Claridon Township (part 2 of 2)

Frederick H. Gould, and Lovina, his wife, on the same road, came from Windham county, Vermont. They were also among the early comers, being forty days on their journey with an ox team, with two young children. The vicissitudes of their life were greater than most of those coming at that period of time. He commenced clearing land on three different places between the center and Burton, the last ot which he cleared, put up buildings, and raised a large family, which taxed all his energies to support, and helped to sustain schools and other institutions with liberality, according to his limited means* They were members of the Congregational church. He was once treed by the wrolves, who serenaded him under the branches of the tree, up and amongst wrhich he spent the night uncomfortably holding on to the limbs. The night was cold, his limbs numb and aching, and the music grating and setting his teeth on edge. At another time, when hunting for his cows, night came on with a cold rain, and after giving up all hope of getting home, he crawled under a log. Morning light disclosed the fact that he was within a few rods of his house. They were members of the Congregational church. He sold and moved to Orwell in 1846, where he died in 1876, aged eighty-four, leaving seven children. Only one - Charles, is living in this towm.

Elijah Hathaway was another of the early settlers, lived many years east of Claridon center, and subsequently, I think, in the southwest part of the tom

East of the corner, Elnathan Chace owns a farm extending to Huntsburg. He has been and- continues to be one of the leading dairymen in the town and county, has been connected in the cheese manufacturing business as long, probably, as any one in the county, and has for many years drove in lots of cows from south and west of the Reserve, for the spring trade.

Captain Theodore Ensign, another Hartland man, made his stand on the State road, north of East Claridon. His oldest sons soon located in other places in town, leaving the farm at or before his death to his son Emery, who subsequently removed to (Rock creek) Morgan, w'here a few years after he died. Captain Ensign died in this town in i860, aged seventy-four. The Ensign farm is now owned by the Gorman brothers.

Moses Stebbins, esq., bought a small improved farm on the comer of the middle east and west road to Huntsburg (the mill road), worked at the blacksmiths' trade, and subsequently sold and moved a little south of the center of the town. He was a magistrate for many years here, and was a man of excellent judgment, cautious, calculating results from causes with philosophical acumen. Martin B. Hathaway now owns the place.

George Sisson was another old settler on this road. He moved west. The farm is now' owned by Daniel Morehouse and his son, Frank* whilst James

* Nathaniel, *Asa, and * Parley Dimicks formerly lived on this road, and the descendants of the Chaces and Hathaways, with their farms, fill up the gaps not otherwise mentioned on the old State road, being one of the earliest roads established in the county.

About 1834 two bachelor brothers took up a tract of land in the northeast section of the town. They built at the intersection of this east and west with the north and south town line road, have made large clearings, and have had, I think, an ashery, steam saw-mill, cider-mill, etc., at different times. These corners have been known as Dow's corners.

t Josiah Bail built in the woods, on the above described road. He was a soldier of the war of 1812. He and his wife were hard-working people, and raised a large family, none of whom live in the town, but are scattered in various States. The old soldier lives in Chardon, and is ninety years old, living with his son, Charles, a magistrate in that town.

Alanson Bail lived in Claridon many years, raised a large family, and is now,, and has been for a humber of years a resident of Chardon. Few men knew more of the hardships and trials of supporting families with honest, hard labor than the Bail families. On that road the resident families are Parley Dimick | and his sons, Martin Durkee, and Asa Dimick*, with his son, Peter Parley Dimick.

A town line road from the nbrtheast corner of Claridon was laid out and opened to accommodate one or two settlers and the public for mill convenience.

On this road, near the corners, is located a cheese factory, which has been in successful operation for many years, receiving milk from Claridon and Huntsburg.

A new road has been opened from the corners, a little north of the grist-mill, running south to the east and west* center road near Elnathan Chace's for mill accommodations and public convenience to the railroad.

Mr. Redington Hathaway was inadvertently omitted to be mentioned in the proper place on the State road. He was one of the old settlers, an upright, steady home man, attending faithfully in his business. He died in i860, aged sixty.

Ecclesiastical History

The first settlers in the western and central parts of the township, were either members of Congregational churches east, or were identified with such societies m worship, and were strongly imbued with religious principles. They were somewhat puritanical and strict observers of the Sabbath, never forgetting the interest of religion or education. Being too few in numbers to form a church of their own, they connected themselves with the church in Burton, but the distance and condition of the road were such that it was deemed advisable to hold meetings regularly at Judge Cowles' house on the Sabath for worship. On Sunday, the sixteenth day of November, 1811, the people met "according to custom," says the record. A Rev. Mr. Harris, on his way to the Scioto valley,.

preached the first sermon ever preached in the township. Esquire Cowles was a man of considerable talent and ready speech, and usually led the meetings with dignity and propriety.

Sermons were read, and there were some good readers among the early settlers After Rev. Mr. Humphrey was installed as pastor of the church in Burton he preached in Claridon about one fourth of the time. On the nineteenth of June, 1827, a meeting was held by a goodly, number of inhabitants. Horace Taylor was chosen chairman, and Ozi Blakeslee, secretary; when it was unanimously Tesolved that it was expedient to form a society in Claridon, and a committee was appointed, consisting of Timothy Wells, Horace Taylor, and Stephen Pitkin, to confer with the society in Burton. After a mutual consultation a separation was affected, and an ecclesiastical society was formed immediately. The officers were: James Preston, Chester Treat, and Abraham Wilmot, trustees; and Ozi Blakeslee, clerk. A religious enterprise was thus inaugurated, which has wrorked regularly, until the present time, with comparatively as little friction as other similarsocieties. In the summer of 1828 Rev. Orange Lyman preached a few' Sabbaths, j On the twenty-first of September, 1828, Rev. Myron Tracy, from Vermont, ' preached with such acceptance to the society and people that a subscription was circulated, and Mr. Tracy was hired to preach for three hundred and fifty dollars per year, one third in money and two thirds in farm produce, at the current prices. In 1820 a Sabbath-school wras formed, which has continued until the present time. From the time of the formation of the society, and long before, the services on the Sabbath were held, alternately, at the houses of Cotton Kellogg and Judge Cowles, east and wrest of the Cuyahoga river. In 1821 the school district east of the creek built a school-house at Kellogg's comers, when the meetings were trasferred from Cotton Kellegg's house to the school-house.

The Congregational church was formed December 26, 1827, at which time Rev. Mr. Humphrey preached from the text " Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity." Twenty-seven members united in forming the Claridon Congregational church. During the year 1829, Mr. Tracy's labors were greatly blessed. Fifty-two persons united with the church, all except four being by profession; being mostly the result of a powerful revival of religion.

In 1830, a large school-house wfas built at the center of the towrn, when a meeting of the people in the district was called, and it was unanimously voted to tender the use of the house to the Congregational society to hold their meetings in, until counter-ordered. At the annual meeting of the society, held January 11, 1830, a committee of five was chosen to draw up and circulate subscription papers to raise money to build a church edifice. Another committee, of nine, wras appointed to select a site, drawr a draft, estimate the probable cost, and the time necessary to build it; and another committee to ascertain, and report their opinions, as to the best method of building the house. At a subsequent meeting, Cotton Kellogg, Chester Treat, and Asa Cowles were chosen as a committee on building, under whose supervision the present structure was reared. Since the erection of the church building some changes have taken place. The high pulpit has been superceded by one of modern style, with other new arrangements and repairs. The church bell now in use was purchased in 1849. Mr. Tracy continued to labor here with great acceptance to the church and people until October 8, 1834, when he received a call from the foreign missionary society of the valley of the Mississippi, to act as their agent. The matter was submitted to council, and in approving of his dismissal the statement of the council, as was put upon record, wras "that it appeared that the strictest harmony prevailed between ministers and church and people."

About four years elapsed without a settled minister, having quite a number preaching as candidates for settlement. During this period, and many years ifterwards there was an unhappy division about immediate emancipation of the ilaves, old and new school theology, Presbyterian and Congregational polity, duch resulted finally in becoming Congregational in fact as well as in name.

Rev. Marshal Eames, from Connecticut, came to Claridon in August, 1843. Re was a young man of pleasing address, fervent zeal according to knowledge, and of more than average ability. The people united heartily in his support. Re preached about five years, when, owing as it was generally supposed to his too severe labors, his health failed, and he died after a lingering illness, in 1848, aged thirty-six. The widow, Mrs. Eames, lives on the place, east of the center, where they lived at the time of her husband's death. Rev. Wm. Potter began labors here in 1848, and remained until September, 1853. Rev. E. D. Taylor came in March, 1855, and labored here until 1873. Rev. H. B. Fry preached two years, when Rev. A. D. Barber commenced here and is now laboring with acceptance to church and people this centennial year. Rev. Dr. Pratt and Rev. Mr. Page preached the longest of any candidates prior to Mr. Potter's coming. The Congregational church now [1876] numbers sixty-eight males and eightyeight females, making a total of one hundred and fifty-six.

The deacons of the Congregational church are Abraham Wilmot, Clinton Goodwin and Newton S. Kellogg. The church raised for Mr. Barber's salary eight hundred dollars. The society has since bought and fitted up a parsonage.

Methodist church. - Not being personally very well acquainted with the history of the society, I have applied to some of the leading and intelligent members of the society for information and for documentary history, which does not appear to have been well preserved, or where they have not access to it, as some of those having such in their possession have moved away. The first Methodist class was formed at East Claridon, through the instrumentality of John P. Bosley. Esquire Bosley informed me many years ago that the class first formed died out by removals and indifference; that in 1830 or '31 it was revived, or a new organization formed, and a Sabbath-school instituted. Judge Bosley promised, after he left town, to furnish me with a connected history of the churchy which T did not receive. About 1829 quite a flourishing class or church existed in the west part of the township. Not long after that there was a successful effort made to unite in a church at the center of the township. Their meetings were held in the school-house, and the church increased in numbers and influence for several years. The anti-slavery agitation and cases of discipline created some alienation, after they built their church at the center in 1840. That church edifice was built by Marcus Moffet, who was one of the efficient members of that church. In 1867 the church edifice was drawn to East Claridon, when a thorough repair was made and a steeple added.

Since writing the above date of the building of the Methodist Episcopal church at the center, from what I supposed to be good authority, I have seen Mr. Moffet, who lives in Cleveland, who says that he built it in 1839. At the request of the writer, Rev. Mr. Hunscher, the present minister in charge, has famished him with the following statistics, to wit: In 1858 the present circuit,

Sherick and B. J. Kennedy. John Paine, presiding elder, voted at the last conference not to use any but pure, unfermented juice of the grape at the sacraments. 1860-61, A. Norton and H. Callender; 1861-62, - Hollister; 1862-63, separated from Montville, A. Horton, preacher; 1863-64, H. Vance; 1864-65, George Bliss; 1865-66, J. B. Hammond; 1866-67, Thomas Radcliff; 1867-68, S. B. Torry; 1868-69, S. B. Torry (sixteen added to the church); 1869-70, D. Smith; 1870-71, B. C. Warner; 1871-72, - Fairbanks; 1872-73, S. Collier; *873-74, S. Collier; 1874-75, - Falkner; 1875-76, A. Falkner; 1876-77, E. C. Lattimer (church repaired); 1877-78, H. J. Hunscher; Moses Hill, presiding elder; eighteen added to the church. The church building debt is extinguished, and the church out of debt. Funds raised this year for church purposes, seventy dollars; for preaching, two hundred and thirty dollars; number of church members, sixty-eight; preaching every Sabbath; number of Sabbathschool scholars, sixty.

Mrs. Alden Gould informs me that when the Methodist church was formed at the center of Claridon in 1832, there were only five members composing the -class, viz: Alden Gould and his wife, S. Newel, and Marcus Moffet and his wife. John Cleater is the present class leader at East Claridon ; A. B. Knapp, superintendent of Sunday schools; A. B. Knapp, James Leslie, William Chace, stewards; A. B. Knapp, Samuel Halderman, E. H. Chace, James Leslie, John Cleater, C. Fletcher, and Lucius Merriman, trustees.

This centennial year, the Congregational and Methodist churches are the only religious organizations in the township. There is a commendable degree of harmony existing between the two churches.

A Universalist church was organized at East Claridon in the winter of 1878, -with a membership of thirty-seven. A. H. Ober, Edgar Hathaway, and Mrs. Eucy Hathaway, trustees ; Rev. McMasters, minister.

Educational

From the commencement of the settlement of the township a commendable educational spirit was manifested in establishing schools, and employing good school teachers. Lester Taylor taught the first select school in the township, and continued for winter terms, three or four years. He succeeded in prompting a number to seek for a higher education. Two sons of Deacon Taylor, Horace A. and Sherman D.; two sons of Deacon Preston, Charles and Austin; one of Childs Taylor, Horace S.; and one of Esquire Blakeslee, Samuel V., graduated at college, studied theology, and entered the ministry ; Lyman Walworth, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, and, later, Philo Pinney, who graduated at Meadville, and is a minister in the Methodist Episcopal church - a son of Elihu Pinney.

About 1832 an academy was built at the center, and good academical schools were kept there in the winter months for several years, but it was found an uphill business, Burton and Chardon being so near, and academic schools kept through the year there, the enterprise was abandoned. The old academy building, which had been built by subscription, was sold for an ashery, and drawn - away.

Stephen Wood kept a select school on the State road, and in the chamber of Brinsmade's store at the center. He was a professional teacher, taught in many -of the western. States, and graduated at Athens university, in this State.

Mr. Harvey taught a select school west of the Cuyahoga river; was afterwards State superintendent of common schools. Sherman Canfield taught at the center; was afterwards a doctor of divinity, preaching in a Presbyterian church in Syracuse, New York; and Mr. Thompson, since State grange lecturer of Illinois, with others of less note.

Common schools were established in the following order, in the different places, and log cabins built. West side of the Cuyahoga river, Ralph Cowles being the first teacher in the building; at Kellogg's corners, Emily Spencer; at the center, Laura Ann Blakeslee ; East Claridon, Mr. Preston, son of William Preston; south center, Neri Wright. Subsequently new districts were formed, and changes made in others. There are, in this centennial year, eight neat, well-painted, school-houses, well arranged for convenience and comfort. Some pains has been taken to set out trees for ornamenting small parks around the school buildings. The schools are generally kept about four months in winter and four or five in summer.

The Congregational church has had, from the early days of its establishment, an educated ministry ; or a succession of ministers who have, by their precepts and examples, encouraged educational interest. Many of them have made it a rule to visit the schools at stated periods to encourage them in well-doing. Rev. E. D. Taylor, of Troy, was about fourteen years the minister of the Congregational church in this township, and, for a long period, one of the school examiners in Geauga county; he also taught select school in Claridon, a part of the time each year, for several years.

The characteristic influences of the pioneers in any given direction, in any locality, generally continues for several generations. This is exemplified in the continuance of the efforts of the old settlers by the present generation, in supporting educational interests. The result of our educational system has been the exodus of a large number of young people every fall, in the direction of the south or west, to teach school, thus exerting a wide-spread influence; like birds of passage seeking a more genial clime, to return in the spring to pursue their usual avocations. For a rural township, it has probably furnished its full complement of scholars to Hudson, Oberlin, and the Female seminary at Painesville. Our -educational system has been very satisfactory in progressive improvement; but, owing to the decrease of scholars in the several districts, it has been of late, very expensive.

A Night In The Woods

Miss Laury Ann Blakeslee, a daughter of Esquire Blakeslee, of Claridon, was engaged in teaching school, in Munson, when there were but few families in the

Harvey, of that place, each on a horse, with one young colt following, intending to go to her father's; but alas! they were benighted and lost their path. On their wandering course they became satisfied they were moving in a circle, by noticing an object previously seen, and came to the conclusion that they might as well remain in one place, as they despaired of finding the road. The night was dark and hideous; five showers of rain fell during the night. Towards morning, as it proved, the footsteps of some animal were heard on the leaves. It moved in a circle around them. They put their horses close together, and the colt snuggled up close to its mother, as the noise of the footsteps continued in about the same orbit. They breathed laboriously, the horses trembled, and the fair riders, fearing the wild animal would come into dangerous nearness, thought they had better fly into unknown space. Spurs, they had not, but the beech whips played like drum sticks. Away they bounded through a small, stagnant stream, -and soon heard a splash in the water behind them. Looking back, they saw an animal as large as a big dog, of a grayish color, coming, and, apparently smelling the horses' tracks. The day was now dawning. They discovered the pathway, lost sight of the night before, the dreaded animal disappeared, and they arrived in safety at Esquire Hopson's, which they had left the evening previous, thinking and talking of their night's unpleasantness; but never dreaming that their experience in Munson's dark woods, through a stormy night, would ever be put into a pioneer history. Miss Blakeslee is now Mrs. March, of Chagrin Falls, and Miss Harvey became Mrs. Pike, and died some years since.

Musical Attainments

There were among the first settlers in Claridon comparatively a large number who had decidedly musical talents, which had been carefully cultivated, and which was cherished and cultivated here in the woods. It made their social gatherings pleasant, and the church music tended greatly to the edification of the congregation in connection with devotional exercises. As soon as a militia company was organized in town, a martial band of musicians was instituted and drilled with good success. The martial band association was a continuous one, receiving new impulses as the rebellion broke out. During the war it assumed greater efficiency by frequent drills for recruiting at calls for volunteers, attending the funeral of soldiers in different townships, when with muffled drums and measured tread they followed the deceased comrades (that had been brought from the front) to be laid in the "cities of the dead. They were often invited to compete for prizes with other bands, and took a banner at Garrettsville, where there were a dozen bands competing; likewise prizes at Kirtland, Little Mountain, and Chardon. A brass band now supercedes it.

Four of our young people graduated at musical colleges, to wit: Horace Treat, Josephine Treat, Franklin Wells, and Mrs. Franklin YVells. Josephine is teaching music in Missouri, and Julia Treat in California. There are other professional teachers in vocal and instrumental music. The Treats, Kelloggs, Strongs, Masticks, Rowleys, Wells, Wilmots and Rev. E. D. Taylor's families will long be honorably remembered for their services in the choir and bands.

A juvenile military company was organized, during the late war, of boys varying in ages from twelve to sixteen, well uniformed, equipped and drilled. At a dress-parade in Chardon, a ten dollar gold piece was presented to them for their soldierly appearance and accuracy in drill. The company was organized mainly through the instrumentality of Dunton Taylor, the first captain, who soon enlisted with his comrade, Sherman Rowley. They were in Banks' unfortunate Red river expedition. The young captain subsequently gained some repute as a humorous lecturer. He is now editor of a western newspaper. Willey Clark and Charley Kellogg followed him as captain of said company.

Fatal Accidents

Clifton K. Chapman was drowned in Lake Aquilla (Claridon pond), July 1872. He was the only son of Mrs. Harriet Allen Chapman, and grandson of Alvin Allen, with whom she lived.

A man who hung himself to the limb of a tree, lived with his family in the northwest part of the town, near where the railroad now passes into Hambden, and away from any road. Only one suicide - cause, intemperance.

Buildings Burned

Houses - Lot Hathaway, Lester Taylor, Martin Hewit, Judge Asa Cowles, house (then occupied by Johnson Ensign, who married Minerva Cowles), Stephen Pitkin's (where Seger Steete formerly lived), and a house built by Colonel

Barns - Robert Bosley's by lightning, and Henry Martin Wells' by lightning, and a store at the center, with goods, owned by Robert Lyon, and one at the corners in East Claridon, owned by Ermine Mastick; one owned by the Leslies, and E. Mastick & White's grocery.

Professional

Physicians. - The first was Dr. Jewett, a young man from Burton, who had lost one hand or the use of his hand by the bursting of a gun in waking up officers on a training morning. He located at East Claridon about 1832, did not succeed in business, and soon left.

Dr. Chapel who had been a surgeon in the war of the rebellion, and one of the youngest ones in the army, established at East Claridon in 1868, and gained an extensive practice and was the first to establish himself on a solid pecuniary basis.

The first shop of goods was opened at East Claridon about 1832, by Mory's Brothers. The amount of goods and capital invested were about equal to a common pack-peddler's outlay of the present time.

The small building containing the goods, stood on the southeast comer of East Claridon, and was built by a Mr. Wood from Windsor. Then followed at the above place, John M. Macintosh, about 1835, with various changes of firm: Bolster & Mclntoih, Bolster & Wells, Bolster, Kellogg & Co., C. C. Field & Charles Field, John P. Bosley and Bosley & Co., John P. Lukens & Co., the company being Hathaway & Bennett who retired in a few years, and Mr. Lukens continued in business, doing more than an ordinary amount for a country store until 1875, wben he discontinued business in that place. The Leslie Brothers commenced in . The elder Leslie continues in trade at the Luken's stand.

William K. Williston, Charles Bolster & Co., C. P. Treat, Geauga Farmers Co., and Union Farmers Co., the two latter doing, in produce and merchandise, a large business for about three years; financially a failure in a superlative degree. C. P. Treat, Robert Lyon, then Arthur Treat, and Lucretia Taylor followed,* Arthur doing business at present at the old Treat stand.

The first tavern was opened by Martin, where Esquire Knapp now lives; second, the tavern house built by Martin McIntosh on the southeast corner of East Claridon, and another built on the northwest corner, hnd kept by J. Wilkinson, and for many years previous to this, kept by John Mastick.

Mechanics

The township is a rural district, occupied most exclusively by tillers of the soil; even the mechanics, from the commencement to the present time, have generally been owners of small farms or a piece of land.

Lewis Gorman, a carpenter, came to Painesville from Hartland in 1818, and to Claridon in 1820. He bought and built, and shifted his location many times, and finally settled down for life on a farm at East Claridon.

Deacon James Preston built more good houses than any one. Rufus Hurlburt, and Thomas Talbot, who owned a cabinet shop at the center, built the Congregational church. Henry Talbot, Marcus Moffett, E. C. Belding, and Eleazer Goodwin were the principal carpenters and joiners who worked and remained long in town. Mr. Moffett built several churches in neighboring towns, and one - the Methodist Episcopal church - at the center.

The township has always been Republican, or acted in opposition to the Democratic party by large majorities, under varied names, as Whig, anti-Masonic, Free-soil, and last, Republican. The Democratic party had its rise when General Jackson first run for president, by Walter Bosley casting the only vote for the Jackson ticket. The machinery of the township government has been so satisfactorily administered that local excitements have not called out a general vote, and party lines at such elections have not been very strictly drawn.

The following persons have held the office of justice of the peace in the township: Ozi Blakesiee, Neri Wright, Reuben Bourn, Elisha White, Chester Treat, John P. Bosley, Owens Mastick, Elijah Douglass, Lester Taylor, Moses Stebbins, Orrin Spencer, D. B. Ladd, Edmund C. Belden, Sala Newell, Ermine Mastick, Almon Knapp, Corydon L. Taylor, Jason Wells,, and Robert Lyon.

The first general celebration of Independence was held at the center of Claridon on the fourth of July, 1821. A stand or platform with stumps as supporters, and logs for seats, and a booth of branches of trees with their leaves to protect the people from the heat of the sun. From north and south, east and west, the people came with baskets of nice eatables. Men, women and children all turned out It was the first pic-nic occasion that called out the people generally. Martial music and a few old muskets did good service as a substitute for cannon. Lester Taylor and Eleazer Goodwin were orators of the day. Patriotic toasts were drank, and a good supper closed the exercises of the day. Probably no more satisfactory celebration has been held, or more patriotic blood has coursed in the veins of any collection of the people on any such occasion since, in town.

Debating Club

A debating club and literary society was established here in the early settlement of the place, and became one of the fixtures in consequence of* its long continuance, debating questions of public interest - the young ladies' reading essays, which had a marked influence upon ail who attended, in giving a taste tor reading and arranging their thoughts for writing and speaking. Some of the good fathers in the church were distrustful of its tendency for good, fearing it might injure the religious interests and turn the mind to a contemplation of vain and worldly imaginations; yet the most intellectual and influential members of that church for forty years had their minds disciplined in that association, where there was more order, courtesy, and better subordination to parliamentary rules than sometimes has existed in our legislative and congressional deliberative assemblies, as the writer knows by experience in the former, and has noticed in the latter.

Hunting

Until most of the wild animals were killed or driven away, the men and boys had generally a good rifle, and knew how to use them in killing small game, such as squirrels, partridges, and turkeys. To mutilate their bodies subjected such hunters to ridicule as being "greenhorns." The bullets of experts took effect only on the head of their game. A majority of the old settlers hunted only at odd spells, except during the fall snows, which were slaughtering days in the woods, to supply the families with meat for themselves, and their nonhunting neighbors with turkey and deer. Most of the then out-door population could tell some amusing stories of adventures with the beasts of the forests, and of hairbreadth escapes, and a few of the luxury of putting up with landlord tree, and lodging in the upper story of airy rooms of branches, garnished with a profusion of green leaves, and endless numbers of brilliant stars in the background of vision. As a rule, unless driven by extreme hunger, or to protect their young, or cut off from retreat, "the fear of man and the dread of man" is apparent tvith animals to all experienced hunters and pioneers. Some nimrods there were in the country.

Timothy Tainter, now eighty-two years old, and his son Charles, now living and owning the Rufus Beard farm, on the south part of West street, have made it a professional business for many years, during the hunting and trapping seasons (after game was gone here), to hunt in the mountainous wilds of Pennsylvania, or in Michigan's green forests. They have made it a pecuniary success. They claim to have killed over one hundred wolves, some four hundred deer, and many bears. Timothy Tainter informed the writer that at one time, in hunting in the southwestern part of this county, with a Mr. Harrington, they cut a large bee-tree, with a large hollow through the upper part of the trunk, it being a mere shell and several of the large branches hollow, which, like the trunk, were filled with honey, and that he verily believed there was a ton of honey. The tree smashed up so that for some distance around the ground flowed with streams of honey, of which he had not the means of saving but little.

To show the present generation, and natural philosophers generally, something of the habits, sagacity, and generalship of wolves, I annex a sketch written by J. C. Wells, esq., one of Claridon's newspaper reporters, and published in the Geauga Republican some years since :

"Abraham Wilmot relates that one winter, when out hunting in the southwestern part of the township, he came across the track of a deer which half a dozen wolves had driven towards Gilmore's mill-pond. As they approached the pond they appear to have spread themselves out, and thus preventing the escape of the deer in either direction, drove him into the mire, where, it seems, they killed him, and then dragged the carcass back to the dry ground, and devoured it ; and here Mr. Wilmot found the well-picked bones by the side of a log, partly covered up with snow and leaves.

" I have another story to relate. Captain Paine, then living in Chardon, was one day going through the woods north of the pond in this township. It was in the winter, there was some snow on the ground, the pond was frozen, and the ice thereon very slippery. He came upon the track of a deer which had been followed by a single wolf. Crossing this, he soon came to the track of another wolf, and a little further on, still another. His curiosity became excited, and, on examing the whole ground, it appeared that about a dozen wolves had formed a line or semi-circle, and had thus driven a deer directly on to the ice of the pond, and there killed and devoured him. These wolves seemed to be aware °f the fact that on the ice every advantage would be in their favor, owing to the difference of formation in their feet from those of the deer, and had taken this method to secure their prey. Do brutes reason? Sheep-raising was then a very precarious business. Settlers were accustomed to build high and strong pens, into which the sheep were driven every night the year round. If by accident or carelessness they were left out a single night, the probability was that some would be the wolves' before morning. Owing to the extreme cunning and shyness of these wolves, and the fact of their seldom leaving the swamps in the daytime, it was a very difficult matter to destroy them. The people at length became so much exasperated against them for their many depredations, that in the year 1822 a great wolf hunt was organized, and engaged in by the people of several of the townships of this vicinity, of which I may have occasion to speak hereafter.*

Claridon Central Park

In 1870 the wTiter drew up a subscription paper, circulated it, went to the nurseries and purchased evergreens and set them out, invited the neighbors to help set out forest trees, and replenished such as died from year to year, raising funds by selling grass on the park grounds, and, in 1877, proposed to have a "Park Association" formed, which was accordingly done, and moneys and improvements were turned over into the hands of the committee. Julius Chidesterwas chosen president. The author of the enterprise declined any compensation for his services.

Burton Armstrong put up an oil mill, on Armstrong creek, which was discontinued in a few years; because the farmers thought it more profitable to keep dairies than to raise flax. From about 1835 to 1840, the dairy business became a specialty, and from i860 to 1870 and 1876, it had attained its highest figure. At the centennial year it was on the decrease, whilst the amount of butter made was on the increase.

As Mrs. Hall and Mrs. Bartlett were the first and only ladies in the county who went to Oneida to perfect their knowledge in cheese-making; and, as Mrs. Phebe Freeman Hall has continued in the business ever since, it is but just that the following testimonial of her skill and perseverance should have a place in this history :

"Dear Sir - Permit us, through you, to present to your good lady, Mrs. Hall, a fine set of silver table-spoons. The motive that actuates us is simply a testimonial of our appreciation of her untiring efforts in your behalf to have the cheese made in your factory stand among the first in the country, which reputation it has already attained in point of uniformity and sameness, and of good quality. We feel safe in saying that none in the State excel it in this peculiarity of your home factor)'. For all this, we are disposed to give Mrs. Hall the full credit. Therefore, we hope this little token of our friendship and past business relations, will be received and appreciated by yourself and lady in the spirit intended by us. "Yours very respectfully,

A cheese factory, which stood at the center of Claridon was burned. E. H. Chace & Co. now own the large and commodious cheese factory, at East Claridon, formerly owned by Armstrong & Chace. Both of the factories are used as creameries, or for cheese-making, as prices, or the weather may influence them. The butter from the west factory is sent direct to Liverpool, by the way of New York. A co-operative company have a factory in the northeast part of the township, which has been in active operation for many years.

Temperance

During several years after the commencement of the settlement of the town the families used whiskey freely as a substitute for cider, which they had been.

accustomed to in their eastern homes. Rev. Mr. Humphrey preached a radical sermon against the use of it as a beverage as early as 1820, which created a storm of ridicule and contempt. The seed was sown; it took root in a few families - notably in Deacon Kellogg's. Mrs. Amanda Kellogg was the first practical "teetotaler," and the advocacy of the new doctrine found more favor with the "mothers in Israel" than with "their lords." The opposition to strong drink increased informally until about 1828. From that time it assumed ati organic form in various societies, old, young, and mixed, under various names, until 1877, when a union society was formed. The friends in East Claridon, with the central and west part, merged their societies into one, which has been the most effectual of any organization. The officers were : Lester Taylor, president; C. Cummings, Lucius T. Wilmot, and Oscar Douglass, vice presidents; John Mastick, jr., secretary. One of the distinctive features of that reformation was that most of the speeches were from the members - from hoary heads to juveniles of eight and ten years. Esquire Blakeslee's papers say that up to 1831 "there had not been a tavern, distillery, or grogshop in the to\^n." The serpent soon after beguiled many ; but not, however, by the seductive influence of Eve.

No township tax was levied until some time after the above date, and no more efficient town officials has there ever been than when the duties were discharged gratuitously.

Agricultural Organizations

About 1832 a proposition was made by Lester Taylor to meet on a certain day -and drive in the young steers for matching, by trade, as parties could agree, thus providing a favorable opportunity to find such as would match. It met with favor, and soon embraced all kinds and ages of stock, and herds, with a good attendance of people from out, as well as in town, and closed with an address. The young folks were there, and- seemed to couple and match well for the day; but whether for life this deponent saith not. He knew not of any committees for that purpose. From such a beginning a regular organization, like farmers' fairs, was instituted.

was formed in 1852. They soon built a large hall, costing about one thousand dollars, by subscription. Hon. B. B. Woodbury was the first president, and the society had a vice-president in every township. It was carried on with much energy and efficiency for many yeats, but as it was supported by membership fees and free contributions, it created a burthen too heavy to be borne, and was discontinued. The hall is divided into rooms for township purposes generally, and elections in particular. The grangers have made a commodious hall in another part of the upper story.

Weighing Association

The Claridon Weighing association had its organization by a humorous challenge given by and accepted between Lucius T. Wilmot and Lester De Witt Taylor, in the fall of 1870. Mr. R. E. Waters reports in the Geauga Democrat , now the Republican, as follows :

"They were to weigh their calves on Candlemas day, February 2, 1871, on the wager of an oyster supper, to be given by the owner of the calf which gained the most in the interim, the matter to be decided by Colonel E. Spencer's scales, the weight of their respective calves at that time being: Wilmot's red

"In accordance with the above arrangement, L. D. Taylor, esq., invited all »ho brought forward and weighed stock on the second, to spend the afternoon of the tentl^ with their wives, at his house, and participate in the oyster supper he had won the right to furnish. His neat, cosy house, built more for the enjoyment of a convenient and pleasant home than for large entertainments, was well filled, and great was the enjoyment there. * * * As we sat down I could not help contrasting in my own mind the quantity and quality of the rations the sergeant-major was furnishing us, with those he was wont to draw and issue so carefully to the men of his company about Chattanooga, in the days of Mission Ridge and Lookout Mountain. The chief attraction seemed to be a nice loaf of cake, which adorned the center of each table, with the following in capital letters: 'Hurrah for the white calf.'"

Such was the origin of a society which is now one of the institutions of Claridon. Colonel Spencer, with his well known liberality and public spirit, did the weighing gratuitously, as has his son, Warren E. Spencer, since the colonel moved to Chardon. In connection with this weighing association it may be proper to record, that several good stock raisers from out of town drive their stock her£ at our annual and semi-annual weighings, notably, Lucius Merriman, the Hales, and Silas Beard, of Burton, and E. Tuttle, of Munson.

C. L. Taylor saw a fine Morgan stallion from New Jersey, at the first State fair in Cleveland, and he went east and bought it, thus introducing the first Morgan blood in this place. The horse was taken on to the trotting track for practice, driven by Mr. Pease, a few evenings before the annual free fair, and was brought into collision with the shaft of the sulky of another trotting horse, and instantly killed.

Cyrus Kellogg, of Kellogg's corners, in this township, raised a heifer - a full blooded Durham, strawberry roan - which weighed in Cleveland, the morning she was slaughtered, 1,640 pounds. The dressed quarters weighed 1,098 pounds; the meat on the ribs cut three and one-half inches in thickness; tallow on the caul, 32 pounds; rough tallow, 265 pounds. It was retailed in Cleveland, best pieces selling at twenty-five cents per pound, amounting in all to two hundred and forty dollars.

Of the rival calves before spoken of, Wilmot was tempted to sell his when two years old. Taylor matched his and sold them the winter after they were three years old, for three hundred dollars, the price of the pair esimated at six dollars per hundred weight, making fifty hundred weight for the pair. At the weighing, a short time previous, the brag steer weighed 270 pounds the most, leaving the big steer at 2,770 pounds.

Lucius T. Wilmot and L. DeWitt Taylor have dealt in stock more than any others in the township. Cyrus Kellogg, Wesley Nash, Julius Chidester, Owens Mastick, Robert Rowley, and Elnathan Chace, have dealt, more or less extensively, in stock.

was instituted December 3, 1850, with J. S. Cleveland, T. W. Ensign, Warren Heaton, W. Hathaway, C. C. Fields, and A. E. Ensign, as charter members. The meetings were held in the room over Royal Dow's office, at East Claridon. In the year 5,854 C. C. and C. S. Fields built a store with a lodge room in the third story. In the month of July, 1868, said store and lodge room were burned, with all the furniture and fixtures. Lodge was then held in a room of W. Hathaway's until 1874, when they built at East Claridon station, on the Painesville & Youngstown railroad. The officers for 1878 were N. E. Woodard, N. G.; E. G. Eggleston, V. G.; W. M. McCalmont, R. S.; D. B. Ladd, P. S.; and W. H. Hathaway, treasurer. Regular meetings are held Tuesday evenings of each week. They are prosperous financially and otherwise, having a good library.

Claridon Grange, No. 1187

was organized May 16, 1875, with the following charter members: C. L. Taylor and wife, E. H. Treat and wife, W. E. Spencer and wife, Clinton Douglass and wife, A. B. Wells and wife, T. D. Ladd and wife, T. C. Wells and wife, Homer Clapp and wife. The first officers were: Master, L. D. Taylor; overseer and secretary, E. H. Treat; lecturer, C. L. Taylor; treasurer, T. C. Wells. Meetings Friday evening of each week, in Agricultural hall. Officers of the grange for 1878: Master, O. C. Douglass; overseer, Homer Clapp; secretary,

The inhabitants of Claridon are almost exclusively engaged in agricultural pursuits, and would compare favorably in the moral, social and intellectual culture with the people of other rural districts of our country. They are, as compared with other communities of like occupation, a reading and a church-going people, as will be seen by the following items drawn from official statements from postmasters in the centennial year: Weeklies, two hundred and sixty-eight; monthlies, sixty-five; dailies, six - three hundred and thirty-nine. The above report does not do full justice to Claridon. Chardon village is located so near the northwest corner of the township, that a portion of the people do their post office business through the Chardon department.

The Claridonians are comparatively very free from litigation. Very few suits have been ligitated to redress, either imaginary or real grievances.

The Claridon Farmers' Club

was instituted more than twenty years ago, by a number of prominent farmers in the place, and it has, as a rule, held its monthly meetings since, and has become one of the fixtures of the town. It is divided into the gentlemen's and ladies' departments, each selecting some appropriate subject for consideration at their next meeting. In the gentlemen's course of selections, the order of nature as to seed time and harvest, is carried out with such other subjects as the circumstances and times make most advisable.

The association meets at the houses of the members, by invitation, and when the discussion and business of both branches are closed, they mingle together in social intercourse. Coffee and tea are served with abundance of eatables, such as the lady member of the house knows how to provide with substantiate and delicacies "beautiful to the eye, and good to the taste." The records of the association are well kept.

It has had a marked influence in the social, moral and intellectual improvement of the members in their varied bearings, independent of the progress in their occupations, and has exerted a happy, continuous influence in cultivating a fraternal spirit. The usual attendance will average about seventy.

Value Of Taxable Personal Property For 1 876

I have selected only a few of the taxable articles, such as are of most general iuterest The whole amount of taxable personal property is valued at $129,222.

East Claridon. - Elisha White, John McIntosh, John P. Bosley, Wanton Hathaway, Charles S. Field (appointed by Pierce in 1853, and continued until he resigned, during Lincoln's administration, holding the office over eleven years), and also Mr. Morse, and John Mastick, jr., present incumbent.

Charles Field was commissioned a member of the board of enrollment of the Nineteenth congressional district of Ohio. In a note from him he expressed a wish that the formation of a Know-nothing organization at East Claridon, " which grew in a night and perished in a night," should not be omitted in history.

Centenarian

Margaret Waters died, aged one hundred and four years and ten months; her husband, Smith Waters, died in 1857, aged eighty-seven years: there were but ten days difference in their ages. Mrs. Lucy Kellogg, the mother of Asahel and Cotton Kellogg, died at the age of one hundred years, and Mr. Jonathan Gould died, aged about ninety-nine - it was marked "one hundred" on his coffin.

The per centage of deaths in Claridon, for the last forty years, as compared with the population, will average about one and one- fourth per cent.

Vault

In the spring of 1879, the qualified electors proceeded, under the notice given, according to law in such case made and provided, to vote, yes or no, for a vault to be built in the cemetery, at the center of Claridon. There being an affirmative vote, the trustees of the township contracted for a vault to be built, during the summer, of Berea grit free-stone, which has been built under the direction of Burton Armstrong, Julius Chidester, and Lester DeWitt Taylor, trustees, and Frank Kellogg, township clerk. It has been completed to the acceptance of the trustees, and is a fine structure of the kind.

War Of The Rebellion

Capt. Harlow Spencer enlisted August 21, 1862; was wounded at Ringgold, Ga., Novembr 27, 1863; and at New Hope church, near Dallas, Ga., May 25, 1864; mustered out with his regiment at Cleveland, O., July 6, 1864; re-enlisted August 2, 1864 ; raised company F, 29th O. V. I. ; served as captain until the close of the' war. *

James B. Auxer, August 30, 1862; was wounded in the face by Guerrillas, in north Alabama, while on a gun-boat on the Tennessee river - April 13, 1864.

Ninth

John Ladd, of Charidon, enlisted in California, whilst teaching school; sent into New Mexico through to the Cherokee Indian territory; was at one time five hundred miles from any postoffice.

When the matter of several townships was prepared, and much of it had been passed over to Judge Taylor, the president, causing anxiety with the people of these townships to have it in history, Burton was still unwritten. The vicepresident of the society for this township, the Rev. Dexter Witter, waiting for more strength of body, had not ventured upon the work. When the vote of the Historical society decided in favor of publication, the precarious condition of his health forbade further hope of his writing. In the emergency, the society's committee cast about, and the lot fell to the present victim. With mind averse to it, and great distrust as to competency, he finally engaged to try.

To find dates and facts of the first years, required time for seeking out from hidden and hopeless ways, and for comparing over and over again, every side and shade of story, and swift was the conviction, that the road to historic truth was slow and "hard to travel." It would not do to go around obstacles, or climb over them. Each blockade must be removed, and the pathways back into the dim past, some ten or fifteen years beyond most of the other township settlements, be cleared of the "slashing" and wild growth of years long forgotten, and only now traditional.

The township writers, many of them without practice in the beginning, have each had experience and trials alike, and they will no doubt accredit the writer more generous excuse for the seeming long delay, than many who know nothing of the research and inquiry necessary to such a work.

Thanks to those interested in the book who have waited so patiently. The writer, in saving further delay, is forced to risk his part going to press in its crude state, as it came first from the pen, without revision or re-writing. It will lack in finish and in style ; and may not be clear of a repetition. If fact or incident, or story of the past, or of the lives that are gone, shall be preserved, and some of the truths of the present be reached, it may be of some good, as a tribute to the memory of the fathers, and has come most kindly from the heart, in tracing back along the Record of their lives.

The many friends who have aided in the gathering of facts, I would not forget, but thank them, and particularly the venerables Elijah Hayes, Colonel Stephen Ford, and Rev. Dexter Witter; and also Rev. Charles Cutler, the Hon. Peter Hitchcock, Almon Carlton, and Caleb Fowler; and the younger gentlemen, Herbert Hitchcock, Edward Truman, Albert Thrasher, Frank Parmele, and William H. Suava ; and especially Professor Charles H. Welton, who spent time in writing and copying. Thanks to Judge Kinsman, of Warren, for the kindly loan of his copy of the Kirtland diary. W. J. F.