter. Lemuel was a mechanic, and much of his life was engaged in the erection of mills; he built most of the grist mills in this region of country. He removed to Brecksville in 1812, and built the first mill in that town; and two years subsequently he went to Bath and erected mills there. In 1819, he settled in Olmsted, Cuyahoga county, and erected for himself the pioneer mill in that township, and also built the first frame house there. In 1824, he exchanged his farm and a mill in Olmsted for a farm in Ridgeville, west of the center of the town, and took up his abode there. In 1832, he sold owt and moved back to Olmsted, and with his son-in-law, John Barnum, built a saw-mill at the mouth of Plum Creek, and laid out a village there. In 1838, he removed to Chillicothe. He married Chloe Tyler.

He was known everywhere as Major Hoadley, a title which he acquired, it is said, on the journey from Connecticut. The company would sometimes be obliged to construct a bridge across a swollen stream, and Mr. Hoadley was so perfectly at home at such work that his companions gave him the honorary title of "major," which he ever afterwards bore.

Luther was also a colonel in the war of 1812, and died in the service. David, a carpenter by trade, died in Connecticut. Urania married Riley Whiting, an extensive clock-maker of Winsted, Conn.

In 1810, James Geer changed his location to the north part of the township, exchanging his original purchase with Calvin Hoadley, for land on lot twentyone. Here he established a rude tannery, using sap troughs for vats, and an axe to pulverize the bark. He also followed shoemaking, having learned the trade of his wife, formerly Mrs. Mary Parker, whose first husband was a shoemaker.

Nathaniel Doan was a man of more than average ability, and, was a leading man in the settlement. He was the first justice of the peace of the township. He subsequently removed to Cleveland.

Benoni Adams was at that time a single man, but in 1810 he married Mrs. Sally Bronson, widow of Bela Bronson, and settled at the Center. In 1808, Mr. Adams carried the mail on foot from Cleveland to Maumee. The only habitations of white men on his route were those of Nathan Perry, at the mouth of Black river, and a Frenchman at Milan. 'T'wo weeks were usually consumed in making the trip. He lost his way on one occasion, and failea of reaching the end of his journey within the required time, and his pay was withheld for that trip. Sometimes the streams were swollen to such a degree that he was compelled either to travel a long distance to find a place through which he could wade, or to construct a raft with which to cross. His route lay through the Black Swamp, the passage of which, from its extent, could not be made in asingle day, and he was obliged to spend a night in the woods, usually making his bed on the trunk of a fallen tree. Says Dr. Bronson, whose mother subsequently became the wife of Mr. Adams: ''I have heard him say he has traveled the swamp when the water was half-way to the knee, and he was obliged to break the ice the whole forty miles."

During the same year, Seba Bronson, Sr., and his two sons, Seba and Daniel, moved in from Ashtabula county. The elder Bronson settled on sub-lot four, Seba, Jr., living with him. Daniel located on the north part of lot thirty-six.

In 1812, Seba Bronson, Jr., removed to Liverpool, Medina connty, remained a year, and then returned to Columbia. In the spring of that year, it is said, he dug out a canoe, and journeyed down the river to the lake, thence to the mouth of Sandusky river, thence up that river, to Lower Sandusky (now Fremont). There, in an opening in the forest, he planted a piece of ground to corn, under the protection of Fort Stephenson. After harvesting his crop, he returned to Columbia, residing there until his death, in 1851, aged seventy-five.

In 1809, Roswell Scovil, Horace Gunn, Timothy Doan, Daniel Bunnell, Zephaniah Potter, Wm. Hoadley, Noah Warner, Marcus Terrell, and Joseph Burke joined the settlement. Scovil settled on lot thirty; Gunn on lot - . The latter carried the first mail west of Cleveland, in 1808. InJune, 1809, he married Ann Pritchard, daughter of Jared Pritchard, which was the second marriage in Columbia. Timothy Doan located on lot twenty-nine, buying out Silas Hoadley, who returned to Connecticut. Bunnell drew, by draft, lot one, which he exchanged with Samuel Pardee for land in Olmsted. Potter settled on lot - . He was a doctor - the first in the township. Hoadley settled on lot thirty-five, south part, but returned to Connecticut in 1811. Marcus Terrell settled on the northwest corner of lot thirty-nine. Warner, in 1811, removed to Liverpool.

Joseph Burke was the earliest settler in Euclid. He came from New York, in 1798, traveling from Buffalo to Grand river in an open boat. Leaving his family there, he came on to take a look at the wilderness, in which he thought of settling, and after making a selection at Euclid, returned for his family. He resided in Euclid eleven years, and then removed to this township, locating on lot twelve. He died July 4th, 1814. His widow removed to Michigan, and died there in 1832. Of their large family of fourteen children, only two are living: Ira Burke on the old homestead, aged seventy-five, and Mrs. Sophia Lender, residing in Illinois. A little daughter, four years of -age, while in the woods with her brother, who was making maple sugar, wandered away and was never found. The generally accepted theory as to her fate is, that she was carried away by Indians seen in the vicinity a day on two previous.

1805. In that year he came from Waterbury, Connecticut, to Cleveland, on foot, by way of Albany and Buffalo, and returned by way of Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York, walking almost the entire distance. In 1809, he again came to Ohio, also on foot, this time for the purpose of settlement. . He was a carpenter and joiner, and on his arrival at Cleveland, engaged at work for a Mr. Murray, for whon he built a log house near the mouth of the Cuyahoga, on the east side of the river, and about where the government piers are now. His family, then consisting of a wife and three daughters, and his mother, (his father, Seba Bronson, Sr., having come to Columbia three years previous), came on soon afterward on a little vessel called the '' Ranger," Captain Hathaway, landing at the mouth of the river March 15th. Other members of the company, and their families, came at the same time. Mr. Bronson made a settlement in Columbia, erecting a house on sub-lot four.

At the breaking out of the war of 1812, when it was generally feared that this part of the State would be overrun by Indians, Mrs. Harmon Bronson, with her three girls, - the oldest about thirteen, - and an infant son less than a year old, started from Cleveland in September, 1812, with a horse, saddle and bridle, and took her little family back to Waterbury, the heroic mother walking the entire distance. It required four weeks to make the journey.

She remained in Waterbury until late in the fall of 1815, and then set out in a lumber wagon for Ohio. At Bloomfield, in the State of New York, her funds at fifty cents a week each, while she worked for her board and that of her two younger children. About the 1st of March, 1816, the journey was resumed, and the family reached Columbia in the latter part of that month.

Mr. Bronson kept a store in Columbia from 1816 to 1820. He removed to Hast Cleveland in December, 1821, and lived there until July, 1824, when he moved into Boston township, then Portage, now Summit county. He died December 18th, 1853. He was the seventh of the fourteen children of Seba Bronson, Sr., all of whom lived to mature age and were married. Azor and Bela died in Columbia, in 1811, October 5th and 13th, respectively. Harmon was the last survivor of the family. - His birth, marriage and death occurred in the same month and on the same day of the month - December 18th. He was seventy-nine yéars old at his death. His wife survived him four years and two months, and was something over eighty. Two of his family are now living - his second daughter, now seventy-cight years old, and the youngest child, a son, now sixty-seven - both residing in Peninsula, Summit county. From the latter, Mr. H. V. Bronson, we have obtained the facts here given.