Chester Township

Page. Page By S. B. Philbrick, Esq

The territory now known as Chester Geauga county, Ohio, was partially 'surveyed in the year 1.796, under the general direction of the "Connecticut Land Company," and under the immediate superintendence of Joshua Stowe, of Middletown, Connecticut. It was at that time designated by its relative position, being described as the township number eight, in the ninth range of townships of the Connecticut Western Reserve. This early survey consisted mainly in running its outer lines and two others east and west through the township, dividing it into three tracts of unequal size. The northern division, known as tract number one, was estimated to contain four thousand six hundred and ninety acres. The middle division, known as tract number two, was supposed to embrace four thousand and thirty-eight acres ; while the southern division, or tract number three, comprised six thousand and seven acres. That part of the Western Reserve west of the Cuyahoga river, was divided into ninetytwo drafts, each draft being owned by one or more individuals, and consisted of one whole township, and what was annexed thereto by an equalizing committee. Tract number one was attached to Northampton, Summit county, and was owned by Solomon Stoddard and others of Northampton, Massachusetts. Tract number two was attached to Aurora, Portage county, and was owned by certain residents of Suffield, Connecticut. Tract number three was attached to Hudson, Summit county, and was owned by sundry persons residing in Goshen, -Connecticut, and Bloomfield, New York.

It is not known at what time tracts numbers one and two were fully surveyed. In 1801 tract number three was surveyed and laid out into forty lots, under the direction of Thaddeus Lacey. During the same year General Edward Paine, as commissioner, employed Mr. Abraham Tappan as surveyor to lay out and open the Chillicothe road, which extended from Painesville to where Coshocton now stands, passing through Mentor, Chester, Aurora, Hudson, etc. By laying out and opening a road in that early period, was meant little more than running a line, marking the trees, and cutting out some of the brush in the vicinity, so that a yoke of oxen might be able to get along with a sled.

In the month of April, 1801, Justus Miner, esq., then lesiding in Charleston, Genesee county (now Lima, Livingston county), New York, in company with Philo Miner, his son, Harvey Sheffield, son-in-law, Harvey Nettleton, and a Mr. Allen, started on a tour to the Reserve, for the purpose of locating land previ- ously purchased in tract number three, embracing the southern portion of what is now Chester. Of the forty lots into which this tract was divided, Esquire Miner selected three hundred and twenty acres, embracing a part of lot twentyeight and the whole of twenty-nine and thirty situated south of the road, leading from Cleveland to Meadville, Pennsylvania, and extending eastward to the town line. They drove before them some forty head of cattle.

On the first of May, 1801, Esquire Miner, with his son, Philo Miner, and his son-in-law, H. Sheffield, commenced the first clearing, and built the first log cabin in the town on lot thirty. They cut the timber from some three or four acres, and in June, returned to New York, intending to return with their families in the following winter.

In February, 1802, they again set out for what was to be their future home. The colony consisted of Justus Miner, esq., and wife, and five unmarried children, four daughters and one son; Philo Miner and wife, and Harvey Sheffield, with a wife and infant daughter, and John Sheffield, in all eleven persons. They traveled over the snow by means of sleds drawn by oxen. Their way lay through an almost unbroken wilderness. After traveling three days, the snow mostly disappeared, on which account they were prevented from prosecuting their journey for a week. At the expiration of this time they were enabled to move forward again. As night overtook them, they were sometimes fortunate enough to find a log cabin, in which to lodge, but were not unfrequently obliged to camp out, making of the boughs of the hemlock such couches as they were able. At the end of two weeks they arrived at Buffalo. Here the wife of Philo Miner was left with a sister, while the remainder of the company went forward, and in the course of three or four days, succeeded in reaching Cattaraugus. The snow having mostly disappeared, and deeming it unsafe to rely upon their former mode of conveyance, they hired a block house of the Indians, for the use of which, with the privilege of allowing their cattle to feed on the rushes, they paid one dollar per week.

After having made such arrangements as they were able for a temporary sojourn here, Messrs. H. Sheffield and P. Miner started on foot for the Reserve, in order to obtain a boat that they might convey the party, with their effects, over the lake, to some point near their place of destination. They came to what is now Willoughby, with the expectation of finding a boat at that place; but being disappointed, and learning that one might probably be obtained at Austinburgh, they went thither, and finally succeeded in obtaining a small, open boat, with six oars - one end of it, however, being mostly stove in. After spending considerable time and labor in repairing it, they started down the lake for Cattaraugus, taking care to keep within hailing distance of the shore. A few days sufficed to bring them to Cattaraugus, after having encountered a severe gale, before which their sail and cordage gave way, and which compelled them to sail before the wind sqme forty miles. Prosperity and hope still reigned in the humble camp, and they Vere welcomed with such cordiality and gratitude as their circumstances were adapted to excite. On going to Buffalo for Mrs. Philo Miner, they were joined by Judge Phelps, then a resident of Painesville, who, with a wife and two children, was returning to the Reserve. Having been familiar with boating, and, moreover, being somewhat acquainted with the route, as well as with the country to which they were emigrating, his. accession to the party was hailed with very great pleasure.

Having returned to Cattaraugus, preparations were at once made for a general embarkation. Their freight, consisting chiefly of articles of furniture and agricultural implements, was deposited in the bottom of the boat, and thirteen persons disposed of as favorably as possible above them - two of the company, viz: John Sheffield and John Miner, having undertaken to drive their teams.

and cattle through the forest to Burton, that being nearer to Chester than any other settlement. The party in the boat, which took its departure April* 17th, coasted along the south shore of the lake by day, and at night, unlading the boat, they erected tents on the shore, beneath which they encamped, and in the morning struck their tents, packed their effects and themselves into the boat, and rowed on till the gathering shades of another night reminded them of the necessity of a fresh encampment. Sometimes the state of the weather required them to remain for a day or two in one spot, and it was not till the first of May that they entered the mouth of Grand river, and finally disembarked, having been occupied thirteen days in passing over the distance now traversed by the steamers in the same number of hours. The females were left at General Paine's, near the landing place, while Esquire Miner and his son Philo started for Burton to obtain the teams, which had arrived there previously. Ten days more elapsed and the little colony was complete again in the union of its members at Burton. The removal was effected by means of sleds, wagons not being obtainable.

As soon as arrangements could be made, the male members left for the partial clearing, which had been effected the previous year, accompanied by Mrs. Philo Miner, who came to preside over the domestic department of their affairs; being, so far as is known, the first white woman who trod the soil of Chester. The rest of the females remained at Burton. The last year's chopping was logged off, and soon the corn was waving where for centuries the forest trees had swayed to and fro beneath the breath of the storm.

About the first of July, Esquire Miner moved his family from Burton into the town, and about the first of August, Mr. Harvey Sheffield removed his family thither, they having been detained by the illness of his wife, who had presented him with a second daughter. By general consent the town was called Wooster.

About the first of September, H. Sheffield moved into his house, erected on lot No. 28, the three families having, up to this time, occupied the same house.

The year following (1803), Dr. John Miner, brother of Esquire Miner, came on and took up a lot in the vicinity, cleared up a small piece, and sowed wheat. Mr. Amariah Beard came also during the same year. During the spring following Dr. Miner and Mr. Beard erected dwellings and moved into them with their families, making a settlement consisting of four dwelling houses. On the seventeenth of March, of this year, H. Sheffield had a son born, which was the first white child born in Chester.

Dr. John Miner completed, and moved into, an improved habitation on the twenty-first of July, and the next day, being Sabbath, the town was visited by a fearful tornado, which destroyed nearly one-sixth of the whole timber in the township. Dr. Miner was asleep at the time of its approach, and was awakened by his children, whom he directed to provide for their safety by lying down below the sleepers - there being as yet no floor laid. While it was still raging, Dr. Miner stepped to the door, to observe its effects, when three large trees were blown over on the house, knocking down the timbers, and killing Dr. Miner instantly. This house stood near the northwest corner of the public square, at Chester Cross Roads. Dr. Miner's remains were buried within what afterwards proved to be the limits of the Chillicothe road, and hence in the winter of 1818-19 they were removed to the burying ground, some distance east of the Cross Roads, in the vicinity of what is still called the "old settlement." The bereaved family were removed and provided for by their friends. This calamity so affected Mr. Beard that he almost immediately left the town, and produced soch a general feeling of discouragement, as threatened entirely to depopulate the whole town.

nized in Chester by David Hudson, esq., of Hudson, who came twenty-five miles*for that purpose. The parties concerned in giving this original application to the law which makes "of twain one flesh," were Mr. John Sheffield, brother of Harvey Sheffield, and Miss Anna Miner, daughter of Justus Miner, esq. Some time subsequent to this, William Archer was married to another of the daughters of Esquire Miner.

No other additions seem to have been made to the population of the town until 1809. On the second day of May, of that year, William N. Hudson, set out from Aurora - the nearest settlement south - in company with a little brother, with a view of settling and making improvements at Chester X Roads, three-fourths of a mile south of the centre of the town. The road had been travelled so little, and had been so obstructed by trees blown across it, as to become almost impassable. It was with great difficulty that Mr. Hudson found himself able to lead a horse forward ; the path was frequently lost, and in one instance, a half hour's search was requisite to its discovery. He erected his first cabin near a spring, a little southeast of the Cross Roads, which he continued to occupy until seven years afterwards, when he removed to the Cross Roads. After completing his cabin he returned to Hudson for his wife;*andon the twenty-second of August, of this year (1809), they started for their future home. They came only to Aurora the first day, expecting to reach Chester on the afternoon of the day following. The roads, however, were in such a condidition that on the approach of evening they found themselves at Silver Creek, still four miles from their destination. A bell was put on one of the oxen, and they were turned out to feed for a short time, while it was raining - Mr. Hudson intending to yoke and chain them for security before dark - but on going out for that purpose, after having made such arrangements as were possible for supper and lodging, they were nowhere to be found. The night proved a very rainy one, and Mr. and Mrs. Hunter lay beneath their brush shelter perfectly drenched, getting such sleep, and enjoying such dreams as their circumstances permitted. On looking about in the morning for the oxen, it became evident that they had shown their disinclination for pioneer life by retracing the path to Aurora. They were pursued, but not overtaken till they had reached the latter place - the starting point of the previous day. However, they wrere secured and driven back to Silver Creek, in time to reach Chester on the evening of the following day.

John Miner, son of Justus Miner, esq., having been married the same season, in this year (1809), the population consisted of seven families, making the rate of increase average one family per annum.

During the same year application was made to the commissioners of Geauga county for aid in opening the road more fully from Aurora to Chester, to which they responded by granting ten dollars, a sum which allowed twenty-five cents per day to the laborers, who boarded themselves and camped in the woods while thus occupied. It may reasonably be supposed that the applicants for official distinction and civil service were not very numerous, or that their desire to serve the public had a very unselfish origin.

In 1811, Mr. Jeremiah lies married Miss Betsey Miner, and settled in Chester. Mr. Alpheus Sheffield also took a wife, which increased the number of families to nine. In the autumn of this same year, Ashbel Gilmore came to the town from Chester, Massachusetts, with his family, consisting of a wife and three children, and erected a cabin about half a mile southeast of the center of Chester. A few weeks later, James Gilmore, jr., brother of Ashbel, arrived, being unmarried. The next year (1812) Mr. James Gilmore, sr., father of Ashbel and James, arrived with a family of five children, and built a log house half a mile east of the center of the township, and subsequently he built the

In 1815, Mr. Reuben Hulbert, with a family of five children, arrived, and settled in the northern part of the township; and in the winter following, Mr. John Roberts arrived with his family, giving a population of fourteen families, fourteen years after the settlement, showing the regular rate of increase to be still one family per year. Not far from this time arrived Messrs. Silas Tanner, Stephen Bassett, Lebbeus Norton, and brothers, David Allison, Asa Winsor, John Scott, William Scott, Asa Scott, and others. From this time the rate of increase became morerapid.

One reason foj the slow growth of the settlement is doubtless to be found in the severity and frequency of the tornadoes with which the town and vicinity were visited. The death of Dr. Miner from this cause, in the infancy of the settlement, contributed to make these an object of special dread to the inhabitants, and more or less aggravated the fears of others. The first was in 1803. In 1809 the town suffered from another, which, though of less violence, did no inconsiderable damage, blowing down trees and almost entirely destroying a barn belonging to H. Sheffield. In 1812 the third visitation was suffered. The tornado expended its greatest force a few miles south of Chester, but this town felt its influence deeply. Two persons have been killed in the township by lightning - Alexander Miller, in 1851, and Thomas Norton, in 1857.

The early settlers of the town found themselves surrounded by rattlesnakes, many of them from four to six feet long. They had a hiding-place on what is now Sand hill, in Munson. One morning, in spring, the inhabitants turned out on a war of extermination. They succeeded in killing about thirty, which thinned them out considerably, and relieved themselves of the annoyance.

The forests gradually disappeared; agricultural operations grew more extensive; the conveniences of life multiplied; roads were projected and improved; wider and freer intercourse was carried on, and life in the forest was mcjre and more an experience of the past.

In August, 1812, the inhabitants wrere thrown into great consternation by the report that the Indians were approaching the settlement, bent on the destruction of the inhabitants. The circumstances were as follows: A family of the name of Carpenter had, a short time before, moved from Euclid to Chester, for security against Indian depredations. A young girl, belonging to this family, was one day left alone, for some little time, in the house. On the return of the family she stated, with apparant fear and sincerity, that five men, from Burton, bad called during the day, and stated that the Indians were approaching, slaying and scalping the inhabitants. As an additional feature of terror, the adult male r^idents were nearly all absent at Cleveland, having been summoned thither on the surrender of General Hull, at Detroit, to protect the State from invasion by the British forces. Justus Miner, esq., James Gilmore, Asa Gilmore, and John Sheffield, were the only adult males remaining. The alann spread rapidly. Snatching such things as seemed necessary, and were at hand, nearly the whole people left their dwellings, and betook themselves to the *oods, in confusion and terror. During the afternoon Esquire Tracy came over from Mesopotamia, by the way of Burton, intending to stay for a time in Chester; but, on approaching the settlement, he saw no signs of life. He visited the habitations, and found them deserted and the apartments in confusion. Finally Esquire Miner succeeded in inducing the larger part of the stragglers to tetum, being well satisfied of the falsity of the rumor. They assembled at the house of Harvey Sheffield, where he and John Sheffield assumed the office of sentinels. News, of an authentic character, arrived from the reputed scene of *kughter, in the evening, showing that their fears were groundless, as the report had no rational foundation. Mr. Gilmore's family having become separated from the rest of the company, it was midnight before they quitted the forest and their fears, and sat down in quietness and gratitude beneath the shelter of the cabin and the joyous sympathy of their friends. Whether the story was a willful, mischievous fabrication on the part of the girl, or whether she was under the influence of a sort of mental hallucination, and really imagined that such revelations had been made to her, is not positively known.

In the winter of 1813-14, Jeremiah lies, while chopping, on his farm, threefourths of a mile east of the Cross Roads, was struck by the limb of a falling tree, and rendered senseless for some time. His limbs were so benumbed that he never afterw-ards obtained the full use of them.

In the latter part of the summer of 1816, the inhabitants applied to the county commissioners for an incorporation of the township, and, as there wras another of the name of Wooster, not far distant, they decided to call it Chester. The petition was granted, and it was incorporated the same year.

First Election

November 16, 1816, wras held the first town meeting subsequent to the incorporation of the township, at the house of Wm. N. Hudson. Justus Miner, w'as called to the chair, and Silas Tanner and Dr. Wm. N. Hudson were appointed judges, and the following persons w*ere chosen as officers of the town :

At this time there could not have been much difference between the number of officers and the number of persons to choose them. The state of the highways at once secured attention, as appears evident from the rapid increase of the number of supervisors appointed. Thus, at the first meeting, one only was appointed; at the second, three, and at the fourth, seven, etc. In the year 1826, /. e ., ten years from the incorporation of the town, the number of electors present at the polls was fifty-three.

In the year 1828, April 7th, a meeting of the electors was held at the usual place, at which a committee was appointed, consisting of Reuben Melvin, Lebbeus Norton, James Gilmore, jr., Aaron C. Jacobs, and Asa Winsor, to consider the propriety of purchasing a lot to be used as a burying ground. After examination, they reported that Mr. James Gilmore had offered an acre of grounc^ a little distance north of the center, for fifteen dollars? which they deemed well! adapted to that purpose, and recommended its purchase. The report was adopted and the same committee instructed to circulate a subscription to raise the money, and in case of failure to obtain the requisite sum they shall report to the trustees, who shall then be authorized to levy a towm tax sufficient to purchase and enclose the lot. Failing to procure the necessary sum by subscription, application was made to the trustees to make the purchase. It was found that this could not legally be done. The Presbyterian society then bought the lot. Thus w'as set apart "God's Acre," where so many of the early toilers in .the work of pioneering lie in their last sleep. There are three other places for burial - one at the southeast part of the town (the oldest), one at the northeast part, and one a little west of the Cross Roads.

Road Districts

A division of the town into road districts was effected at a meeting of the electors, March 7, 1831. The number of divisions at the first division was twelve. The whole amount in the treasury to be expended for road purposes, in 1831, was nineteen dollars and seventy-eight cents, and in the same year the number of electors who voted was seventy-seven. The first of April, 1839, the number of votes cast was one hundred and fifteen, and the number of road districts was twenty-four. In April, 1842, the whole number of votes cast was one hundred and fifty-three ; the number of road districts, twenty-four. The largest number of votes ever cast was in 1876 - one hundred and eighty-one for Hayes, and twenty for Tilden.

For a considerable number of years the town meetings were held in a block house a little northwest of the center, called the "center house;" afterwards in the school-house just north of the Presbyterian church. At a meeting of the trustees, held May 7, 1850, a contract was made for a site on which to build a town hall. The land was purchased of Dr. Ira Lyman, and as soon as practicable the building was erected. A tax of four hundred dollars was levied upon the town to meet the expenses of building. It was completed that year.

Several acres of land had been deeded to the inhabitants of the town several years before its incorporation, by David Hudson, as a site for public buildings, etc, but on account of its distance from the center of the town, and other causes, it has never been used for the purpose for which it was designed. It is now occupied (1877) by several buildings which do not belong to the town.

The first jurymen selected from Chester were Justus Miner, James Gilmore, John Roberts and Eber Norton, in 1818; Jared Hulbert, Charles Odell, Harvey Sheffield and Ashbel Scott, in 1819; Stephen Bassett, Lebbeus Norton, and Samuel Satterlee, in 1820.

Education

To provide for the education of the young has always been a primary object with the pioneers in the wilderness, especially those who have been trained under the discipline of New England. Some of the members of the earlier families were sent to Burton for the educational advantages afforded at that place. The first school-house was erected, and the first school begun in Chester in the spring of 1810, and was taught by Miss Susannah Babcock, of Burton. It was the place still known as the "Old Settlement." No authentic records are found, showing the progress of educational interests till the year 1827, when it appears that there were three school districts in the town. At this time the number of householders in the first district was twenty ; in the second, twenty-five; in the third, thirty. In 1829 the number of districts was increased to five; whole number of families, eighty. In 1834 the number of districts was increased to seven, beside setting off a few families in the northwest corner of the town to Willoughby. In the year 1837, as the result of the modification of the school law, a board of school examiners was appointed mthe town, consisting of John Packard, jr., Austin Turner and Urban Palmer. In 1838 they were succeeded by Austin Turner, Abel Wilder and S. B. Philbrick. Another modification of the school law occasioned, the following year the addition of superintendent of common school, to the office of town clerk. In 1838 the number of children of school age was three hundred and eightyseven; in 1850 there were four hundred and two.

Geauga Seminary

This institution began operations August 3, 1842, under the superintendence of Asahel Nichols, of Chester. The seminary had been established chiefly through the influence of members of the Free Will Baptist denomination. At a meeting held in Chester October 26, 1842, a plan for a suitable building was adopted. The building was erected as soon after this time as practicable. Until it wras so far completed as to warrant its occupancy, the school was kept in the Free Will Baptist meeting-house.

In February, 1843, legislature passed an act incorporating the society, but for reasons which are sufficiently evident upon an examination of section second of the act, it was rejected. Section second is as follows: "That, if the managers of said institution shall receive blacks and mulattoes into the same upon an equality with the white persons, it shall work a forfeiture of all the powers hereby granted without the intervention of judicial prodeedings.*

Resolved, That a petition be put in circulation, praying the legislature of Ohio to grant a charter to our society not embracing any restriction on account of color. This petition was granted at the next session, and the society was left to pursue its own line of policy and its work of humanity.

February 1, 1843, Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Branch, formerly teachers in the preparatory department at Oberlin, and subsequently teachers in Farmington academy, took charge of the seminary, where they remained for several years, during which the seminary was prosperous. It continued its operations till 1854.

In 1856 a new society was formed, called "The Union Educational Association," which purchased the seminary property. The proceeds of the sale were given to Hillsdale college, Michigan. Under the auspices of this society the buildings were repaired, and a school has been in operation up to 1874.

Temperance

Few towns have been freer from the evils of intemperance than Chester. The writer does not know that any person has ever been licensed to sell intoxicating drinks within the limits of the township. Such drinks have sometimes been sold during limited periods, and in at least one instance application has been made for a legal grant to engage in the traffic. But the opposition on the part of the inhabitants has usually been so strong and so general, that unlicensed dealers have either ceased the sale or carried it on in secret, after a short period; and the strong remonstrances from the citizens prevented the sale from receiving, at any time, the sanction of law. Yet, there are some facts to show that Chester has not been wholly free from this almost universal curse.

The party which surveyed the territory in 1796, in conformity to the prevalent sentiment at that early time, deemed it necessary to provide themselves a quantum sufficit of whiskey, to keep off colds and to ward off fevers. Several barrels of the article wfere brought on, and the contents dealt out with considerable liberality. As in modern times, however, some of the appetites were not satisfied except by having the ration constantly increased. Accordingly, one the barrels was secretly broached and the contents gradually abstracted by a few of the company, until the barrel was emptied, when it was carefully filled with water, and left to the supervision of the chief surveyor, Mr. Joshua Stowe. In its turn this barrel was approached, tapped on the opposite end and a quantity of the contents distributed to the company, when, of course, the cheat could no longer be kept a secret. Mr. Stowe was very much vexed, but the wit of the policy soon affected him quite as much as the dishonesty, and per- ceiving that complaint and ill-humor were likely to affect nothing in repairing the loss, he finally agreed that if some one of the company would verify the transaction, nothing more should be said about it, whereupon a waggish fellow rising to his feet, and "standing" a becoming attitude, thus delivered himself :

Whether the muses have continued to visit the town and give their inspiration to souls equally appreciative and promising; or whether they became satisfied#that they had mistaken the theatre for their influence, after having witnessed this primary effusion, is not certainly known. Probably few of the inhabitants of the town know how near Chester came to being a modern Parnassus.

The first settlers of the town were accustomed to use liquors very sparingly, but after some years came the habit of introducing them freely at "raisings." Mr. Justus Miner endeavored to check this tendency. He drew up a paper requiring that when the names of twenty persons should be obtained who would consent to the arrangement, no liquor of an intoxicating kind should be used at "raisings." The effort failed for the same reason that Sodom was not saved - the men could not be found.

In March, 1828, while raising a barn near where the seminary now stands, a little son of Lebbeus Norton, esq., unwittingly drank so freely of the whiskey provided for that occasion, as to produce his death before the next morning. This incident - as well it might - produced a strong impression on the minds of the people, and at the town meeting, held on the first Monday in April, it was voted by a large majority that hereafter buildings should be raised without spirits. This called out opposition from the few, and operated in a few instances to retard the work on such occasions - the disaffected ones declining to assist unless the stimulus was furnished. Not long after this, in erecting a barn belongingUo Mr. Oliver Ranney, after an unsuccessful effort to raise one portion, it was declared that the work could not be effected without liquor. The declaration was responded to by the father of the little boy over whose premature grave the turf was hardly grown, who declared that the bam could be raised without the liquor, and that the timbers should rot on the ground before whiskey should be brought forward on such an occasion. Many sympathetic hearts were touched, and with the energy which these fine words inspired, the timbers were grasped and the structure went up toward heaven, a monument to courage and temperance.

About the year 1829, John Roberts located near the south line of the town, and made application to the court of common pleas for a license to sell liquors, but through the influence of a remonstrance which was very extensively signed by the citizens, it was refused. He soon sold out to Orlo Judson, who began selling without license. An indictment was soon found; he was heavily fined, and the sale was stopped.

The first temperance society was formed in 1830, its pledge excluding ardent spirits except for medicinal purposes. No records of this society are at han^ After its formation an appointment was made for "raising" three houses the same day. The work was performed by the temperance men of the town, and before the day had closed the task was qompleted. One of these houses was converted into a hotel, and burned down. It stood on the southwest corner of the Cross Roads, where J. Warner's hotel now stands, in 1877; another, that of Mason Ames, near the center ; the third, that of William Pratt, one mile north of the center.

1837 - Justus Miner, esq., chairman, Hezekiah Clark, secretary - a committee, consisting of S. B. Philbrick, William N. Hudson, and Hezekiah Clark was ap pointed a committee to draft a constitution with a view of forming a total abstinence society. On the tenth of the same month, at an adjourned meeting, a constitution was reported and adopted. The pledge is almost precisely identical with the total abstinence pledges of the present day. The board of officers was as follows:

This society existed ten years. During this time it provided for the instruction of the town in facts and principles of temperance, which were successively developed both by means of lectures and temperance periodicals; discussed the subject in almost every one of its phases ; petitioned for the withholding of licenses throughout the county ; provided for the sale of alcohol for chemical, mechanical and medicinal purposes under various restrictions by temperance men, so that there should be no necessity for purchasing of those who sold it as a beverage; encouraged the young people of the town to effect an organization of their own, and made its influence felt in towns beyond its direct agency. Under date of February 23, 1847, is found the following brief but significant record: "The annual meeting of the society was duly notified by the secretary, to be held at the Presbyterian meeting-house, to-day, at one o'clock, p. m. The secretary attended ; no one else attended ; no business transacted." Beyond the page containing this announcement, the paper remains unstained.

A temperance society, called the good templars, was organized about the year 1855, and continued its operations about two years. Most of the young people of the town were members of this society.

Anti-Slavery

There are a few facts in the history of Chester which have a bearing on the great questions of human freedom, so intimate as to be appropriately referred to under this head.

At a meeting of the citizens, held on the first Monday of April, 1835, Wm. N. Hudson was appointed a committee to make such alterations in the constitution of the Geauga County Anti-slavery society' as might be necessary to adapt it to a society to be formed in this town. The following named persons were appointed a board of officers, to serve until the first annual meeting, viz:

The object of the society was defined, in the constitution, to be "to aid, by every reasonable moral means, in the abolition of slavery in these United States, and the restoration of natural rights and protection, by law, to all, of life, liberty, property, and the pursuit of happiness." The number of names found on the records of the members is somewhat above two hundred. The annual meetings of this society were held on the fourth of July, and for several years this day was celebrated under the direction of this society. At the annual meeting, in 1836, the following resolutions were publicly discussed, and adopted:

Resolved, That those of the North who would suppress the discussion of slavery, upon the plea of patriotism, deserve rebuke equally severe with Southern slave-holders.

The society continued its operations for seven or eight years, when the antislavery enterprise took on its political phase, and the associations based on moral effort, to a great extent, "fell on sleep." The Anti-slavery society of Chester did not escape this fate.

No very important Items in the earlier religious history' of the town are found recorded. Up to the year 1809 but two discourses had been delivered in the township. These were preached by Rev. Thomas Robbins, who was the third missionary ever sent to the Reserve. In 1809, Hosea Sheffield, an exhorter in the Methodist connection, came on a visit to his friends, and preached and held some meetings. Early in 1810 the Rev. Thomas Barr passed through the town, preached and urged the inhabitants to meet regularly on the Sabbath and hold religious meetings. As there was no one professing religion, and accustomed to conduct religious exercises, it was proposed that Doddridge's "Rise and Progress" should be read, one chapter occupying each exercise, and the meditation at the close of each chapter be used in the place of prayer, the congregation standing. His suggestions were carried out, with more or less advantage to the people. These meetings were continued until supplemented by meetings of another character. It was at one of these meetings that Dr. W. N. Hudson, was unexpectedly called on to pray, which he did with a great deal of embarrassment. It had been reported that he prayed in his family, hence the public invitation. This is believed to have been the first public prayer made by a layman in the township. Immediately on the completion of the school-house (1810), in the old settlement, the place was made a point for circuit preaching, by ministers who had a circuit of four hundred miles in extent.

In the autumn of 18 11, some religious interest was enjoyed, during which eight or ten persons, mostly members of the family of Justus Miner, and their associates, made a profession of religion and united in forming a Methodist class, which continued until 1828, when it was dissolved as the result of the removal of most of the members. In the autumn of 1818 another season of unusual interest was enjoyed, which resulted in the conversion of quite a number of persons, many of them heads of families, which laid the basis for the Presbyterian and Baptist churches.

Methodist Church. - For many years its house of worship, was a few rods south of the center. It grew out of a class formed in the north part of the town. It had its seasons of prosperity, like almost all other churches. For some time previous to 1875, changes occurred by which the membership waj| greatly reduced in numbers, and in that year the meeting house was removed to Russell.

Baptist Church. - The first discourse preached in Chester, by a member of the Baptist denomination, was delivered by Rev. Mr. Root, who passed through the town in 1812. The church was organized on the fourth of August, 1819,. consisting of seven members - three males and four females. On the same day five other persons were baptized and united with the church. Their first pastor was Rev. Warner Goodale, then a resident of Mentor. Rev. T. B. Stephenson commenced his pastoral labors with the church in 1828, and continued till 1840. He was followed by Rev. A. Woodard, who for a single year preached one-half the time. Rev. Lyman Wilder was then ordained and preached half the time for two years. After this Mr. Stephenson preached three years, when in 1846 Rev. Lycius Andrus took the pastoral charge for two years. Revs. J. B. Dibble and J. M. Smith succeeded him, the former serving two years, and the latter one. Mr. Stephenson became pastor again in 1851, and continued several years. The longest continuous pastorate is that of the present pastor (1877), who has served the church sixteen years. The largest number of members connected with this church at any time, is a little over one hundred. This society held its public meetings in the old log toWn-house until about 1834, when they were removed to the center school-house, which they continued to occupy till 1843, when the meeting-house was built at the center. This house was removed in 1871, and a new one built near, the Cross roads.

Presbyterian Church. - This church was organized November 12, 1819, by Revs. Luther Humphrey, William Strong, of the Grand River presbytery, and Joseph Treat, of the Portage presbytery. At its organization it consisted of three males and four females. After this no records are found till 1828, when several members of the Grand River presbytery were present, and Azariah Lyman, Stephen Bassett and William N. Hudson were elected a standing committee of the church. Rev. Urban Palmer first took the pastoral care of the church, though, on account of ill health, his labors were more or less interrupted. On the seventeenth of February, 1830, a committee was appointed to report upon the propriety of taking measures to erect a house of worship. Up to this time, and afterward till the house was completed, the meetings for public worship were usually held in the school-house. 4^ter a P^an ^a(^ been reported and modified till it met the wishes of the society, the present building was erected and dedicated early in 1835. In 1848 it was remodelled and improved. It was again remodelled in 1858.

In 1833 Rev. Mr. Swift preached for a short time to the congregation, and was succeeded by Rev. E. S. Scott. In 1835 was succeeded by Rev. E. Ward, who remained about one year. In 1837 Rev. Mr. Burbank was employed for a short period, and was succeeded by Rev. B. Page. In 1841 Rev. Alvan Nash accepted the pastorate, and was succeeded in 1846 by Rev. Mr. Backus, who, after remaining a year, was followed by Rev. M. Holmes. In 1850 the society purchased the house then occupied by Mr. Holmes for a parsonage. At the close of this year, Mr. Holmes left, and was succeeded in May, 1851, by Rev. William Dempsey, who served two or three years. He was followed by Rev. J. L. Janes, who held the office of pastor until 1868. He was succeeded by Revs. Severance and Taylor, who each served about a year. They were succeeded by the present pastor, Rev. Mr. Jones. The largest number of ^nembers the church has had is about one hundred and fifty.

Free Will Baptist Church. - It was organized June 2, 1837, by Rev. Messrs. Samuel Wise and Dan H. Miller; the number of members ten - four males and six females. Its meetings were holden for some time in the center schoolhouse, and in the school-house district No. 1. In 1838 the church secured an act of incorporation, and at the first meeting called to effect a regular and legal organization, December 1 of this year, the following board of trustees was elected, viz : S. B. Philbrick, clerk ; Thomas Philbrick, treasurer; Edwin measures were taken to erect a house of worship, which was completed and dedicated in 1840. The pastors of this church have been, among others, Messrs. Dan H. Miller, A. K. Moulton, Daniel Branch, Ranson Dunn, George H. Ball, George T. Day, Darius Woodworth, O. Blake, and R. E. Anderson.

A large number of persons have been connected with this church, many of whom have been dismissed to go abroad and exert their religious influence elsewhere. A very large company of those who came here as seminary students have connected themselves here, and at the termination of their stay have removed their connection. The largest number connected with the church at any one time is about one hundred and fifty.

Christian Church. - The organization took place in September, 1852, with thirty-seven members, and held their meetings in the town hall the first year. Soon after the organization, they took measures to build a church edifice on the public square, and in September, 1853, it was dedicated. Elders Calvin Smith, William A. Lillie, Ransom Storms, A. Burns, and others, have done the preaching. About forty members is the greatest number this church has ever had at one time. It had about that number in 1877.

Mrs. S. C. Wilder, of Chester, writes to the president of the Pioneer Historical society that there is but very little said, in the history of Geauga and Lake counties, about the settlement of the northeast part of Chester township, and wishes him to insert the following in the Chester township history:

"In 1807, Mr. Marsh, Mr. Hathaway and Mr. Robert Blair came from Massachusetts and settled on farms near the Chagrin river. Mr. Amos Satterlee came in 1815, settled on the west side uftheChagnn river, tract 1, No. 1 ; Mr. Hitchcock on the east side, tract 1, No. 10; Mr. Hathaway on tract 1, No. 20. Mr. Isaac Kingman came from Massachusetts in 1830. Winthrop Norton and Kingman built the first saw-mill in Chester, in 1830, on the Chagrin river, near lot No. 10. Mr. Kingman purchased the farm of Mr. Hathaway, and in T848 sold the farm to Mr. Leverett Barnes, the present owner, and removed to Wisconsin. Mr. Abishai Williams and Harvey Nichols came from Massachusetts in 1833 and settled on tract 1, Nos. 29 and 30. Mr. Nehemiah Prichards, ^enas Gurney and Mr. KelV^gg were pioneers in the early settlement, but do not know what year they located. Mr. James Thomson came from Maine in 1835, and settled on tract 1, part of lot No. to. William I. Wilder came from Oneida county, New York, in 1836, and purchased the farm of Mr. Satterlee, where the family still reside on the old homestead. In early times a Methodist class *as formed, and Mr. Satterlee was the class leader. For many years past there has been a good interest manifested in schools, which has resulted in usually having good schools, and many young gentlemen and ladies have been educated here for teachers."

Justices Of The Peace Post-Offices

The first post-office was established at Chester Cross Roads, in the year 1827. Dr. William N. Hudson was postmaster. He held the office nine years, and was succeeded by Dr. Alpheus Morrill, in 1836. Austin Turner was appointed in 1838; James E. Stephenson, in 1843; David Morrill, in 1845; James E. Stephenson, again, in 1848, and in 1853 Dr. William McLellin received the appointment, and the office was kept by David L. Herrick, his deputy. In 1856,

S. B. Philbrick received the appointment, and in 1859 was removed to give place to William Ames, who held the office nine months, when S. B. Philbrick was reappointed. In the autumn of i860, having been counted in as a presidential elector by the returning board, he resigned the office of postmaster, and

T. W. Scott received the appointment, and not removing the office from S. B. Philbrick's store. In the spring of 1861, S. B. Philbrick was again reappointed, and held the office until October, 1870, holding the office about fourteen years under three appointments, two expulsions, and one resignation. In 1870 he was expelled from the office, and F. F. Shaw received the appointment, and held the office till the spring of 1876, when he was succeeded by Cyrus F. Pugsley.

The post-office was established at Mulberry Corners, in March, 1852, E. O. Lyman, postmaster. On the first day of April, 1865, C. C. Shaw took the office and held it until January, 1867, when E. O. Lyman was again appointed.

Military Roster-War Of The Rebellion Battery

The above all marched with Sherman down to the sea, and returned to their homes, alive and well, at the close of the war, except Daniel Q. Reed, who was killed in the last battle of the war.

One Hundred And Fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry

John Lado\v was discharged, at Nashville, Tennessee, in ill health - the last ever heard of him. ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTH OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.

John Whitney enlisted in the same regiment ; was killed in the first battle in which he was engaged, at Perryville, Kentucky. James Beckwith died.