Chardon Township (part 1 of 4)

Chardon City

Geographically, the township of Chardon is known as number nine, in the eighth range of townships of the Western Reserve. It is bounded on the north by Concord, Lake county, east by Hambden, south by Munson, and west by Kirtland, Lake county. The village of Chardon, the county seat of Geauga county, is situated upon a most pleasant, healthful and sightly elevation, near the southeast corner of the township, about four miles distant from the county line on the north, and four and one-half miles on thp west. That old and popular summer resort, the Little Mountain, is in the northwest corner of the township, and its new and delightful rival, "Bass Lake," (formerly Munson pond,) is about three miles distant from the court house by road, in a south-westerly direction.

Pioneer History

The pioneer history of Chardon, so far as furnished for this volume, is mostly embraced in a series of articles written by Mr. E. V. Canfield, and published in the Geauga Democrat (now Republican ), in 1870-71. These are given below, with such notes and corrections as are necessary to show what deaths, changes of residence, etc., have since occurred. -

Chardon's early history is gathered from papers and manuscripts that have come into my possession, and from conversation with those few who did pioneer duty here in olden time. My facts and dates will, I think, in the main, be found correct.

In 1808 Chardon township was unpeopled, for it was an unbroken wilderness Within the present limits of Geauga county, there were, at that time, several settlements, the oldest and most important being in Burton, and Bondstown (now Hambden). The seat of justice for Geauga county was established in 1808. Peter Chardon Brooks, of Boston, a man of considerable wealth and liberality, was the original proprietor of the land, and, evidently, wishing to make his middle name immortal, proposed to the commissioners appointed to lo cate the county seat, to give them the use of the land now embraced in the town plat of Chardon, if they would call it by that name. Samuel W. Phelps was* ap pointed director of Chardon town plat. It was nearly four years after this gift was made by Mr. Brooks, before any one took up his residence here. In 1811, Captain Edward Paine, then of Painesville, with the aid of Samuel W. Phelps, succeeded in getting most, or all, the timber chopped, on the public square. Corner Bradley, for a long time a resident of Claridon, and Curtis Wilmot, of Burton, did most of the axe work. So an opening was made in the heavy tim ber, the sunlight let in to warm the soil, and hastening the ripening of the farmer's crops, and the forests have gradually disappeared, to give place to grain, and meadow, and pasture.

In March, 1812, Norman Canfield erected a double log house upon the premises now occupied for a hotel by Benton & Co. This was the first build ing of any kind erected in Chardon, and the metropolis could * boast one dwelling. In the same month, the family of Mr. Canfield came to occupy their new house, moving from Litchfield, New York, to Bondstown (now Hambden), in 1804, and from there here, as before stated. Mr. Canfield, soon after mov ing into his house, opened it for a hotel. The building boasted of three rooms on the ground floor, and one very capacious chamber, accessible by a ladder from the outside, and through the gable end. Meager as were these accommodations, this tavern, as all such structures were then called, came to be quite a noted place of resort. In 1818 this tavern was torn down, and Mr. Canfield built a more commodious frame one. The most of that building is yet standing,* though entirely covered upon its shoulders the Mammoth hall, etc., built bv D. W. Stocking.

Mr. Canfield and his family were the only inhabitants of Chardon until some time in the spring of 1812, when Captain Edward Paine, jr., came with his family, and erected a large log house near the present residence of D. W. Canfield. This building was built for a court-house, but Captain Paine occupied it for a dwelling-house until the fall of 1812. So Chardon had more than doubled its population, a thing that sometimes takes cities a long time to accomplish, for it had two families and a court-house.. This court-house had but one door, and but one room. The fire-place had no jams. The chimney was made of split sticks laid in mortar. The floor was laid with wide, rough boards. There was one window in the east end, and for a while no floor overhead. The judges occupied a large, split log, or puncheon, supported by blocks, for a seat, and for a desk, for the lawyers, a long, cross-legged table, belonging to Captain Paine, and the only table then owned by him. Of course, the witnesses, parties and spectators, were provided with very rude and uncouth seats. The jury retired to a large log for deliberations, but whether this fact ever caused them to get at /^-gerheads, and disagree, I am unable to say.

In the fall of 1812 Captain Paine built a log house near the present parsonage of the Congregational church. At that time it was called a princely affair, tor it had two rooms on the ground floor, and the logs were hewn smooth on the inside. Chardon then had two families, two dwelling-houses, a court-house, and Norman Canfield had put up a log barn. During the summer of 1812 Captain Paine had caused to be cleared off about two acres of wood land, and Norman Canfield had made another such improvement.

In July, 1812, the family or Samuel King came to Chardon, from Long Meadow, Massachusetts. He started on June 10, 1812, and reached this place July 20th, being forty days in consummating the journey that now can be made in as many hours. His mode of conveyance was a strong lumber wagon, with two yoke of oxen and a horse to draw the possessions. Mr. King moved into the court-house before described (there being no other applicants for janitor). Subsequently, when he had built an addition to his house, he used the judges' seat, before mentioned, many years, for a door step. Hull having surrendered, Mr. King deemed it prudent to return east, which he did, in 1812, taking his family. Chardon had now but two families, and this was doubtless the darkest hour in its history, unless it may have been at the happening of some total eclipse.

Some time in the spring of 1813 Mr. King returned to Claridon, leaving his family in the State of New York, but he was accompanied by two hired men. Mr. King found no turnpiked roads between Buffalo and Chardon. The difficulties of such travel can be faintly appreciated by those of us who are unaccustomed to pioneer life, when we think of dense woods, with narrow wagon or bridle paths, no guide-boards, or finger-posts, save blazed trees; obliged to ford or swim streams, and settlements so scarce as to require frequent campings out. Think, too, how modern are our railroad improvements. In 1842, we had, in the whole United States, only about five thousand miles of road. In 1836, it is said that Ohio had less than fifty miles of railroad; now, we have between three and

Soon after Mr. King returned to Chardon, he took the job of building a new and more convenient court-house. The contract was to clear the lot on which the building was to be erected, and finish the structure for the sum of seven hundred and fifty dollars. He completed the undertaking in the fall of 1813, and a term of court was held in it soon after. This was the court-house until the south half of the brick one was completed ; the one destroyed by fire in July, 1868. It stood upon the lot in the rear of the old brick academy, that stood until the fire of 1868, near the present drug store of A. Cook. It was made of block or hewn timber to the top of the first story, and the second story was framed. The court-room was above, and the jail below. The court-room was warmed by a "Franklin" stove, purchased in Painesville, and was used for the purposes for which it was built, and also tor religious meetings, school-house and ball-room.

The first regular dance ever held in Chardon, was in the court-room, on the Fourth of July, 1814. Simeon Root (since deceased), was the musician for the occasion, and the devotees of toe and heel, old and young, for miles around, joined in the dance, to the music of such inspiriting strains as "Old Rosin the Bow." The participants did not drive up, Jehu-like, in covered carriages, drawn by panting steeds, bedecked with plated harnesses. Tinseled finery, essenced exquisites and perfumed garments, were unknown to the pioneer life of Chardon. The company obtained their refreshments at the log tavern of Norman Canfield. The next Sunday, all who felt disposed, assembled at the court-room for worship, and the next day the court convened its regular session.

This court-house, at that time, was justly regarded as an ornament and honor to the place, and, all over northern Ohio, when remarked upon, was called a model building. After the south half of the brick court-house, before mentioned, was built, this rude structure was occupied many years by Judge Noah Hoyt for a barn, and, about 1850, went the way of all remains of a log-cabin, well-sweep, slow-coach age, being pulled down by Ira Webster, to give place to a better building.

In June, 1813, the family of Mr. King returned to Chardon, and resumed the occupancy of the old court-house, their former home. His family consisted of himself, Hannah, his wife, and their children - Hannah, aged twelve years; Warren, eight years; John, four years, and Jabez, eighteen months.

In the spring of 1814, Captain Edward Paine, Samuel King, and Norman Canfield, logged off and cleared the present public square. They were to have for so doing the use of the land until such time as the public should require it tor its designated use. They tilled it for two years, raising wheat, corn, potatoes, and such other crops as they saw fit.

Samuel King was the first adult person who died in Chardon. His disease was fever (typhus, perhaps), and his death occurred February 6, 1817, aged thirty-eight years. His death was an irreparable loss to his family and the town. He was universally lamented, for he was everywhere esteemed and respected. We must bear in mind that, in those days, neighbors had no such narrow, pentup meaning as compactly settled life gives it. Townships were as near then, in the sense of sharing each other's joys and calamities, as those living upon adjoining farms are now. Hannah, his eldest child, soon followed him in death. She died on the second of March, 1817, and on the seventh of April, Warren, the eldest son, fell a victim to the same disease. Thus, in a few short weeks, one-half this family were numbered with the tenants of the tomb.

Mr. King left sonu property, but little that was available. There were great difficulties in those days, in turning any property into money. Mrs. King, his widow, was a woman of great energy and fortitude, and, instead of sinking under her accumulation of bereavements, went bravely to work to provide for herself and the remaining friends of her family. On foot and alone, she started for Burton, driving a yoke of oxen, guided most of the way by marked trees, taking some articles to dispose of in order to raise money to pay the expenses of the sickness and burial of her husband and children. After the death of Mr. King, his widow had a daughter born, whom she named Lodica. She is now the wife of Benjamin Cowles, and they reside near the center of Chardon. Mrs. King remained a widow until 1835, when she married Aaron Canfield, with whom she lived till his death. The latter part of her life was mostly spent in the family of her son, Jabez King, residing in this village.

There are some incidents connected with clearing off the public square, that, perhaps, might have been more appropriately mentioned before, but which, I trust, are none the less interesting now. For a few years after the families previously mentioned in this narrative came to Chardon, the land on the east side of South street was unchopped and covered by a heavy growth of beech and maple, and Captain Paine had a large "sugar-bush," which he profitably used for a great number of years. Some of the original trees of his bush are yet standing upon the land of John Kissick and heirs of E. F. Phelps, that, for fifty years, almost consecutively, have been tapped, and as many times have ungrudgingly poured out their saccharine juices. So, on the west side of the same street, was another fine bush of Norman Canfield's, with a larger per cent of rrfaples, but of less extent. Where now are the residences of S. O. Converse, Henry Bartlett, D. F. Avery, J. F. Bruce, E. V. Canfield, Austin Canfield and others, and on the land back of them, the maples grew very numerous; and, where the present cemetery is located, and in that vicinity, there had been, at some ancient time, a wind-fall, and, as a consequence, there had sprung up another growth of tall, slim cherry and whitewood trees. The flat or low land just west of the village, was covered with black ash trees.

For a year or two after the square was called cleared off, there was left a tall elm near the corner brick store. For three or four months a hedge-hog, exercising his inalienable right of squatter sovereignty, pre-empted the top of this elm. As many as fifty shots were fired at him on different occasions, while he was domiciled in this tree, none of them taking effect. But the rifles used here then were flint lock, and the powder coarse and of an inferior quality. Near the present residence of Miss A. A. Benton, a man by the name of Wilmot was killed while cutting trees. He and another chopper, whose name I am unable to state, had chopped off a treet but it lodged at the top in another. They cut the second one partly off, when the extra weight caused it to split and, in some manner, run back. Mr. Wilmot kept stepping back, but not fast enough, for he was hit by the tree, and made fast under it, lying upon the ground. His comrade, seeing his peril, laid hold of the fallen tree, and under other circumstances, by superhuman lifting, enabled the unfortunate man to extricate himself, but he soon died. The one who did the lifting, returned a day or tw^o after, to show how it was done, but he could no more stir it than if it had been a pyramid of

The first planting season after the public square was logged and burned off, there was some corn planted on it. This account I had from an eye-witness. It was not plowed that season, and was planted with a handspike. This ancient instrument of husbandry was flattened and sharpened at the point, and the planter, holding it at the proper angle, made an opening in the ground or sod; and, after depositing the proper number of kernels with the foot pressed down the ground above it. They had hoes that were cumbrous things, weighing three or four times as much as the present style, that could have been employed, but this mode was used, it is said, to more effectually prevent the ravages of the chipmuks, they being exceedingly troublesome and keen-scented, and this way of planting put them more off their guard while the corn was sprouting and coming up than when a hill was made to cover the seed. After the corn grew, it was not plowed out, nor hoed ; it was kept as clear of weeds as possible, and yet the crop was not a failure.

Hambden, Button, and Claridon were also settled before Chardon. I allude to them now more particularly, as the early settlement of these towns seemed to make the inhabitants more closely allied, for one reason, if for no other, that the roads first established ran north and south. A very early mail route was from Warren to Painesville, and the return trip. Claridon was once called Canton, and then Burlington ; and, when Nathaniel Spencer moved into Claridon with his family, and settled near the present residence of his grand-son, W, E. Spencer, and old homestead of his son, Colonel E. Spencer.

Captain Edward Paine was the first postmaster in Chardon, but I am unable to give the date of his appointment. The mail was, for many years, carried on horse-back. . A Mr. Rankin, who lived in Warren, had a contract for carrying the mail from that place to Painesville, once a week and return. He left Warren, and came as far as Captain Spencer's, and stayed all night, the next day finishing the trip to Painesville, then taking two days more to return. It cost twenty-five cents postage then on common letters, the price of an ordinary day laborer's work. Letters then were more like angels' visits, and, when one was received, the neighbors were informed, and gathered in, for the tidings from ''away down East," had a value as intrinsic as meat, or drink, or raiment. Later, one of the Paines, for a short time, attempted an improvement on horseback transportation of mail matter, and had some sort of a wheeled vehicle on the route between Chardon and Parkman, and so novel was the character of this equipage that its first trips caused the inhabitants on the line of passage to forsake their avocations, and give it as wondering a gaze as a new country now would a train of cars on its first appearance.

The fourth family that settled in town was the family of Antony Carter, consisting of himself and wife, Nancy. They were of African descent, and came from some part of the present county of Trumbull. A very small house had been built on the ground now occupied by Wm. G. Munsell's cabinet shop, and used for a time for the county commissioners' office, and into this structure the ebony couple moved in the fall of 1813. He soon purchased land north of the village, on the Painesville road, and built a very genteel log house near the present residence of Benjamin and Leonard Rider. " Black Antony," as he was familiarly called, was quite a character. He was industrious, quite capable, peaceable, and he and his wife are said to have been useful in numberless ways.

The fifth family that moved into Chardon was that of Jabez King, a brother of Samuel, and he moved into Samuel's house for a short time. He soon moved into the little house spoken of as the former residence of Antony Carter, and again moved into a house that one Mr. Jordan had hastily erected east of the square, near the large spring that afterwards used to be called in the northeast corner of Cyrus Canfield's lower orchard. While occupying this house, Mrs. King, in the winter of 1813, became the mother of the first white child of an actual resident bom in Chardon. Mrs. Mary Paine,. Mrs. Susannah Canfield and Mrs. Hannah King were all the women in Chardon at the time of the birth of Mrs. King's child, except Mrs. Carter, the latter alone being uninvited. A Mrs. Bond and a Mrs. Brown, from Hambden, were over, and that made the slight of Mrs. Carter more noticeable. She, however, attempted to treat this violation of the " Fifteenth Amendment " with indifference ; but her husband could not smother the insult, and, black with rage, he soon after took his in- jured spouse and departed for the vicinity of Warren, with the intention of obviating the repetition of such an extravagant imposition. Mrs. King's child, being a girl, was in due time named Laura. She subsequently married Obed P. Hale, and they were recently living in Wisconsin. In the summer of 1814, Mr. Jabez King made a clearing and put up a log house near the present residence of John B. Teed*, into which house he moved in the fall of 1814. This was the first opening west of the Public square in Chardon. When Mr. King moved into town, his family consisted of himself and wife. If I am correctly informed, Mrs. King died a long time before her husband did, his death occurring in 1838. They were good, kind-hearted people, and well calculated to sustain the hardships and privations of frontier life.

The first jail ever built in Chardon was a little, eight-by-ten, low-roofed, unpretending structure of logs, attached to the west end of Norman Canfield's tavern. It had no stove in it, nor fire-place, but was used, perhaps, only one summer. It had one door that had some primitive mode of fastening. Its first and perhaps only inmate was one Hugh McDougal, belonging to the class of "never-do- wells," and the fraternity of trampers and vagabonds. He had contracted a debt with some man in Paines ville, and, having become incorrigibly unmindful of his promise to pay, had been sentenced to this place of durancevile for ten days on bread and water. This term would give him ample time for reflection, but the pent-up nature of his apartment gave him little room for meditation. It didn't need a writ of habeas corpus, in those days, for jail-delivery, because a little ingenuity and the use of the simplest tools would soon extricate the criminal. The second jail was the one in the frame and log courthouse built by Samuel King, before mentioned, that stood in rear of the south end of the present brick row. Near the time of the building of the south part of the brick court-house destroyed by fire in July, 1868, there was a one-story stone jail erected near the present brick one. This stone jail was thought to be, when built, a very formidable and safe place of imprisonment, but it proved far from being impregnable, for one morning showed, as the result of the cunning of its inmates, a great breach in its front wall, which made it well lighted and well ventilated. When the north part of the brick court-house before spoken of was built, the jail department was in the basement or under ground, with "Debtor's Room" above it, which was used till burned.

The well that is now used in front of the hotel barn of Benton & Co., was dug at an early day, while the premises were occupied by Norman Canfield, and was dug by a Mr. Thompson. As many as two previous attempts had been made to obtain water near this locality, which would have been either of them a success, had the persons in charge not been dissuaded from farther digging by the nonsensical art of witch-hazelry. One hole in the earth had been pushed to within ten or fifteen feet of the depth of the successful one, when one of these natural magicians, with his forked stick, supposed to be in league with the devil, or some other unseen or unknown agency, with a preponderance of ignorance rather than common sense, delivered himself of the oraculous opinion that, by shifting a few feet, all would be well. It is an art that any one can easily become skilled in, for it is a simple turn of the wrist. It is said a marked fatality resulted from digging all such wells. The man who dug this well, died in a few months after finishing the well. The well on the premises of J. 0. Worrallo was dug by a black man, and he did not live long after. There was no powder employed to blast the rock, but steady, persistent pecking, which required the laborer to stand and inhale the fine, flying atoms of rock, that, of course, made their way to the lungs. It was a great tax on the sense of labor and inconvenience upon the early settlers to get a proper supply of drinking water, for, until the present method of drilling wells was introduced, most of it had to be obtained from the springs near the base of the hill. But, thanks to the onward march of invention and improvement, we now h^ve wells at our doors, and the buckets go rapidly down to Nature's inexhaustible reservior, and come up, laden with water, so fresh, and cool that, with the purest of air and the brightest of sunshine, tends to make animal life enjoyable.

These five families were the only actual residents until about August, 1814, when Hosea Stebbins, and Patty, his wife, Benjamin Cad well and his wife Olive, Jedediah Sanger and his wife, with such other members as they may have had in their families, came to town from Massachusetts. Hosea Stebbins put up a house just south of the present residence of J. O. Worrallo, on South street, where he resided several years. He lived until recently, and died at the house of his son, Hosea Stebbins, jr., a short distance this side of Mitchell's mills. His wife, Patty, died in January, 1825. Mr. Cadwell purchased southwest of the village, where his widow, daughter Hannah, and Leonard Kilbourne now reside. He put up a house on the same premises. As just mentioned, his widow is yet living, but Mr. Cadwell died in 1846. Mr. Sanger built a house southwest of that of Mr. Cadwell, and he and his wife died many years ago. These were the first settlements in that vicinity, beyond the present limits of the corporation.

About August or September of the year 1814, Christopher Langdon and family came to Chardon. Mr. Langdon's family consisted of himself, Sarah, his wife, Lothop, Mary, now the widow of Hilen Canfield, deceased, Caroline, now the widow of Barna Stone, deceased; Sylvenus and Francis, their children. Mr. Langdon settled near Mr. Cadwell's, on the opposite side of the road. Daniel Hendryx and wife came to Chardon the same year Mr. Langdon did, or the next, and a year or two after moved on to the farm where he died many years ago, about three miles north of Chardon village, on the Painesville road. Mrs. Hendryx died but a few years since, at the residence of her son, on the old homestead.

In the fall of 1814, October, perhaps, Aaron Canfield and family, consisting of his wife, Lydia, and children - Platt, Hilen, Orrin, and Cyrus, came to Chardon from Massachusetts. Platt was then married, and his family was Polly, his wife, and Aaron B., their son. Aaron Canfield stopped for a time with his brother Norman. He had traded land east for land here. Mr. Horace Peck and wife, Mr. Peck's sister, Mrs. Peck's brother, Lucius Smith and his son Lorrin, came in company, or near the time that Mr. Aaron Canfield did. Lorrin Smith remained here while Lucius Smith returned east for his family. With his family he came the following spring, and soon after took up land on what is called King street, and the two Smiths resided there until they died. Christopher Langdon came from South Wilbraham, Massachusetts. He was forty-six days in coming, or the party were, and they had horse and ox teams. So bad were the roads that some days the party - made but from three to five miles advance. A daughter of Mr. Langdon has informed me that there were but a few houses then in Painesville; she thinks there was a house or two at Wilson's comers, in Concord, and no other until they reached the house of Anthony Carter, near the present residence of L. S. Rider, and then one about one-half mile north of the present village, where Stephen Bond lived. The memory of others is, however, that Mr. Bond did not come to Chardon until the next year, 1815, and that Joseph Bond lived there. My informant says that most of the way from Painesville there was scarcely any road, and in some places it required the utmost care and watchfulness, and much hard labor on the men's part, to prevent the wagons overturning. Mr. Samuel King having heard of the near approach of Mr. Langdon's party, met him on the Painesville road, to assist him in the last few miles of his toilsome journey. Mr. Langdon moved into the Jordan house, east of the square, which house, I am now satisfied, was built at an earlier day than the date indicated in a former article. Mr. Langdon had always been a miller by occupation, and, after he moved southwest of the village, as before mentioned, built a saw-mill some rods back of Mr. Cad well's residence. He afterwards built the grist- and saw-mills in Munson, subsequently called Hager's and Bosley's mills.

Mr. Horace Peck took up land or built a log house on King street, and it is said to have been the first house built on that street, in that vicinity. Mrs. Peck is dead. Mr. Peck now lives in Geneva, Ohio. He visited this town soon after the destructive fire of 1868, and again in the fall of 1870. He is over eighty years of age. His early hopes and noonday aspirations are but dreams of the past. He feels that he is a connecting link between the mortal and the immortal, and when his life's sun is set, will joyfully meet the Master's summons, whose word will one day bring to nought the last of all created things. Old age sits lightly upon him and, though his eye is a little dim, and the once lithe limbs a little stiffened, he is as straight as a cedar that has withstood the blasts of most a century; and, when I stood by his side, I felt, in age, as a little hill might be supposed to feel, by the side of a snow-capped mountain.

Mr. John Roper and wife came in company with Mr. Langdon. Their children, who came with them, were Almena, John, jr., Marcena, and Emeline. Rodolphus was born while they lived in Chardon, and is living in Willoughby, Lake county. Almena is the widow of N. H. Parks, and lives in this village. John, jr., has been dead several years. Emeline married Dr. S. Griffith, and is dead. It is not known by friends here whether Marcena is living or not. Mr. Roper's family moved into the Jordan house, or houses, which were a sort of catch-all or omnibus for newcomers. About 1818 Mr. Roper built a sawmill, and afterwards a grist-mill, on Big Creek, in the northeast part of Chardon township. He died in Painesville about 1 840, and his wife died a year or two after.

Mr. Lucius Smith built a log house near the present residence of his son, L. A. Smith, on King street, a little east of the house of Hoi ace Peck, spoken of before, as being the first one on that street Mr. Smith, after his settlement, continued to reside there until his death, which, I am informed, occurred in 1849. One of those terrible calamities happened to Mr. Smith's family, which forcibly portray the dangers and sufferings of pioneer life. A son of his, in going from the house to where his father was at work in the woods, missed the way. The inmates of the house supposed him to be with his father, until he came to supper without him. Search was, of course, immediately commenced, and continued till late in the night. The next day, and days following, the men and boys of all the surrounding country searched the woods far and near, but their labors were unavailing. Language is too tame to express the anguish of the grief-torn hearts of the parents when the search had to be abandoned. The following spring, some remnants of clothing, some buttons and locks of hair, sufficient to make proof of the identity, were all the traces ever discovered of the missing one. He wras about fifteen years of age.

Platt Canfield built a log house near the present residence of O. C. Smith, on King street. He afterwards built one farther east, near the present residence of S. H. Sawyer, which was also built by Mr. Canfield. He died in 1841. Polly, his wife, died in i860.

Aaron Canfield, soon after his arrival, commenced putting up a log house near the spot where now stands the Town hall. It w*as soon completed, and was then called the largest, most expensive and comfortable dwelling house in the county. It was converted into a tavern in 1 8 1 6, perhaps, and until Norman Canfield built his frame tavern, in 1818, was called a first-class institution.

All your readers will, after a moment's thought, see the impossibility, at this stage of this history, of following connectedly, or in order of arrival, the course of each settler or family, the list having become so numerous. These early settlers, and those who followed, were of a class well calculated to sustain the duties of frontier life. They opened roads, cleared the land, built houses, which have given place to the more modern, more costly, more comfortable dwellings of the present time. I confess to feeling much more interest in the pursuit of this history than the outset warranted. In conversing with the aged, old memories seem to brighten as their lives reach the "golden prime." Go about our village, or upon the streets leading into the township, and ask the present dwellers who were its old-time occupants, and not one in a hundred can tell. There was history enough for volumes in those low-roofed log houses. What steady patience under poverty! What resignation under adversity and cheated hopes I How few live to tell of the holy tears shed by mothers, and the sighs uttered by the fathers, when their little ones sickened and died, the flowers of the hearth and home, like the daisies of the hillside, that droop so quickly when the heavens are stingy with their dews and rains. But in spite of all this, "marrying and giving in marriage," births and christenings have prospered; single houses have become villages : villages, towns; towns, cities; and some cities marvels of growth in trade and power, and still reveling in expanding energy.

About the year 1814, Joseph Bond and family moved to Chardon, from Bondstown (now Hambden). He settled on the premises at present owned by J. E. Stephenson, esq., where he lived for many years. His wife, Deborah, was a true helpmeet, and this pioneer couple, "Uncle Joe" and "Aunt Debby," as they were familiarly called, stood well in the estimation of the first and later settlers, for their generous acts of self denial and tender consideration of neighbors' distresses, and for the other numberless ways they helped to swell the sum total of essential good feeling and comfort. Mrs. Bond died, in Chardon, a little more than twenty years ago. Mr. Bond lived several years later, most of the time with his children, and died in the family of his daughter, Mrs. Joel Braddish, in Girard, Pennsylvania.

Inr8i5, Stephen and Eli Bond came to Chardon, from Hambden, and settled a short distance north of Joseph Bond. Stephen Bond removed to Illinois many years ago, and it is not known whether he is living, or what members of his family survive. Eli Bond was never married. He died in 1843, aged sixty years, then living in the family of Mr. Waldo.

In 1812, Timothy B. Robinson came from the State of New York to Chardon. He came in company with one John Fox, who stopped in Hambden. They traveled on foot, and carried knapsacks on ther backs. The necessary outfit for traveling "west," in those days, consisted of but few articles, and a catalogue or inventory of them could have been quickly made. The mammoth trunks for men, and the "Saratogas" for women, that now meet with so little favor at the hands of the railroad baggage-smashers, were then uninvented. Mr. Robinson prospected for a while, then returned to the State of New York ; came back, in 1817, and hired out to Norman Canfield for a year. He did valiant service in chopping down the woods, hewing timber, and tilling the soil, where now are our thickest residences. In 1817, Mr. Robinson was married to Betsey Bushnell, daughter of Truman Bushnell, and soon settled where he now resides. He is apparently remarkably free from the infirmities of age, and, to myself, seems no older than he was twenty years ago. He is now (1870) in his eighty-se< ond year, and hi> wile is about ten years younger.

In the spnng of 1815, Zadok King, George King, Samuel and Edward Collins came to Chardon. Edward Collins did not remain here long, but went to Burton. George King and Samuel Collins were married one Sunday evening, and the next day, with their wives, started for Ohio. They encountered the usual hardships, vicissitudes and impediments of a journey to Ohio. They paid as high as a dollar per bushel for oats for horse feed on the way. From Painesville to Chardon it required four horses to draw one wagon, and then one or more of them *got down in the mud, and the harness had to be cut to extricate them from their underground predicament. The horses' legs, for some distance above the hoofs, were bare of hair and hide, being so sore from daily travel in the mud. Part of this company, on arrival, proceeded to seek out and prepare future habitations, but Mr. Zadok King first took two or mqre horses to Trumbull county to sell, not needing them all, or perhaps trading them for oxen. He also bought five or six bushels of potatoes, all he could obtain, paying a great price, and the eyes or sprouts from the seed ends were removed with all the carefulness of a surgical operation, so that nothing be wasted.

Zadok King was married to Fanny Collins a few years before he moved to Ohio, and they had two children when they came - Granger and Roderick. Granger died October 7, 1815, and it is said by some that he was the first white child that died in Chardon. Roderick, in after years, married Miss Julia Merrill, of Chardon, and when he died, several years ago, was the owner of a very fine farm in Munson. Wm. King was born in 1816, and he will be remembered by many present residents of Chardon as a medical practitioner here. He is now in California. Zadok King is living upon the farm wdiere he first settled, having many years ago married his present (second) wife. Mr. King is nearly eighty years old, and this venerable couple are not only frequent but regular attendants at church two miles from their residence. No pen or tongue of mine can add any lustre to their long-lived career of strict uprightness. [Since dead.]

George King's first wife, who accompanied him to Chardon, was Nancy Gillot. He settled on the farm where he died, the present residence of his son, L G. King. I am not in possession of facts or dates that enable me to state when Mr. George King was married the second time, or wrhen he died. He died at his residence, after many years of high estimation by the entire community in which he wras permitted to behold the forests fall like grass before the scythe, towns spring up, and hundreds dw'ell wrhere once civilized footsteps had never ventured.

Samuel Collins married Anna King, and, as previously stated, started for Ohio the day after their marriage. They settled on King street, near Zadok Kings, and remained there till John King, sr., came to occupy the premises, in 1816 or '17, when Mr. Collins moved on to the farm taken up by Horace Peck. Mr. Collins raised a large family of children, one of wrhom is J. W. Collins, of Bainbridge, one of the board of commissioners of Geauga county. Samuel Collins died in Chagrin Falls, twro or three years ago, and his wife is yet living there, over eighty years old.

In 1815 Nathaniel H. Parks left Suffield, Connecticut, about the middle of May, and reached Chardon about the last of June. He came in company with Jonathan Allen and Hezekiah Stocking, they settling in Hambden. Mr. Parks did not then live all the time in Chardon, for in 1817 he voted in Hambden, and the thirty-tw'o voters who participated in that election are all dead except Mr. Parks.

The 4th day of July, 1815, there was a "bee" or voluntary gathering to chop off the corner wfhere Samuel Smith's tavern was afterwards built (the present "Burnett House"), Mr. Parks taking a part. It may not be generally known to your readers that about 1820 and '21 Mr. Parks carried on a wool carding mac hine on the northeast comer of the Public square, or where Mr. D. Kirk now lives. The driving or moving power of this machine was not water or steam, but two faithful horses, that, by persistent circling in the ground story, caused the machinery to move in the second story. The machinery was made in Painesville, by Marvin Huntington and Daniel Olds, and was afterwards used in Claridon by Nathaniel Spencer for similar purposes. Mr. and Mrs. Parks are now living in this village. They have been faithful workers and estimable citizens. Mr. Parks is in his seventy-eighth year, and now acting as constable, and, if they live a few months longer, they will celebrate their "golden wedding." All who know them will join in the wish that " heaven's great monarch " may give this ancient couple length of days, unclouded minds and unwithered hearts to enjoy this rare felicity. Fifty years! Half a century! How unimportant in the world's history, but how eventful and full of meaning when measuring human life!

For a number of years after Chardon was settled, and after its inhabitants began to raise grain, it was a. great tax to get grinding or milling d o ne. The best and nearest grist-mill was in Painesville, or in that township. Punderson's mill, in Newbury, I am informed, was built at an early day. A trip to either of these mills was a two days' undertaking. There was an abundance of water, but the machinery and water-wheels, everything in fact, was very far behind the present age. A saw-mill was built in 1814 or '15 (as previously mentioned), by Mr. Langdon, back of the residence of B. Cadwell. Portions of almost decayed timbers can yet be seen that once composed its frame-work. The banks of the ditch, or race, are yet to be seen that were thrown up by hand to conduct water to this mill, on the farm of Thomas Rush. Mr. Langdon one spring sawed about one hundred thousand feet of lumber in this mill, and the next season about twenty thousand feet, but the water kept failing, and the mill was forsaken. Now the stream has just sufficient water in it to launch a flock of geese. A gristand saw-mill was built at an early day in Hambden, two miles east of this town, by a Mr. Higby. He sold it to Mr. Isaac Pease, and Mr. Merrick Pease perhaps owned it afterwards. This mill, it is said, when first built, would grind about ten bushels of grain between daylight and dark. A laughable anecdote is told of its strength and capacity. Some one had taken a grist there, and as everybody worked in those days, the miller couldn't spend the time to watch the slow progress. So he filled the hopper with grain and went out doors to work. A large hog, having an "eye to business," and obeying the injunction, "Never put off till to-morrow what can be done to-day," walked into the mill, and in its eager haste to have a full meal so disturbed the "spill," or apparatus for discharging the grain below the hopper, that the increased quantity stopped the mill It has been said -poetically, that

There was one of the first settlers of Chardon, a frequent and generally welcome guest or inmate in all households. Previous historians of Chardon, as far as I have ever learned, have given his history the go-by. He was one of a large family, but I am unable to give exact information of his parentage or birth, but the recollections of the "oldest inhabitant" are that he was of Indian extraction. It is a difficult matter to faithfully delineate his character, it was so fickle and varying. He may reasonably be presumed to have always been a bachelor, for at times he was sour, and again crusty, and, in the company of ladies, was apt to be mealy-mouthed. However, he was by no manner of means to be dreaded, and all over town old and young called him by the familiar name of Jonny Cake. He was related to the Hoe Cake and Griddle Cake families, and he had a half-sister in town, who, "for short," they called Mush.

Some time in the year 1815, Ariel Benton, with a friend by the name of Dimock, joined fortunes in a small stock of wares suitable for peddling in a new country, and turned their faces westward. Their plodding perseverance at last landed them in Chardon. They went, with their goods, into the towms of Claridon, Burton, Middlefield, and Windsor. When in Burton once, a snow storm came in the night, so deep as to cover up the road to Chardon, and all trace of it. The next day they started for Chardon, and got lost ; for, after they had traveled, as they thought, long enough and far enough to reach this place, they came to a log house, and inquired how far it was to Chardon, and were told "nine miles." They had wandered into Newbury or Chester. They soon after returned east

Early in June, 1816, Zadok Benton, his wife, and one child, about eighteen months old (afterwards Mrs. William Wilber), Ariel Benton and wife, Lucinda and Otis Benton (then not married), started for Ohio. They were drawn by a yoke of oxen, with a span of horses on the lead. Simon Gager and family, Roswell Eaton and his wife, Sally, came with the Bentons. They had a team of two yoke of oxen, though Mr. Eaton owned one of the horses in the Benton team. Mr. Gager settled in Claridon. When this party wras journeying to Ohio, and was in the State of New York, near the Mohawk river, the teams slipped on the ice that had formed, one June night, around the watering places. If I am not misinformed, this year (1816) was the year that frosts appeared every month in it. This party paid as high as two dollars per bushel for corn, and, in some localities, oats could not be obtained. Arriving in Painesville early in July, they tried all through the village to buy some flour, but could get none. The Bentons, however, bought a barrel of pork and paid thirty dollars for it ; and truth compels me to say that wrhen it wras opened, as many as three wrhole pig's heads wrere found in the barrel, that had been put in by some small-souled pig-my men. After arriving in Chardon, they could buy no flour for several days, but Captain Paine gave them a pailfull, and made no charge for it. In a few days after coming here, they heard of a teamster who had stopped in Bondstown (now Hambden) writh a load of flour, and they went over and purchased a barrel for sixteen dollars, that had no pigs' heads in it. Mr. Ariel Benton w'as detailed to go on a butter-hunting expedition, and at last got a pailfull, of Timothy Wells, in Claridon. They w^ere frequently told of the scarcity of provisions, but Mr. Eaton declared he would kill and eat his horse before he w'ould go back east or starve. The Bentons lived in a log house that Ariel Benton had purchased ot John Hunt, in the fall of 1815. It stood near the present "Burnett house," on the northwest corner of the public square.

In July, 1816, Zadok, Ariel and Otis Benton commehced to chop and clear off about five acres of land, one mile north of town, w'hich they sowed to wheat in the fall. In 1817, the day after they finished harvesting their wrheat, they put up a log barn twenty by thirty-four feet, and the next day put on the roof, and, on the third day, at night, there wras wrheat enough in it to thresh out one hundred and fifty bushels ; but part of it came from Mr. Kinsley's field, who lived where L. S. Rider now does. Their wheat averaged about twenty bushels per acre. Roswell Eaton w^as married to Sally Gager at the same time that Ariel Benton married Lucinda Dimock. Mrs. Eaton did not live long after coming to Ohio, her death occurring in 1817, aged twenty-eight. Mr. Eaton was again married, and his second wrife has been dead a number of years. Mr. Eaton died September 14, 1852, aged fifty-eight years.

their children, and Warren Benton, cousin of these children, came to Chardon. The family lived in a double log house about a mile north of town. During their stay there, nine of them were, at one time, under the care of Drs. Harmon and Mathews, of Painesville. It took about a saddle-bag full of medicine every day to go around in this family; for doctoring in those days, was not infinites* imal pastime, but meant business. It will be impossible for me to give in detail the history of this worthy and numerous family. It must suffice to say that Zadok Benton, sr., and Zadok, jr., and their wives, are dead. Lydia Benton, the daughter, died soon after their arrival. Warren Benton died at his residence some two miles north of town, and while living, he and his estimable wife (now married to J. S. Center), were foremost in doing good as they had opportunity. Elihu Benton and wife are living in the west part of the town. Otis, now widower, is living in Cleveland. Nancy has twice been widowed, and is now deceased. Orrin is living in this vi llage, over eighty years of age, but his wives are dead. Ariel Benton and his wife are living in this village, after passing most three score years of happy wedded life. The marriage tie, with them, hasproved no yoke of bondage. They have together witnessed the comings and goings of many summers' heat and winters' cold, and the long years that have wheeled away into the dim past, have left them far beyond the morning and noon of life, and now they calmly sit in the gentler twilight.*

The first school ever opened in Chardon was in the summer of 18*5, in the little building spoken of in a former article, that was built for a commissioners' office, and stood rear the cabinet shop of W. G. M unsell. It was taught by Miss Mehitable Hall, of Claridon, afterwards Mrs. Orrin Spencer. She had about half a score of youthful seekers after alphabetical wisdom, and, among the number, were Sedley and Ellen Paine, John King, Austin and Eliza Canfield, and Ann Martin, a girl who either came with the family of Norman Canfield from Hambden, or else came to live in the family after settling here. The first winter school ever taught in Chardon, was by Levi Edson, in the winter of 1816 and '17, perhaps. Mr. Edson came to Chardon in 1815, and afterwards settled in the southwest part of the town, near the Chagrin river. His school-house was a little west of the stone building, on the northwest corner of the public square. It was made of logs, and had a mud and stick chimney, no brick having then been used in town. Mr. Edison was regarded as a first-rate teacher. He had many estimable qualities of head and heart, but it was a foundation doctrine in his creed not to hurry or worry, and he sought his own ease and comfort just as naturally as a duck takes to water. He always provided himself with two long, tapering "gads," or sticks, which he called his "Boy-stick" and "Girl-stick." The boy-stick was the largest and longest, indicating the coarser and stouter nature of the sex, and, with these badges or signs, he could reach all over the small room without leaving his chair, and give the most convincing of all proof of his authority, that of personal application. However, he was not harsh or austere, but was, on the contrary, rather sparing of the rod. In this school-house there was a rough floor over head, and a ladder was used to go into the loft. It became necessary quite often to go above, for, when the mud was well dried in the chimney, the sticks would take fire, and two or three boys would be detailed to stop the conflagration. One of the fun-loving boys who attended his school has often related his experience to me, while a member of this " Fire Brigade." After going into the chamber, with water-pail and cup, and the fire sufficiently subdued to quiet alarm, he would take a dipper of water, and, standing over the teacher, pour it through a large, gaping crack, that all must guess would thoroughly irrigate his poor, defenceless head. This "water- cure" treatment would cause him to exclaim, " Be careful with the water, boys!" he not knowing how careful they had been. Mr. Edson commenced a second -winter term, but taught less than a week, for the chimney took fire, and communicating rapidly with other parts of the house (and the fire department of the town being in just the same condition that fifty years later finds it), the devouring element soon leveled this rude log structure with the ground. Schools were afterwards held in the court house, that stood upon land that Ira Webster subsequently occupied; also, in another building that stood near, or west of Mr. Webster's house, taught by a Mr. Hulburt. Schools were held in the "Academy" building, that stood where A. Cook's drug store is now. This building was of brick, and built in 1826.

Many years ago, the present school district was divided. The "West District," as it was called, had a school-house near the present residence of S. W. Brewster, but on the cross road, the eastern line of that district, I think, extended far enough to embrace Mr. Parks, and, perhaps, Mr. Teed, on Water street, and Samuel McGonigal, esq., on the center street. As many as thirty years ago there was a school-house, near the present residence of J. H. Converse. J. D. Worrallo taught there a long time, with great profit to his pupils, and satisfaction to parents. For many years, select, or graded schools, were held in the basement of the Methodist church, and similar ones in the high-school building, which stood on the corner where John Strohl now lives. Very many will remember the "Old Red School-house," east of South street, that was purchased by L. J. Randall, and used for a barn and carriage-house, when the present one was obtained, that stands upon the east side of the Public square®

I have mentioned the name of John Hunt, but I am unable to say where he came from, and what became of him. He was in Chardon as early as 1814 or 15, and was the first blacksmith in town. His list of tools is said to have been very comprehensive, though his skill is supposed to have been good enough for all drains upon it. The mechanic arts were in a mflch ruder state fifty years ago, and the workers in the coarser metals were unable to turn out such wondrous works of hand-craft as we now behold. Running the risk of telling a little story that may have no appropriate meaning, to show the advanced improvement of the present time, but only the boasted capability of human Yankee genius, I will mention that, not long ago, I saw in a city a long-geared " Downlister" traveling around mending umbrellas, sharpening razors, shears, etc. He was loudly proclaiming his ability, when a bystander, thinking he had found a "flat," unwittingly asked him if he could "make a whistle of a pig's tail." He promptly answered "No," but that he could take a dog's tail, that had been cut off twenty-four hours, and "soft-soder" it to the fitting part, "without pain," as good as new, and not "singe a hair."

The first couple ever married in Chardon, was Martin Langdon and Phebe Sanger, by Hosea King, esq., of Hambden, on the twenty-fourth day of October, 1815.

The first few years of Chardon's settlement, prices of necessaries of life ruled very high. Common cotton cloth was fifty and seventy-cents per yard. Best calico from fifty cents to one dollar per yard. Flour and salt each sold from fifteen to twenty dollars a barrel. Mr. C. Langdon went to Painesville after a barrel of salt, taking him two days, and paid for it nineteen silver dollars. Tea was worth three and four dollars a pound, and so poor that it took great perseverance and fortitude on the part of the housewife to "steep" it till it got strong enough to run out of the tea-pot.

Previous mention was made that the families of Norman Canfield and Capt. Edward Paine, jr., were, respectively, the first arrivals in Chardon. As these two men spent the residue of their days here, it is only reasonable to conclude that they may have had more or less influence in early times ; depending, in extent, upon the manner and means of their usefulness, and upon the places of trust or responsibilities their fellow townsmen may have invested them with. It would be improper to convey the impression that the two men were at all alike in position and influence, but they were united in a certain political struggle, of which an account will soon be given. It has also been said that Aaron Canfield (brother of Norman), came to Chardon in October, 1814. For a time he lived with Norman, but soon commenced building where now stands the town hall.

Some difficulty having arisen between these two brothers about the settlement of their father's estate, they soon became so estranged in feeling as to have no more intercourse (save of a hostile nature), than two mile stones or a couple of telegraph poles would have with each other. I have no inclination to lug into this history any narration of family quarrels, or what some might think had better quietly rest under the dust of generations; memories that are so soon to die out with the few living witnesses of those days; but so interwoven wasthe conflict with all features of Chardon's early history, that I am constrained tothink the only breach of propriety would be in omitting to mention it. As soon as 1816, I think, it became best or necessary to have a judicial dignitary, chlled "Justice of the Peace," to rightfully determine the legal "metes and bounds" of all the inhabitants of his district. The proper authority was obtained to order the election. Parties were not then organized as now, but the same political animosities, the same low, groveling propensities of ill-timed heat, hate and prejudice, were then as fully exhibited (according to numbers), as have ever been since. The Paine party and the anti-Paine party contended for the reign and rule in this election. Norman Canfield was the candidate of the Paine party, and Aaron Canfield of the "Antis." Each of the candidates kept liquor taverns, and it was well kown before the election that the contest was at least to be a spirited one. Well, the notable day came, and, towards night, the unequal admixture of patriotism and " old rye " caused the same noisy, blustering bravado that it has in later times. In due course, the result was declared, the "Antis" were triumphant, and Aaron Canfield was declared duly elected. The supposed invincible Paine party was beaten, but, as the sequel will show, not conquered. They repaired to the tavern of Norman Canfield, and amidst a magnificent flow of "whiskey punch," set about the sorrowful task of counting the dead, numbering the missing, and comforting the wounded. The victorious party assembled at Aaron Canfield's tavern, and his election was honored with many flowing bumpers and bouncing "ox-swallows," which, it is needless to say, were not slow in performing their missions of excitement. The Paine party felt that something must be done to reclaim its trailing political fortune, and permission was obtained to contest the election, or hold a second one. In advertised time the contest came off, and Norman Canfield was elected, and so bitter was the stirfe, and to such misguided and indecent lengths did his supporters go, that they made an effigy, calling it "Aaron," which they hung upon a high pole in the Public square, and most of one day busied themselves with shooting and stoning it, and finally took it down and burned it at a stake. These proceedmgs poisoned and embittered all the relations of these brothers in future years, till death severed the earthly relation.

So Norman Canfield was the first justice of the peace in Chardon whoassumed the duties of the office. Christopher Langdon, esq. (heretofore mentioned), was elected justice of the peace as early as 1817. Eleazer Paine, esq.* who came to Chardon with Captain Edward Paine, jr., or soon after, was justice of the peace as early as 1819, and sp was George King, esq., who lived and died on King street, in Chardon. Hilen Canfield, esq., was elected as early as 1824, and served several years.

As previously stated, the family of Aaron Canfield, when settling in Chardon, consisted of himself, Lydia, his wife, Platt, Hilen, Orrin and Cyrus, his sons. Mention has been previously made of the dates when Platt and his wife died. Aaron Canfield died February 22, 1838, aged sixty-six years. His first wife died December 19, 1834, aged sixty-four years. Cyrus Canfield died November 2 7, 1850 aged fifty years. Orrin died about the year 1863 or 1864. Hilen died January 25, 1850, aged fifty-six years. He settled on the northeast comer of the public square, and perhaps the first large fire occurred on his premises of any spot in Chardon. He had built a log house in which the family resided. He had fitted the frame building that had been used for a carding machine works, into one suitable for a dwelling, and was intended to move into it in a few days, but a fire spoiled all his plans and reduced both log and frame house to ashes. This occurred in January, 1823, and was supposed to be the work of an incendiary. They saved but few household goods, and Mrs. Canfield escaped with her two children, one under each arm. The oldest one's name was Edwin, aged about three years, who was sick at the time of the fire, and died the next month. The youngest one's name was Milton, aged about two years, and he survived this unfortunate episode in pioneer life, and was afterwards very extensively known in this community as Judge M. C. Canfield. This is supposed to have been the tightest place the judge was ever in, for he bare-\y escaped, but everybody excused Him at the time, on account of his youth and unfamiliarity with the "rough and tumble" life of a new country. The widows of the brothers, Cyrus, Orrin and Hilen, are all deceased.

The family of Norman Canfield consisted of his wife, Susannah, and children - Austin, Sherman B., Eliza, and Amanda. Mrs. Canfield died in June, 1821. Mr. Canfield died in November, 1824. Austin Canfield is living in Chardon, upon the premises he has occupied for nearly half a century, and is almost sixtyseven years of age, and in very good health. Sherman B. is now residing in Syracuse, and is known as S. B. Canfield, D. D.* He is considered an eloquent and efficient divine, and has always stood deservedly popular with the churches he has labored with. Eliza married Bradley Squire, and died in 1832. Amanda married Orson Post, and is now living in Vernon, Michigan.

The family of Captain Edward Paine, jr., consisted of his wife, Mary', and children- Ellen, Secfley, Seth, and Edward. Captain Paine was appointed county clerk at or near the first organization of the county. The first courts were held at New' Market, on Grand river, near its mouth, and then in Champion (now Painesville), and, as soon after the seat of justice wras established at Chardon as practicable, he moved here, and, as before stated, came in the spring of 1812.

The events of the wfar of 1812, and the struggles on our then northwestern frontier, are familiar as matters of history to all. It will be remembered, too, that, in the campaign of 1*813, each the hostile parties wras striving for the naval mastery of Lake Erie, and that Commodore Perry had fitted for service an American squadron, and on the tenth of September the ever-memorable and decisive victory was won over our foes. The cannonading was distinctly heard in Chardon, and at the first wras supposed to be thunder, but the regularity and character of the sounds soon convinced all that a battle had been commenced or ended. The disaster of General Hull's surrender, of the previous year, at Detroit, was not forgotten, and painful apprehensions of future greater evils were uppermost in the minds of all. Captain Paine took what few county records there w'ere (for in those days he performed the duties of nearly all the county officers), and carried them to the "Rocky Cellar," northeast of town, on the farm now owned by J. F. Howard, and hid them there, thinking it the safest place of concealment in this vicinity. The records remained hid a week or ten -days, while Captain Paine pushed on towards Cleveland, to ascertain the result or position of war matters. 1 am unable to state how far from the lake reports of cannon firing were heard, but they caused great consternation. A member of Captain Spencer's family, then living in Claridon, has informed me that they filled a chest with household valuables, and hid it in a brush-heap some distance from the house. Everyone was fearful that the British and their dusky, treacherous allies, the Indians, would overrun this territory and gobble up everything worthy of consideration. But as their fears proved to be groundless, quiet was soon restored.

It has been stated that Captain Paine wrote some details of his early life, but none such can now be found. Colbert Huntington, esq., of Painesville, who married Captain Paine's daughter Ellen, writes me that no such memoranda have come into his hands. He finds an old account-book, and in it are the

In 1812 he charges S. W. Phelps for recording deed of "Chardon town plat." Captain Paine was made agent tor the sale of a good deal of land in this county and adjoining ones, and in time became owner of a good deal. He was very efficient in giving aid and comfort to new-comers, and in assisting them to locate. He was very fond of hunting and fishing, and one old settler, now living here, says that he killed five deer one morning, soon after daylight, just east of the village. His son Sedley was more famous still as a hunter and trapper, and if all his exploits were narrated the history would make quite a volume. Another old settler informs me that in 1817 they had a "big hunt" near Munson pond. Captain Paine was chosen commander of the expedition, and, for a plume or sign of this distinction, he wore a deer's tail in his hat.

June 4, 1806, Captain Paine was appointed clerk of the board of commissioners of Geauga county. At the June meeting of the commissioners, in 1812, it was

" Resolved , That the rate of bounty to be paid out of the county treasury for the scalps of wolves over six months old, killed in this county, shall be two dollars, and for those under six months old,

It is stated that in 1808 or 1809, Mrs. Captain Paine, then living in Painesville, went to the State of New York, with a small party of women, to visit the homes and friends of childhood, and each went on horseback. Mrs. Paine took her son, Sedley, then a mere child, in her lap, and, in due time, returned, neither of them any the worse for the journey.

Captain Paine was the first postmaster in Chardon, and served a great many Tears, till Judge B. F. Avery was appointed. He also served as clerk of courts until about 1828, when Judge D. I). Aiken succeeded him. Captain Paine died November 29, 1848, aged seventy-two years. His wife died September 8, 1846, aged sixty-four years. Sedley died in May, 1829, aged twenty-two years. Seth died many years ago. Ellen married Colbert Huntington, and they are living in Painesville. Edward is living in the family of Mr. Huntington.

Old Persons In Chardon

We are indebted to our venerable friend, N. H. Parks, for the following list of Persons residing in Chardon, seventy years old, and over. Those marked with a * have died since the list was prepared :

Village

A capital hunt, or considered so at the time, occurred at Munson pond. Captain Edward Paine was commander of the enterprise, as stated. Previous to the day of the hunt, the township of Munson, nearly the whole of it, was encircled by a line of blazed trees. At this line, the forces were to meet and form; Chardon on the north line of the township (Munson), Chester on the west, Newbury on the south, and Claridon on the east. Burton, Troy, and Kirtland participated, assisting on the different lines. Nine o'clock, a. m., I think, was the time for forming the lines, which were composed of men and boys, some with guns, some with pitchforks, some with old bayonets fastened on sticks, some with clubs, and some with tin-horns. The signal for indicating that the lines were formed was the sounding of the tin-horns, which commenced at the northeast comer of the township (Munson), and was takefn up by the first horn on the left, and thus continued around the lines to the place of commencement. Then a second sounding in the same manner was the signal for starting towards the central part of the township, where was another very conspicuous blazed line at the base of a considerable eminence enclosing some eight or ten acres of ground, where all were to halt, and send in careful and accurate marksmen to shoot the game, taking special care not to fire into any of the lines.

The principal object of the hunt was to destroy the wolves, which, at that time, were very troublesome; and there was a goodly number of them, as well as bears, inclosed. As the lines were converging, they were seen running from side to side to escape, but, coming in contact with men on every side, they would wheel and run in the opposite direction. Orders were most strict against any person firing his gun in the advancing line. But the bears and wolves all escaped through a break in the lines purposely made by some hunters, who were opposed to killing off the deer in such a wholesale manner. All the game that was taken was a few deer and one elk. Samuel Hopson had just moved into Munson, and his family were the only inhabitants.

Many laughable events occurred in the early practice before magistrates, one of which I will here relate. It is said that it takes two to make a bargain, and it also requires that number, or a greater, to make a lawsuit. Two Chardon neighbors had got into a dispute about some dollar-and-cent transaction, and, not being able to settle it themselves by words, concluded to try what virtue there was in law. So the justice issued the proper paper requiring the defendant to appear on a certain day; but, by a slip of the pen, made the hour of appearance at one o'clock a. m., or in the forenoon. The defendant said nothing, but, about the midnight, or an hour before the time set for trial, arose and dressed himself, lit his lantern, and, at one o'clock, was promptly at the house of the justice. Observing that no preparations were being made for the trial, he awoke his honor from a refreshing nap, and urged the importance of punctuality, and that he open court. Of course, mutual explanations followed, and it had the effect to finally dispose of the case without any legal contest.

It is said that a Mr. Hurlbut was the first lawyer that became a resident practitioner in Chardon. He had but little, if any, practice, and died about the time when business opened in his profession.

In the fall of 1816, one Dr. George Emery located in Chardon, to practice medicine. Whether he was a graduate or not is unknown, but he assumed the right to bleed, puke, purge and saw bones. If he hung out a sign that read on it, "Prescriptions carefully compounded," it ought to have been changed to "Prescriptions carelessly confounded." In those days everybody had to be bled, and especially in the spring of the year. The medical practice of those days, for the human family, was just about as rational as the practice for doctoring cattle is now ; for, when a cow is taken sick, the first act of surgery is to cut off part of her tail, and then bore her horns, for the practitioner knows that the disease must be somewhere between those two points.

I am unable to say who was the first resident minister in Chardon. Services were held here at an early day, but by those clergymen who were doing missionary or itinerant labor. Lorenzo Dow held occasional services, one season, in the bar-room of Norman Canfield. Elder Hanks (Baptist), Ezra Booth, John Norris and Ira Eddy (Methodists), and Luther Humphrey (Presbyterian), preached here occasionally. Ezra Booth came here in 1818, and established the Methodist church, or class of ten members. But the long list of conspicuous dignitaries who have since figured in the schools of divinity, law and medicine, and the growing magnitude of those professions, require a more extended notice, which will be given in some future article.

Among the early settlers, was James Bronson, coming from Suffield, Connecticut. Mr. Bronson came, without his family, in 1814. He was looking for a location, and, when he left home, intended to buy at or near Cleveland, but was induced not to buy there on account of the representations of its unhealthiness. In 1815 Mr. Bronson sent for his wife, Hannah, and daughter, Lois H., who was then about two years old. They moved into a log house that stood a few rods west of the present store of Kelley Brothers, upon land that Mr. Bronson had purchased. In about three years he built and moved into a frame house near the same spot, and afterwards built and lived in another one further east, that stood upon the present west side of the public square. Mr. Bronson made two or three unsuccessful attempts to obtain well water on his premises, but his energy was at last rewarded, for Mr. Holt put down a drilled well, the first of its kind in town, and one of the best. It is the well now in the basement of Kelley Brothers' store. Many laughed at Mr. Bronson for his rashness in think- ing to obtain water in that way, and, after the job was finished, some thought the water would ooze away into the crevices of the rock. Judge D. D. Aiken had one drilled immediately upon his premises, the second one in town. Mr. Bronson was county treasurer for a number of years, and, by his foresight, economy and industry, secured a handsome competence. He died in Chardon April 10, i860, aged sixty-six years. Mrs. Hannah Bronson, his respected and venerable widow, aged seventy-nine, is living with her widowed daughter, Mrs. Lois H. Newcomb. Mrs. Bronson is since deceased.

Jonathan Bestor came to Chardon, in 1815, from Stafford, Connecticut. His family was composed of his wife, Hannah, and children : Polly, aged about thirteen years; Jonathan, jr., aged abouj ten years; Alanson, aged nearly nine years ; Hannah, aged about six years; Daniel, aged nearly five years; and Sally, aged about two and one-half years. They had a daughter bom soon after their arrival who they named Mary.

They came with two yoke of oxen and a horse, and were about six weeks on the road. Mr. Bestor traded teams two or three times, and got a large, longbodied yoke of oxen, that he wanted for wheel-oxen, but the wagon-tongue was so short, or the cattle so long, that, in order to prevent the wagon running on to them on a down grade, he had a harness, or breeching, made of leather, that extended from the yoke to the rear of the animals. This rude ox-toggery is now preserved in the chamber of Mr. J onathan Bestor.

The family first moved into the " Hoyt court-house," as it was called, and staid in it a few w eeks. Jabez King had cleared about two acres of land, and planted it to corn, where Mr. Bestor afterwards settled. He soon built a log house, near the present residence of the son, Jonathan. Mr. Bestor lived only about two years after coming to Chardon. He died September 10, 1817, aged about fortytwo years. He had an apoplectic fit w hile coming from Langdon's mill with a load of lumber. Mr. Bestor had partly cleared quite a number of acres of woodland before he died, and Mrs. Bestor arid the little boys finished it, and she sowed it to wrheat, and had a good crop. The next spring she planted corn and sowred flax on two acres, and sowed oats on five acres. In 1816, Mr. Bestor wrent to Mantua and purchased a barrel of pork, for wrhich he paid forty-tw'o dollars.

Mrs. Bestor w'as married in 1818, August 6th, to Crosby Rider. The children of the second marriage were Rosetta and Emily. The latter died when about two years old. Rosetta is now living with her brother, Jonathan, on the old homestead. Mr. Rider died many years ago. Mrs. Rider died in Chardon, June 13, 1 868, aged eighty-seven years. Polly Bestor married Charles Burr. He is dead; but she is living in Madison, Lake county, Ohio. Jonathan, as just stated, is living w'est of town on the old homestead. Alanson died March 21, 1856. Hannah was married, in 1844, to Luther Thwing. She is living in Chardon. Mr. Thriving died in September, 1863. Daniel is living in Chardon, upon the first farm west of Jonathan. He has raised a large family. Some of the sons and daughters are married, and, in their pursuit of homes and fortunes, have become widely separated.

Some time in 1816, Simeon Corbin and Julius C. Sheldon opened the first store in Chardon, under the firm name of Corbin &: Sheldon. The store was on the east side of the public square, upon the premises formerly owned by Mr. C. A. Bisbee. Their stock consisted of the commonest articles for necessary every day use, and could not have been very comprehensive, for, in -the year following (1817), I find they w'ere taxed on county duplicate only ninety cents. They did not continue to trade in company long, for Mr. Sheldon had a severe fit of sickness, and, as soon as he had recovered sufficiently, turned his face to the east, and bid good-bye to this wilderness towm. Early in 1818, it is said,

Mr. Corbin built a frame dwelling house upon the same premises, which was the first frame dwelling erected in Chardon. With a new covering, it now forms a part of Mr. Bisbee's homestead.

To show how little aristocracy of wealth there was in the early days, it may be said that, in 1817, the total tax paid in Chardon, on county duplicate, was thirtynine dollars, thirty-one cents and nine mills. The largest tax paid by one man was five dollars and ninety-four cents, and the smallest, ten cents. All taxable head of cattle were ten cents each, and taxable horses thirty cents each. There were six horses listed that year, for taxation, in the township, and ninety-three head of cattle. Many of the latter were work oxen. Farming lands were not then taxed for county purposes, only village lots, and such personal property as has been mentioned. Covered carriages, pianos, and gold watches were rare visitants in this part in those days. The wealth mostly flowed in the veins of those stalwart pioneers ; for they generally possessed clear heads, warm hearts, walling feet, and strong arms, that made enduring impressions upon "mother earth," causing it in time "to bud and blossom as the rose."

In 1816, Benjamin Rider, sr., and Crosby, his eldest son, left Hampshire county, Massachusetts, for the " Far West." Whether some land speculator in "comer lots" misinformed or misdirected them as to the exact location of the goodly country, and "promised land" for adventurous fortune seekers, is not now known; but the year just mentioned found them in Chardon, purchasing land, falling trees, rolling up a log house, clearing off timber, and sowing wheat, the usual pioneer movements in preparing a home. Their first clearing was made on the southwest corner of the Judd farm, just north of the farm where Mr. T. Pitkin now lives. When these three or four acres of wheat were properly sown, its owner, trusting to quickening rain, sun, dew, and to God, who alone could give the promised increase, returned to Massachusetts for his numerous family. Crosby, the oldest son, remained here, and, in June, 1817, Mr. B. Rider, sr., returned to Chardon with all the other members of the family (ten in number), and located where he had taken up land, as previously mentioned. The family was composed of Sarah, his wife, and sons, Benjamin, jr., Rufus, Isaiah, Samuel; and daughters, Polly, Nancy, Hannah, and Lucy.

Benjamin Rider, jr., was first married August 12, 1819, to Chloe Stebbins, widow of Flavel Stebbins. She died in 1826, aged about thirty-two years. He married Chloe Robinson for his second wife. She is now about seventy-four years of age. Mr. Rider is nearly eighty, and in good health. He lives with his sons, one mile and a half north of town, and, a short time since, walked from his home to my office, and furnished me the family history. He remarked that he walked for fear that, if he rode, "he might take cold." Rufus married Diana Hathaway before coming to Ohio. For the past few years they lived in this village, until they died. Mrs. Rider died November 30, 1869, aged seventytwo years. Mr. Rider has since died, aged nearly seventy-six years. Isaiah Rider married Sarah Hathaway* and they are living in Painesville. He is (187 1) about seventy-two years old ; yet spry and vigorous, and a minister of the Baptist denomination, and preaches occasionally. Samuel married a Miss Cook, who died here. He returned to Massachusetts, after a residence of about twelve years. Polly married a Mr. Marshall, who died twenty years ago. She moved to Michigan, and died last August, aged about seventy-eight years. Nancy never married, and died in 1817. Hannah is about sixty-eight years old; lives in- Clandon, the widow of Lewis Gorman. Lucy is living at Mr. Grants, in Hambden ; was never married ; is aged about sixty-two years, and, for fifteen years or more, has been deranged.

Benjamin Rider, sr., died in March, 1854, in Painesvllle, aged ninety-one. Mrs. Rider died there, in September, i860, aged ninety-six. It is said that some of the ancestors of this family lived to extreme old age, and the longevity of most of the descendants makes it very probable. All of us who have been residents of Chardon for twenty-five years or more, will never forget the venerable couple; their pillows were smoothed by kind friends in the last of their journeyings to the tomb, and they remembered that the scriptures had brought to them the light and knowledge of immortality.

Mr. B. Rider, jr., states that he once? took a full wagon-load of oats (twentyeight bushels), to Painesville, and traded them all for one barfel of salt. At one time he took a bushel and a half of wheat on his back to Langdon's mill, in Munson, and returned with the grist in the same manner. At another time he put all the grain on the back of a horse that the animal could carry, and then led it to Punderson's mill, in Newbury, and back, a distance of eleven miles or more. His brother, Crosby, paid Captain Spencer twenty-five cents a pound for dried mutton hams, in the winter of 1816 and '17.

I trust it will not be out of place to refer to statements that are often made, but unsupported by facts and figures; that men and women do not live to as great age nowr, as in the first years of our country's history, or several generations ago. It will be remembered that, a few weeks since, our aged townsman, N. H. Parks, published a list of the persons in Chardon tow nship, over seventy years of age, and the list numbered about seventy, just in a territory of five miles square. About twenty of them were four score years and over. Now, take the early presidents of our country, who, from their commanding influence and position, might be presumed to understand the law's of life, and could command the best of medical attendance incases of sickness. Washington died at sixty-eight; John Adams reached ninety-one; Jefferson, eighty-three; Madison, eighty-five; Monroe, seventy-twfo ; J. Q. Adams, eighty-one; Jackson, seventy-eight; Harrison, sixty-nine. Take these cases, with everything that distinction, popularity, power and wealth could command, and the exemption from extra hazards of laborious out-door pursuits, and the comparison will favor our position. Instances might be cited of authors, tradesmen, mechanics, or in the professions so called, and the same result will be obtained. But perhaps this is not a proper place to pursue this matter further.

There are other families of the early settlers in Chardon, of whom mention ought now to be made, but there is, in their cases, difficulty in getting the proper information and reliable dates. It is hoped that the facts wranted can soon be supplied. The Clough, Clark, Twing, and Bushneli families are of the number.

In my last article I spoke of the first ministers of the gospel, and the first religious services in towfn, and promised to pursue that branch of history farther. Perhaps the remainder of this article can be properly devoted to it; or the work performed by the Methodists, as they led off in church organization, and built the first house of worship. It has been mentioned before that Lorenzo Dow' preached here occasionally one season, in the bar-room of Norman Canfield. He was one of the most remarkable men of his age. He w'as a native of Coventry, Connecticut. He traveled very extensively in England and Ireland, and visited almost every portion of the United States. His eccentric dress and peculiar style of preaching attracted great attention. He was a Methodist in principle, though it is said he was not in connection with that society. He died in Georgetow n, District of Columbia, in February, 1834.

It is said that the first Methodist society formed on the Western Reserve was in Vernon, Trumbull county, Ohio, by Rev. Obed Crosby, in 1801. He came from Connecticut, by the way of Pittsburgh, in an open w-agon drawm by oxen, and, soon after he left Pittsburgh, one of the oxen died, and he yoked in a cow, compelling her to do extra duty the rest of the journey. In 1815 there were but very few traveling Methodist ministers on the Western Reserve, perhaps only James MacMahon and Lemuel Lane. In 1818 Ezra Booth came here, and formed a class of ten members. The class consisted of Lydia, Ariel, Lucinda, Zadok, Polly and Otis Benton, David and Esther Gray, and Gideon and Ruth Morgan. Ariel Benton, and his wife, Lucinda, Otis Benton and David Gray are the only ones who survive of the ten who, more than fifty-two years ago, gave their names for membership. The missing Christian pilgrims who have "gone before " have no doubt found that "heavenly country" which their survivors so earnestly seek.

Arrangements were made to have Sunday services every two weeks, and in the years 1819 and 1820, Ira Eddy was preacher at this charge. In 1821, Philip Green was here; in 1822, Alfred Bronson and Henry Knapp. John Norris, of Windsor, it ought to be said, was the first Methodist preacher in Chardon, holding service occasionally in the fall of i8i6,' but that was before any society was formed. Meetings were held in the court house, private houses, and the brick academy, until a house of worship was built. The building was commenced in 1833, but most of the work was done in 1834, by Ezekiel Rider, Joseph P. Cowles, and Samuel McGonigal. Ariel and Zadok Benton, and William Wilber were the committeemen to see to its construction. Peter Chardon Brooks, of Boston, had, years before, promised to donate a bell to be put upon the first church structure erected by any denomination. When reminded of his promise, true to his large-hearted liberality, he wrote that he would be pleased to send one that weighed fifteen hundred pounds, if the building was correspondingly suitable. A moderate-sized one was soon forwarded by him, and hoisted into the belfry in the fall of 1834. It was first tolled to announce the death and age of Mrs. Aaron Canfield, December 20, 1834. The second time it was for Zadok Benton, January 3, 1835 - one °f building committee.

The many hundred times it and its successors have performed similar mournful duties it is impossible to tell. Its language, on all such occasions, has been one unvarying story - the wail of lonely, aching, throbbing hearts; multiplying undying memories; telling that a parent's all-embracing love has been suddenly extinguished; or that the heavenly ordained relation of husband and wife has been sundered; or the sunshine of the household has been eclipsed, because one is gone, whose infantile cheeks can never again be caressingly pressed against those of its parents; or that the "joyous gush of laughter and the tread of tiny feet" have forever ceased; in short, teaching us how fast we are exchanging this earthly "show of things" for the realities that are to last forever.

In 1823, one William Brown, or "Billy Brown," as he was familiarly called, moved to Ohio, and preached in Chardon many times. He was odd in action, and queer in ideas, making many gestures with his tongue. He died suddenly in 1850. Elder Ira Eddy was born in Vermont in 1796, and is now about seventy-five years old; lives in Baconsburg, Ohio, and yet preaches with accustomed zeal and earnestness. He was made an elder of his church in 1821. His history is familiar to so many in this vicinity that it would be useless to give farther details of it. His purity of life, erect form, and white, silvery hair, give him almost a sacred or patriarchal appearance.

Early in the spring, before the war of 1812, as it is called, a party of Indians, numbering about seventy, encamped in the south part of Hambden, in Geauga county, and stayed there till fall. My information has not been obtained from the "reliable gentleman," nor the "intelligent contraband," who was so well posted during the war of the Rebellion, but from one now living in this village, who was a frequent visitor at their camp, to gratify his boyish curiosity. This lodge was ruled by a "Big Indian," as was customary, but, to be more definite,, this dusky dignitary was styled a "chief." His clothing and conduct gave evidence of his distinction and superiority over his fellow "squatters" on untitled lands, who revolved around him as so many satellites at his pleasure. This chieftain had a helpmate, vulgarly called a "squaw," and when the encampment was visited and interviewed by white visitors, she arrayed herself in all the tinseled finery and gaudy decorations found in the Indian wardrobe. Fortunately, she lived and died before the study of fashions was so much of a science or business. She was happily spared the complicated miseries and tangled mysteries of fashionable life, and, instead of having a morning dress, and another for dinner, and another for balls or evening, with all the bias and box-pleated ruffles, and sacques, and basques and talmas, she had but one way of costuming herself on all state occasions. The fashion plates of our giddy monthlies, and the elaborate publications of Madame Demoresi and Harper's Bazar , with all their patterns, that are to the uninitiated about as intelligible as Mark Twain's war map, are comparatively of modern creation. The article of dress that this Mrs. Squaw mostly relied upon to give additional lustre to her charms, was a deer-skin cape, close fitting at the throat, and reaching down about the waist. It was ingeniously worked with beads and porcupine quills, forming strange Indian devices. There were hundreds of little brooches, like round buckles with tongues crossing their diameters, fastened on it. She wore ornamented moccasins, and the rest of her attire was a sort of cross between the Flora Mc- Flimsy style of "nothing to wear" and the "Bloomer costume."

A L)r. Bond resided in Hambden when these Indians were there, and one of them was taken sick, and the doctor gave him medicine and cured him, which made him a noted "medicine man," and after that, every sick Indian was anxious to secure the services of the doctor. It is strange that the absurb notion should be tolerated a moment that the Indians have unfailing remedies for diseases, and when a medical man bases his professional ability upon some secrets obtained from aboriginal practice, he may safely be classed with out-and-out knaves, or ranked as brevet fool.