Chatham Township

Chatham Township

Although the county was organized in 1813, it is worthy of being observed that settlements did not commence in every township simultaneously. Mankind are not inclined to live remote from each other ; on the contrary, those who were born and reared in the same region, generally seek after and associate together. And in peopling a new country the timidity and the friendship of the female sex for near neighbors often induces families to settle near each other.

Chatham township was organized Dec. 5, 1833. The first township officers were Nedabiah Cass, Joel Lyon, and Irani Packard, trustees. At the first election there were only eleven voters, to wit : Gay lord C. Warner, Joel Lyon, Nedabiah Cass, Moses Parsons, Barney Daniels, Amasa Packard, Ebenezar Shaw, Amos Utter, Iram Packard, Harvey Edwards and Thomas F. Palmer. Six of which in 1861, are yet residents in the township.

The first election for Justice of the Peace was in May, 1835. Orin Shaw and Thomas F. Palmer were opposing candidates. Mr. Shaw had one vote majority. Moses Parsons and Thomas F. Palmer contested that election. A trial of strength of influence was had a second time, which being illegal was set aside. A new election was ordered. Orin Shaw and Amasa Packard Jr., were the opposing candidates, and Shaw was elected by a majority of two votes. Politics was not known in the strife ; other causes fired the friends of each to array themselves against each other.

The first school was taught in a private dwelling in the fall of 1833 by Verta Richards, since deceased. The pupils at that school were Lydia, Chloe, Eliza and Joseph Palmer. Celia, Emeline Richards, Catharine, Polly and Cornelia Packard, Mary, Orin and Alfred Shaw and Catharine Frazell.

Visiting Party

A party of what might be called at that time young folks, made the necessary arrangements to visit their acquaintances in Harris ville. The day came and all congregated, dressed in the then best style to go in company. Two choice pair'of oxen were j^ked, sleds were filled with clean straw, quilts were spread to prevent straw-beards from sticking to their choice calico or flannel dresses, and they started off at a good oxtrot on their visit. At that date it was considered a great convenience to have an ox team in which to travel, and no female considered her fashionable dignity insulted by riding in an ox sled or wagon.

Ftest Marriage

The first couple married were Henry K. Joline and Eleanor Parsons, in 1820, and thirteen years prior to the organization of the township. A messenger traveled through to Sullivan, a distance of fourteen miles without any horse, and piloted Esquire Close through the woods to Chatham to tie the marriage knot. When Esq. Close started for Sullivan, he came to the sage conclusion to go the trail to Harrisville and from there by another trail tojjhis home, rather than to venture fourteen miles travel through woods.

Moses Parsons was the first settler, and made the first opening in the township in 1819, about one mile south of the center. He came from Massachusetts, died in Chatham in the month of October, 1843, aged 74 years.

The first Congregational Church was organized in April, 1834, under the Union Plan, and was attached to the Presbytery. The names of members at its organization were Barney Daniels and wife, Ebenzer Shaw and wife, Joel Lyon and wife, Amasa Packard and wife, Gideon Gaftlner and wife, Irani Packard and wife, Orin Shaw and wife, George, Phillip, and Jacob and Sarah Packard, making 18 members. In 1843 a division or schism got root and eventually divided the church into two separate organizations, one part advocating the Presbyterian plan, the other sustaining the Oberlin plan. During the excitement two church edifices respectable in appearance and well finished, were built, two preachers were hired a part o*all the time. Efforts were used by each denomination to secure large attendance, a spirit of emulation rather than vital piety prevailed. The pockets of each were often depleted to pay the monetary matters. They continued thus struggling for fifteen years. In process of time the schisms were either healed or died out, and the two became united in 1858, and now compose a large and influential church. There is at the center a Methodist Episcopal Church respectable in numbers and in influence.

was, for many months, unable to labor, owing to painful and severe sickness, and his situation became known to those residing in Harrisville township. Every night they furnished batchers until he was able to be carried to another place. They came with teams, took himself and family to Harrisville township and supported him while there free of charge, and when he was supposed restored to health they brought himself and family to their own residence. Such was the feeling and such the noble principles of benevolence that existed among the first settlers, and thank God the same trial of character is still exhibited by them, though traveling down to life's sunset.

Chatham Statistics Personal Property

If the wealth that yearly results from the crops of Oats, Grass-seeds, Potatoes, Hay, and other articles of trade and commerce, were added, it would not be exceeding probability to place the annual products at $209,000.

Chatham is an agricultural township. Of course the fund invested in merchandise is limited in amount. The farmers, residing within fifteen miles of rail-road stations, are accustomed to go there with their surplus produce.

Although the township is comparatively young, since organization, there are evident traits of industry. Houses, barns and other buildings, intended for accommodation and comfort, give evidence of taste and neatness not excelled by townships that have been longer settled.