Cuyahoga Falls City (part 5 of 6)

Between 1815 and 1820, Ben Haines. a son of Dan Haines and a brother of the pioneer preacher, built a rude grist-mill on the Tusearawas, near the place where the Steese Coal Railroad crosses the river, and on the David Jones farm. The dam crossed the valley where the road now runs. The old race can still be had he attended strictly to it, but it soon run down, and at last, for a number of years, he occupied himself in studying on " perpctual motion," that bane of many inventive geniuses.

A story is told of Ben's " machine" which we | do not vouch for. but give as we heard it: At | one time the builder thought he had succeeded ; with accelerated speed. until the men who had been called in ran out as if to save their lives, for the * machine' became wild, and made a Old Ben himself became frightin an unfinished condition until the feeder came in there and their dam was built just below, which backed the water on them and spoiled the site.

The first frame house is said to have been built by one of the Allens, on the road to Middlebury, and it was the wonder and admiration of the young people of several townships, some of whom made trips of a dozen miles to see it.

Of the early schools very little can be said, except that the houses were rude log structures, with a great fire-place in one end built on the outside, after the fashion of the day. The benches were made of logs split in halves and legs put in on the round side, while the split side was smoothed up with an ax. Not a plane ever touched them, and they were not the most mills. or to the Emerley mill in Franklin Township. at the foot of Turkey Foot Lake. This latter mill site was destroyed when the reservoir was constructed. but in 18+42. or thereabout. the State mill was built. utilizing the overflow from the reservoir and furnishing better accommodations to the farmers of this section. The first saw-mill was the one built by Abram Falor. on "Falor Run." before. Another early mill was one built by Daniel Rex. a little west of the feeder dam, which supplies the reservoir on the Tuscarawas River, near Steese's coal bank. Another was in process of construction at quite an early day a little above this. the old race of which can still past " Wesley Chapel." This was built by John Buchtel, Sr., taking the water trom the river just back of "Wesley Chapel" Cemetery. It run west some half a mile, and discharged again into the river near the place where the railroad of Stambaugh, Tod & Co. crosses the river. But this necessary to resort to bent pins, the schoolboy's device, in order to produce a sensation, for all that was required was to pinch some one and get him to slide along the bench. Some of the bad boys are said to have lined the seats of their pantaloons with large pieces of leather for their protection, both from the roughness of the benches and the roughness of the teacher's ferule. There were no fine desks with all the furniture of a modern schoolhouse, but simply these benches, along which the children ranged themselves. and which had to serve the double purpose of seat and desk, each pupil piling his books and slate on the seat beside him. These seats of learning were in the midst of the forest, near some road (or path, along which the settlers expected to make a road some time). Tbe pupils gathered from all directions, coming through the woods by paths known only to themselves, crossing the streams on logs or fallen trees. On one occasion, in time of high water, a family of some half a dozen children, were crossing on a fallen tree when the youngest, a little girl, becoming dizzy, fell into the rushing water and was being whirled rapidly down stream, when in plunged her older brother, who swam lustily after her, finally capturing her some rods below, bringing her safely to shore ; after which they hastened on to school, instead of going home again, and dried their clothes by the fire in the schoolhouse. This shows that even the consternation in a whole neighborhood to-day. : who read this sketch, as having rendered gratuitous service to their fellows in some of the various capacities. Some yéars ago, a fine are now, as to the exact place of holding elections, which were held here and there to suit There was an early schoolhouse in the woods on what is now the Sol. Renninger place, on the road just west of the Gregg place.

1840, when Summit County was erected, and Coventry, with nine other townships. was taken from Portage County. Two of the early officers of this township are still living, viz., Avery Spicer and Talmon Beardsley ; possibly many above the canal, at the famous * Waterloo Grocery." Here now the town meetings and elections are held. When we seek to understand the whole sig-

' nificance of a recital of the facts and incidents | relating to these previous generations, we must bear in mind that we owe to these same people _ roundings. and consistent in all respects. They were neither ahead of. nor yet behind the age in which they lived. It would not become us to belittle their labors : but rather should we extol them. for they underwent the hardships. while we reap the harvest and enjoy the benefits ; they strove to make tolerable the path in life along which they were to travel, while we strive to enjoy the many advantages which are ours. not as the result of our own exertions. but because our lot was cast in the middle of the nineteenth century instead of a century before.

BOSTON TOWNSHIP - ORIGINAL PROPRIETORS - TOVPOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY - ORGANIZATION AND FIRST SETTLEMENT - COUNTERFEITING AND UNDERGROUND RAILROAD - GROWTH

T is not generally known, even by those living in the northeast corner of the State, how the land of the Western Reserve became parceled out among its various owners, or how it came to pass that citizens in Connecticut sometimes found themselves in possession of serve. Accompanying this volume will be found a detailed description of the manner in which this was accomplished. erly stated here that the lands of the Reserve were divided into 400 shares, valued at 33.000 each, and that residents of Connecticut could purchase, if their means were limited. a frac- *Contributed by W. A. Goodspeed.

And Cherches

to purchase one township, or perhaps one share. The members of the company would decide among themselves as to their order of choice out of the tract purchased. Some townships were " equalizing townships. ° is, inasmuch as they were inferior to the aver-

Boston

Boston was an "equalizing township." It was divided into three tracts (and perhaps others) which were attached to other townships. It was decided by a committee appointed for the purpose, that, from the fact that Boston was crossed by the Cuyahoga River, and by ranges of steep bluffs which could never be cultivated, it was unequal to the average, and it was accordingly distributed to others. Tract 1, lying in the northwest corner, was attached to Eaton Township, Lorain County, and was owned by Judge Jared Kirtland, Mr. Blinn and others. Tract 2, in the southwest corner, was attached to Columbia Township, Lorain County, and was owned by a company of five men, as follows: Harmon, Levi and Azor Bronson, Calvin Hoadley and Jared Pritchard. It is not remembered how the land east of the river was divided and owned, except that Heman Ely possessed the greater portion. When Tract 1 was surveyed by its owner, Judge Kirtland. it was found to have a surplus of 200 acres ; whereupon he instructed his surveyor, Alfred Wolcott. to survey Tract 2, and this was found to have an excess of 400 acres.

sibility of equalizing the two tracts, by severing 129 acres from Tract 2 and attaching them to Tract 1. This equalizing tract was soon afterward sold to Robert and Thomas Brannan. a barrel of whisky being given in part payment. But, when Harmon Bronson came to | the township and found a portion of his land occupied and claimed by the Brannans, he commenced an action of ejectment, and, after considerable annoyance, succeeded in having of the summer sun, threw off noxious vapors to poison and contaminate the air. A large portion of the township was cut by narrow, deep gorges and ravines, that were overhung by precipitous ridges and hills, covered with a heavy forest, and having a heavy, sterile soil that gave no word of encouragement or promise to the backwoodsman. The woods were filled with wild animals, and, what was equally a cause for apprehension of danger, bands of Indians were near that might begin the work of slaughter at any moment. Markets and mills were miles distant, and the journey by team through the woods was rendered so slow and harassing by reason of mud and fallen timber, that the distance was practically doubled. It became evident - painfully so - that the settler must rely largely upon his rifle to supply his family with, very often, only the bare necessities of life. Thus was the settler surrounded with discouragements, disappointments, and apparently unending future privations. But he fortunately possessed unbending resolution, dauntless courage, and incredible hardihood, and the pleasant homes we have to-day were founded by him.

It is well to nctice the topographical and physical features of Boston before proceeding further with its settlement and improvement. | It is five miles square, with the exception of about | three hundred acres, which a number of years ago, were taken from the center of the northern side | and attached to Northfield for school purposes. | The Cuyahoga enters the township from the | south, about a mile east of the southwest cor- | ner, passing in a zigzag course to within about | half a mile of the center, thence flowing west | of north and leaving the township one mile | and a quarter east of the northwest corner. | The river valley varies in width from a few | rods to a mile, and though now almost wholly | cleared and under cultivation, was once heavily - timbered and extremely wet. The valley is | skirted with precipitous bluffs, which can never | be used except as grazing land, and which extend back from the valley more than half a throughout the township, more especially along the river, where inexhaustible beds of splendid , stone abound. Along the river in the northern ~ part the Erie shale is exposed, while in the eastern part where the Waverly group first comes to the surface, ledges of sandstone con- glomerate rise perpendicularly above the surrounding country, in some cases sixty or seventy feet. These ledges stand isolated and alone, far separated from their kindred strata, monuments to the eroding effects of time. Numerous small streams enter the river from the east, among which are Salt Creek, Richey's Run, Haskell's Run, Peninsula Run and Stanford's Run. The principal ones from the west are Oil Run, Slippery Run and Furnace Run. | A few small tamarack swamps were to be seen | in early days in different parts of the township. _ but these have been drained, and a few of them are now under cultivation. When the ' settlers first came to the county, a tract of ' land comprising thirty or forty acres, lying in | the valley on the east side of the river a short distance below the center..was cleared of trees, ' and was under cultivation. It was an Indian | corn-field, and it is stated that in about 1804. _ settlers living in Hudson went to this field and _ purchased corn of the natives. How long the ' field had been under cultivation is not known. A few stone implements, evidently used in till- ' ing the field. are occasionally turned up by the plow. Long before the whites came into the | Northwest Territory, Boston was the site of | large Indian villages. the evidences still remain- | ing of their humble habitations. Going hack . still farther - back to an unknown age of the | world - that peculiar, mysterious people known as Mound-Builders, whose gigantic earth and _ stone works excite so much curiosity and spec- ' ulation, dwelt in the valley of the Cuyahoga. ' as is shown by the mounds. sacred, military and festival, which are scattered along the ' bluffs on either side of the river. What these _ two races had to do with Boston will be found. ; so far as known. in a separate chapter of this _ work. One thing is certain. when the whites first came to the county, the Indians under Ponta were stilled encamped about half a.mile _ north of the village of Boston, on the west side of the river. Half a mile south of this | camp, on the same side of the river, the chief of the Ottawas - Stigwanish - was also encamped with a few of his followers. A detailed description of these camps, and many interesting incidents connected therewith. will be found in the chapter above referred to. We now come to the first settlement made by whites in Boston Township. On or about the Ist of March, 1806, Alfred square, and of barely sufficient height on the interior to insure safety to the heads of the inmates. This building was erected on the present site of the Boston Village cemetery.and was intended to be occupied only until the men had

Hudson until suitable cabins for their occupancy had been erected by the husbands. These three men * bached" and did their own cooking. except bread. which was brought by one of their number about once Hudson. the nearest settlement. No ditticulty was experienced in procuring venison. wild turkey. squirrel, and occasionally a piece of bear steak. Within about two months.

locating on the farm. stating that she was apprehensive of sickness from the proximity of a disagreeable swamp lying just south of where the cabin must be built. This objection induced the fond husband to reverse the injunction of the bridal vows. and to exchange his farm for one owned by latter being willing, as. notwithstanding the presence of the swamp, « fine spring of pure water was discovered' on the premises.

with them their niece. a young lady named Kleanor Ashcroft, wio came out to keep house for thein. One cabin was erected. in which all these relatives r-sided. James Stanford owned land on Lot 41. This was sold to a man named David Cohoon, who. so far as can he learned, did not reside in Boston. although he owned land there. These were the first settlers in the township. After this they con- tinued to come in about as follows, although the dates are not absolutely correct: Henry Post, Isaac and Jacob Ozmun, Moses Cunningham, William Beer, Aaron Miller, Andrew.

Jacob Morter, Samuel and Abraham Miller and John G. Mallet came prior to 1810; Samuel Brown, William Brown, Jonathan Williams, Erastus West, William Craney and others by 1812; Elizur Loveland, John Britt, William Brannan, Robert Wallace, John Robinson, James Dean, John Menough, Abial Hovey, Watrous Mather, Ephraim Moody, Drake, Alexander Metlin, James Fitch, Uriah Singletary, came prior to 1820, and the most of them about 1814. There also came in previous to 1830 the following: Jesse Thompson, William Collier. Daniel Collier, Joseph Lamb, Ichabod Lindley, Thomas Carter. Edward Coyn. John L. Butler. Samuel Coffin, W. L. Richards, John A. Ackley. William Downs, Elisha Mather, William McCreary. Henry Burnam, H. T. Avery. Thomas Whelen. Nathaniel Parsons, William McBride. James Brown. J. A. Clapp, found the township records: * The inhabitants | of the township of Boston, having met at the | ; | first inhabited by wandering hunters, who loved | chosen Capt. Abraham Miller, Chairman, and | | settlers above referred to caught but a momen- | tary glimpse, as it were, of these roving hunt-

Andrew Johnson and Isaac Bacon, Judges of the township election, and after being sworn as the law directs, the following gentlemen were elected: Alfred Wolcott and Moses Cunningham, Justices ; William Beer, Clerk ; Aaron Miller, Andrew Johnson and Timothy Bishop, Trustees ; Jonathan Iddings and Isaac Bacon, Overseers of the Poor; Lancelet Mays, Treasurer ; and James Jordon, Constable. Although this election was held in accordance with the order of the Commisioners, yet the term of office could run only until the following April. at which date the following additional officers were elected: Alfred Wolcott and James Stanford. Fence Viewers ; Moses Cunningham and William Beer, Listers; Aaron Miller, John Cunningham, James Stanford and Isaac Bacon, Supervisors ; Robert Donaldson, Constable, and | John Duncan, Treasurer. When Boston was first created, and its earliest officers duly elect- | ed, Northfield and Richfield were attached to it | for election purposes. This will explain why - some of Boston's first officers really resided in those townships. The propriety of creating Boston into a separate township began to be discussed as early as 1807. It was about this time that James Stanford, Alfred Wolcott, Samuel Ewart, John Teale, William and Adam would soon be created. Mr. Ewart modestly - suggested Ewartsville: Mr. Wolcott thought - Wolcottsburg a much more euphonious cogno- | men ; the Vances, Stanford, and the others were silent. though it was clearly perceptible that no name yet proposed was satisfactory. Finally | Mr. Stanford said: "Suppose wenameit Boston, . This proposition seemed to please all present, and the § name was adopted. Thus the township had its iams, who lived for short periods in several of the townships. successful in his hunts, but perhaps the most distinguishing element of his character was the intolerable, murderous hate he bore the Indians. He lost no favorable opportunity to shoot them down without 1 moments hesitation, and, in consequence, was feared and shunned by them. His constant companions were his two dogs and a long-barreled rifle that carried a ball weighing nearly an ounce. His dogs were so thoroughly trained that they with leggings and moccasins, and always took pains to have his clothing so harmonize with the color of the forest that the Indians or game could not easily see him. He wore a buckskin blouse, serrated in front and pordered with a fringe of otter skin. He was swarthy-complexioned, and it is reported that Indian blood ran in his veins, his rifle. To account for his hate for the Indians, the tradition is that all his relatives were murdered by the Indians before he came to Ohio, in consequence of which he is said to have sworn "to kill them just as long as be These reports are all incorrect. On one occasion some trouble arose between' the regarding a horse trade that had been made. An Indian, to retaliate for some real or supered their pursuers and continued their flight westward, but were overtaken in Bath and one of them named Nicksaw, a harmless and innocent old Indian, was instantly shot by Jonathan of his hostility toward the Indians. Williams, with his two dogs, went to watch a deer lick in southern Boston. He remained there all night without meeting with the desired success. Just as the gray light of coming day began to steal through the forest, his dogs became uneasy and restless, and eyed a small thicket near by, in such a manner that Williams knew that something more than usual was concealed there. He peered cautiously through the leaves, and. indistinctly. saw the shadowy form of some large animal crouching behind a small bush. His dogs remained obediently at his side, and raising bis ritle he fired at the animal. A thrilling scream rang eut on the morning air, and the animal bounded off through the woods, swiftly followed by the dogs. which had been told to *go." The animal ran up a tree, and Williams, hurrying forward. discovered a large panther crouched on a limb about thirty feet above his head. He had lost all bis rifle balls except one. This was discharged at the panther, but only a slight wound was made. as it was yet quite dark. and the animal was partly concealed by the limb. The hunter, at tirst, was at a loss what to do; but, finally, he cut a branch that would about fit his gun barrel. The limb was cut up into plugs about an inch long, and with these hastily-improvised bullets, Williams continued firing at the panther. A settler, named Carter, living near by and hearing the reports. started out to ascertain the cause. He came to the spot, and. handing his rifle to Williams. who was standing in a favorable position, he told the latter to One shot was sufficient, and the panther tell dead to the ground. It proved to be one of the largest of its species. and is

The latter were joined by Jonathan Williams when they reached Boston. The Indian culprits discovtip." Its hide was cut in numerous places by the wooden bullets fired at it by Williams.

often joined Williams in his hunts. When these two hunters " put their heads together," they rarely failed in killing whatever game they desired. Owens had no particular antipathy of their sport was turned, without question, over to Williams. These two hunters often went on long expeditions to sections of the country that were wholly unsettled, and, when they returned, they were loaded with valuable hides -

It was in this township that the Indian chief, Seneca, erected a wooden god, which was worshiped by his followers for many years prior to the advent of the settlers. When the Indians removed farther West in about 1812, this god was taken with them. It was probably their god of war, as they held feasts and war-dances to propitiate his favor, just before starting on their marauding expeditions. On these occasions, an offering of tobacco was hung around the neck of the god, and as soon as the Indians were gone, some of the settlers whose taste for tobacco was stronger thin their respect for the Indian deity, would steal forward and appropriate the dried leaves of nicotiana tobacum. It is said to have been excellent tobacco.

In 1814, the township was quite well settled. Cabins arose along the valley of the river and on the neighboring highlands, and the forest was disturbed by the busy hum of human life. Forests went down with a rapidity, which, if continued a few years, would entirely disrobe the land of its primeval covering. Wild animals became fewer and fewer, and soon none but were compelled to abandon the township, and depart for homes farther westward. Roads were laid out and cleared, that, in after years, were to be pressed by the feet of distant descendants of those who first worked them. The | years rolled slowly by, fraught with mingled |

' cott, is said to have been the first white female _ child born in thetownship. Her birth occurred - April 14, 1807; she married Sherman Oviatt, and lived for many years in Hudson. The first male child born was Andrew J., son of James Stanford, his birth occurring March 27, 1806; and Alexander I., his brother, was born May 21,1807 It had heen generally thought that Henry Post, Jr., whose birth occurred | _ April 8, 1809, was the first white male child - born in Boston, but this is a mistake, as shown one to die in the township ; her death occurring June 9,1808. Henry Post raised the first crop of wheat in the township; this was in 1807. On July 29, 1812, William Carter and Elizabeth Mays were united in marriage, it being the first. Soon afterward, during the same year, Israel Ozmun, of Boston, was married to Susan Mallet, daughter of John Mallet, of Richfield. Abner Robinson was what was known in early years as "a poet." He could compose " poetry" on all occasions and subjects, and took special delight in immortalizing any wrong doing, in verse. Two of his neighbors were guilty of stealing hogs; and this fact, coming to the public ear, induced some young men to hang a hog's skin at the door of one of the men, and a hog's head, with eyes protruding, at that of the other ; whereupon Robinson evolved the following : '"There is a man on Furnace Run, Who keeps a dog, but not a gun.

'We will steal hogs while others pray.' "' On another occasion, in a trial before Justice , Chaffee, when Judge Bliss was opposing counsel to Abner, the latter gave the following impromptu adverse decision :

On yet another occasion, when Jacob Morter, whose reputation for honesty was on the wane, asked Abner Robinson and Robert Mays, the | "poet," of Richfield, to compose some verses | on the occasion of his presentation to them of a gallon of metheglin, they responded as follows:

«« Abner Robinson and Rob Mays Are truly worthy of great praise ; For what a neighbor does that's wrong, Like two d - d fools, theyll tell in song.

"Thus, Jacob Morter, it is said, Steals all the corn that makes his bread ; And while his neighbors are asleep, He prowls about and steals their sheep," ent parts of the State, many of whom suffered | the extreme penalty of the law. The gang was | at last broken up and it members scattered | over the country to repent at leisure for their | misdeeds. It is stated that some of the most - honored men in the county and in Cleveland - were so connected with the unlawful business as | to share its profits without incurring any of its | For many years after the gang was broken up. dies. counterfeit money. and various ~ implements used in the manufacture were found in the ravines, and even in the houses of some of the citizens. There was scarcely a resident of the township who was not tempted to pass the coin and bills. On one occasion, a man with a valise came to Mr. Wait, now living . in the northern part of Northampton. and asked him if be would purchase counterfeit bills on the State Bank of Indiana, at the same time opening his valise and showing it packed full of those bills. He offered them for sale at 25 cents on the dollar; but Mr. Wait informed him that he had come to the wrong man, and the fellow departed to try his scheme on some other person. About twenty-five years ago. when a

_ they contemplated visiting the Old World and even China, where they expected to exchange their money for the products of those countries. | These products they expected to ship to dis- / tant points to be sold. Their anticipations. however, were doomed to encounter reverses and rebuffs. They proceeded as far as New Orleans, | where they were detected and arrested. One | of the men died in prison in the latter city; an citizens was torn down, a small leather bag filled with counterfeit coin in dollars and halfdollar pieces. amounting to more than a hunthe » edge of the roof. In the eastern part of the township are numerous sandstone ledges. which and was one of its most intelligent and influential citizens. Several of his descendants are yet living in the county, and are highly moral and upright people. Another one of the offenders died in the Ohio Penitentiary in 1838. Still another was sent to the same place from | Liverpool Township, Medina County. He also died there. Others were prosecuted in differ- implements. evidently used in counterfeiting, were found a number of years ago. A creat many other interesting incidents might be narrated, if lack of space did not prevent.

Of course, the fruit was none of our grafted | and improved varieties, but was no doubt produced from seed obtained at some of the | frontier settlements. This was the oldest orch-

The settlers, when they first came in, usually drove a few head of cattle, hogs, and, perhaps, sheep ; but the latter were found too tender to withstand the trials brought upon them by a home in the wilderness, and usually died - those that did not furnish a repast for the wolves and bears. A team of horses was usually brought, although many a settler came to the forests of Ohio with nothing save his rifle and his ax. When Abial Hovey appeared in the township he had no horse, and was told that he could have one by purchase from William Beers. But Mr. Hovey told Mr. Beers that buying the horse was impossible without

| 'bee,' and get your neighbors to help you,' suggested Beers. This seemed feasible and to the point, and Hovey at last consented. The day appointed for the "bee" came and went. and the land was cleared, and the horse paid for. Some time afterward, when Messrs. Beers and Hovey, whose land adjoined, were fixing the line between their farms, the land as above

" Let's take a drink.' All controversy or dispute was prevented by the " devil-may-care influences of King Alcohol. How different | would be the course pursued to-day! A knockdown would be very likely to occur, followed by law-suits which would swamp horse and land. and create everlasting enmity. In after years, William Beers was a great friend of the escaping slave, and assisted many of them in reaching Canada. One named Lewis Boler came from Kentucky. and not fearing pursuit hired out to Beers. with whom he remained a year or more. Finally. his master appeared. | but meeting with decided rebuffs from Beers, he resorted to the plan of coaxing his slave to | return with him to Kentncky. But the wily push for Canada, which he accordingly did, arriving there in safety. Another escaping slave named Sandy came to Beers and obtained employment. His master came on and made all sorts of promises to induce him to return to the South, offering to make a "boss"' or overseer of him, and to make him a present of a dog and a beautiful white pony. Sandy could not resist all these offerings, and returned with his master.

In 1824, a dreadful fever (probably typhoid) visited the country along the Cuyahoga River, and swept off about a score of old settlers - those who had reached advanced ages and the exception of a few cases of this kind, the township has ever enjoyed good health. In the year 1830, there were living in Boston five persons of ahout one hundred years of age. These were Henry Brown, Andrew Johnson, Thomas Brannan, Eleazer Gillson and Eleazer Mather, the first three being Irishmen. Brown

Four or five cheese-factories have been in operation since comparatively early times. One is now owned by Mr. Straight. of Hudson, and, during the summer season, twenty-five or thirty cheeses, of about twenty pounds' weight each. are manufactured daily and shipped to Cleveland and other points.

The building now occupied by Alanson Swan at -Johnnycake." or Everett, was built by Henry Iddings before 1820. and was the first in the village. Mr. Swan bought the Iddings property soon after the opening of the Ohio Canal. Mr. Swan's farm was increased until

David Baxter & Son owned this store for a number of years, as did also Ansel Hardy, L. J. Mix, Mr. Richardson, Henry Monroe and others. Swan also repurchased the property and sold it again two or three times. The stock was increased until it was worth probably $2,000. Elihu Chilson opened a small store on land belonging to the State, near the canal lock, as early as 1838, but this never amounted to much. In 1842, Mr. Swan erected a warehouse on the canal in the village, and began buying corn, oats, hay, etc., to be fed to the horses and mules used in drawing the canal-boats and packets. A large stable, or barn, was erected. where the canal horses were fed and groomed. The packet company failed, and, in consequence, Mr. Swan lost several hundred dollars. The creditors of the company at the village attached the packet horses, but Mr. Swan refused to do this, and, in vonsequence, lost what was due him. When it is remembered that nearly three hundred horses were fed by Mr. Swan, it will be seen that the business undertaken was on an extensive plan. Alexander Stewart bought the greater share of the Swan property about ten years ago, though the latter yet retains the old homestead, and lives there at an advanced age. Before coming to the State, Mr. Swan was licensed to and, ever since living in the township, he has been identified with religions «nd moral improvement and growth. He deeded all his property except the homestead to his children, and can now sorrowfully say with King Lear :

'""You heavens, give me that patience I need ! You see me here, you gods, a poor old man, As full of grief as age; wretched in both! If it be you that stir these children's hearts Against their father, fool me not so much To bear it tamely ; touch me with noble anger! eh eee OUL OK lleween

The village has been called « Johnnycake " since 1828. In the spring of that year, a flood in Furnace Run swept into the canal and stopped navigation, and the crews and passengers were compelled to live, water-bound, as best they could. They were at last reduced to jobnnycake, which constituted their diet for a number of days. It has even been asserted that one baking of johnnycake early in the morning furnished the ravenous passengers with their only warm daily meal. The cake was warmed up for dinner and served cold for supper. However, there are probably some mistakes in these early traditions.

Since the advent of the railroad, the village has somewhat revived. Its present name was bestowed upon it in honor of an officer of the road. It was also at one time called Unionville. Evidences of oil appearing near the village in 1865, several members of Cleveland and New York oil companies appeared, leased the land where the oil was discovered. and began boring for oil. The land was leased upon the conditions that the owner was to have from one-fourth to three-fourths of the oil produced. The terms of the contract were much more satisfactory and promising than the quantity of oil obtained. Oil was found in very small quantities. On a small creek near the sandstone ledges, Norton & Taylor began manufacturing salt at an early day. The brine was price. exchanged for a good cow. Abial Hovey was also connected with the salt works, as were several others ; but the quantity of salt capable of being produced was limited, and, as the works proved unprofitable, the manufacture was discontinued.

Probably the first building in Peninsula village was a log structure built on the east side of the river, near where Abel Thompson resides, by Alonzo Dee, in about 1818. Not far from the same time, John Robinson. James Brannan and one or two others built at or near Peninsula. Brannan was located a halfmile west of the village proper ; though, owing to the fact that the corporation includes some 2,000 acres, the building was really within its limits. Other houses were added; and very likely during the building of the Ohio Canal, a tavern and one or more stores were located, at least temporarily, in the village. However, Peninsula had its real beginning side of the river. James Fielding was also there about the same time, with $1,000 worth of goods. Charles Curtis began about 1838 or 1840. He owned a good store, and made money. It was discovered that the way he got rich was by selling ''O-P" goods (those costing 45 cents) for $1. He evidently was not residing in the village merely for his health. He began with some $2,000 worth of goods, and very soon succeeded in doubling his capital. William Haskell opened a store with a stock valued at $2,000, not far from 1843. Fielding sold out and left in 1836. Curtis continued until 1849, when he sold to Wood, Cole & Co. These men are yet in business in the village, though the partnership was dissolved many years since. Mr. Cole died, but his sons succeeded him in the business. In 1838 or 1840, Adams died, and his goods were closed out. Merrill Boody began with a general store in about 1858, and continued until about three or four years ago. Others have sold goods in Peninsula at different times, though those mentioned are the principal ones. There are at present three groceries, two hardware stores, two dry goods stores, two tin-shops, a barbershop, a meat market, a harness-shop, and several shops the nature of which is difficult to ascertain. Hermon Bronson, two years after reaching Peninsula, built a warehouse about thirty-five feet square and two stories in height, and began buying pork, cheese, lard, butter and grain, which were shipped by boat to Cleveland. This was continued until 1835, when Mr. Bronson sold out to Janes & Thompson, who, at the expiration of five years. retired, leaving the warehouse business in the hands of Charles Curtis and Wood, Cole & Co. The village has had for many years a brisk traffic in coal, timber. stone. etc. In the year 1826. Herman Bronson built a saw-mill on Slippery Rock Run, a small stream which empties into the river at the village. The mill was a rough frame structure, located on a short race fed by water from adam a few rods above the mill. The capacity of the mill was about two thousand feet per day. years, and then the machinery was removed to a building erected on the river in the village. At this point Bronson and Dee built a log dam across the river, which is yet standing, though it dam. It was operated by Mr. Bronson until 1835, when it was purchased by Janes & Thompson, who, in 1843, sold to Mr. Holcomb, and he, a few years later, to William Wetmore. This mill was located on the west side of the river. But at the time of its erection Alonzo Dee, who had an interest in the dam, also built a saw-mill on the east side, and continued operating it some four years, when it was claimed by Mr. Haskell, who had purchased the land upon which the mill stood. Dee had built his mill on land owned by Mr. Ely, one of the origina' proprietors of that portion of the township east of the river, and when the land was purchased by Haskell, all the fixtures and appurtenances thereof came into the ownership of the latter.

which remained in the possession of the Haskell family until about ten years ago. It is now owned by Otis Fitts. The river makes a wide detour at the village, and comes back to within: fifty feet from where it started. A fall of about eight feet is thus created at the neck of by Mr. Bronson, who, in 1832, tunneled through about fifty-two feet, and built a grist-mill which is yet in operation. power is thus secured, which is very valuable, in view of the fact that the dams along the river require constant watching and a vast amount of labor to prevent being washed away.

the river already referred to. village was recorded at the county seat. In 1866, Mr. Bronson made an addition of many lots, which was also recorded. Mr. Haskell a number of lots on the east side, was erected in 1820, and was a frame dwelling | house. | grist-mill were erected on a dam that was built | | across the river, on the site of the village. _ Watrous Mather built the dwelling and the | _ saw-mill, while Talmon Bronson built the grist- | but this addition was not properly recorded. | No other man has done so much to build up | Peninsula, and people it with intelligent, moral and enterprising citizens, as Herman Bronson. | He was its founder. and was the first to | introduce moral and religious tactics among |

, sula in about 1833, in which was placed a small | - still, where a limited quantity of whisky was ' manufactured. The liquor was consumed about |

'on the Valley Railroad. in Summit County, ' north of Akron. - for canal-boat building, there having been from ' one-to thirty boats built per annum, since the ' canal was first navigated.

boat upon which the boy worked remarked - that he was too smart to be working upon the | canal, and should seek some other employment. | Within the limits of Peninsula are inexhausti- . ble beds of the finest sandstone. The stone | belongs to the same stratum as the Berea grit, , and is superior to the latter in point of dura- Stone, at the rate of about a canal-boat load per day. is being taken out of these quar- | ries, which are situated on the summit of steep | bluffs, which border the river and canal. A large amount of labor is thus avoided in load- - ing the stone on the boats. Another valuable mill. Mather put up a two-story frame dwelling in 1824, and. two years later, Mr. Bronson also built one. Abram Holmes came to the village in 1826. Mather built a large warehouse in 1828, as did also Mr. Holmes two or three years later. In 1826, Brown & Taylor built a storeroom, and placed therein about $1,500 worth of goods, which were sold to Mather in 1828. Brown then moved the store was struck by lightning and knocked about a | rod into the yard. His clothing was torn into | shrecls ; his boots were literally torn into a hundred pieces and carried several rods away. and

He had a remarkable physical development, and was a noted wrestler for Few men could throw him down. to have irreverently remarked, after he recoymiles around. | He is said © threw me so quick as God Almighty did." William T. Mather sold goods from a stock valued at $1,000, beginning in 1830. In 1835, he sold out to the Boston Land & Manufacturing Company. This company purchased the not closed permanently. brought in a few goods at an early day. Watrous Mather. after operating his saw-mill a number of years, tore it down and built a better one across the river. on the east side. It fell into the hands of the company, in 1836. When the company failed, William Smith became owner of the grist-mill. J. D. Edson bought it in 1848. mill. The village of Boston, in early years, gave great promise, but its subsequent history is unattractive. saw-mill for three years, beginning in 1834, about a mile down the river from Boston Village. The canal destroyed his water privilege, and he was obliged to stop. Dr. Eleazer Mather was the first physician in the village, coming as early as 1822. <A Mr. Fursons built a distillery at Boston at an early day. It was school in an old log building, erected by James Stanford within five rods of the present resi dence of his son George, was accepted, and the honor. The school was taught in a building that had been used a few years as a dwelling ; but which, becoming no longer comfortable or attractive, was thought ample and suitably adapted for school purposes, and was accordingly devoted to that use. A few years later, a log schoolhouse was built, and this has been succeeded by two or three other school buildings, each of which has been a better building than the one before it. School was first taught what a feast of it she must have had! Was she to be envied even in this respect ? She taught six months during the warm months, and after that no term is remembered to have been taught again until 1816, when a log schoolhouse was erected by the neighborhood about thirty rods north of the residence of Mr. Stanford, and a well educated, and no doubt taught an interesting and instructive term of school. This was the first genuine schoolhouse in the township, and was used every winter until about

Boston Village, which was used continuously until the erection of the present brick building, a short time before the late war. In the northeastern part of Boston, in the Wolcott neigh- | - schoolhouse, which is built of stone, was erectborhood, a school was taught as early as 1813, and perhaps 1812. been the teacher, and in the absence of any data to the contrary, he will be accorded the ing of importance can be learned regarding this school. It is probable that school was taught at Everett as early as 1825. No facts to support this, however, can be given. School was taught in about 1830, in a small log building near the residence of Mr. Swan. The first teacher is unknown, hut among the first were Miss Gillett and Hector Osborn. _A few years later, an acre of land was deeded by Mr. Swan to the schoo! district for school purposes, and upon this a small frame school-building was erected in about the year 1838. The building was replaced by the present one a few years ago. A schoolhouse, located across the river from Everett and about half a mile further down the stream, was built in 1818. Squire Greenman was the first teacher, who received his pay by subscription. The house was built of logs by the neighborhood, and was used about seven years, when the children were either sent to Everett or to the " Holcomb School," in northwest Northampton, probably the latter. In 1829, school was held at Peninsula, in a log house that had been used for a dwelling. Probably this was not the first. The teacher, in 1829, was Miss Rhoda Payne, who was paid by private subscription, and whose weekly (or perhaps weakly) recompense was $1. Her school comprised some dozen back woods children. For a number of years, the east and the west sides had a common school, but after many years it was found best to divide the district, the river being the line, and since that period the village has had two schools, both of which are well attended and prosperous. <A young man named Homer Warner was the first teacher on the west side. He received $13 per month and boarded round. The east side years before the last war, the citizeus of Peninsula became dissatisfied with the character of their village school, as compared with the amount of school tax they were called upon to pay. There were six or seven school districts in the township; and the one at the village was called upon to pay from a fourth to a half of the school fund raised per annum. Other considerations growing out of this state of things vexed the citizens for a number of years, until at last they concluded to incorporate the entire school district in the village of Peninsula, which was accordingly done. This altered state of affairs gave greater satisfaction, as the surplus of school tax raised could be applied to the village schools, and not to those in distant parts of the township. Since the village has been called upon, however, to support two schools, it is difficult to see what has been gained by the incorporation of the whole school district. The township was divided into six school districts in 1826, and three years later these were materially altered. Numerous alterations have been made since.

It is extremely difficult to tell with accuracy where the different church societies of Boston were first organized, or under what condition of circumstances. Many of the settlers were religious, having belonged to some church in the East, and did not abandon Christian worship, at least in their families, after their arrival in the township. It is also quite probable that in the earliest days of the settlement, various Christian families assembled at some selected cabin, and even went so far as to semi-organize a religious society, perhaps in different parts of the township. These conjectures are rendered plausible by the fact that sincere Christian people are disposed to worship God, not only within the pale of civilization, but in the uninhabited and deserted depths of the forest. Religious services were held in the vicinity of Everett soon after the erection of the old log schoolhonse, on the Butler farm, in 1818. But little is known except that occasional services were held here, very likely, by traveling preachers. When Alanson Swan, who had been licensed to preach by a Methodist Episcopal society, in Connecticut, came to the township in 1834, he immediately united with others in his neighborhood, including portions of Bath and Northampton, and organized a religious society, which continued to meet quite regularly in dwellings and schoolhouses, until it was at length divided by an alteration in the views of a portion of the members. Perhaps a majority of the members of this society lived in the two townships already mentioned. After flourishing for a number of years, and attaining a membership of about fifty, a detachment of about half, headed by Mr. Swan, separated from the remainder and re-organized at Everett under the name Protestant Methodists. No church was built by this society. Some ten years ago, it was so broken up by various causes, that the United Brethren came in and organized a society out of the fragments and out of new material. This is the ruling society at present. As early as 1824. Herman Bronson, who was an Episcopalian, began holding religious serv- | ices at his cabin in Peninsula. His few neigh- , bors were invited to lend their encouragement . and support in assisting to build up a strong, | til about 1837. Some four years later, a small church was built, almost wholly at the cost of Mr. Bronson. used. Mr. Bronson was clearly its founder and patron, and did more to sustain it than any other man. it stands to the society, and also gave a fine lot for a cemetery and one for a public schoolhouse. The church cost something like $1,000. |

At the death of Mr. Bronson, he willed to the church he had founded a sufficient fund to afford about $325 per annum, to be used in defraying the expense of employing a minister. This permanent fund has undoubtedly sustained the society from falling into decay at numerous periods of its existence. Some of the members of this church have been Herman Bronson, Daniel F. Bachelor, Hezekiah Bell, James Morrell John Fairweather, Thomas Mc- Carday, Jacob Barnhart, Nisbett Wood, W. H. Payne, Asa Kimball, Harry Janes, and most of their families. Abraham Bronson was the first minister in charge of the society ; and was paid a few hundred dollars for his services. A Congregational Society was organized at the village about the same time that the Episcopalians began. Their meetings were held in schoolhouses and dwellings at first; and sometimes the use of the Episcopal Church was tendered them ; but their services were mostly held in the upper story of Mr. Haskell's store building, on the east side. After continuing a number of years, the society was so reduced by death and removals that it was disbanded. Among its members were Roger and George Haskell, L. M. Janes, Charles Curtis, Mrs. Thompson and children, Mrs. McGrouty and others. A Methodist society was organized in | others think that Rev. Thomas W. Pope deserves the honor. The society grew slowly in membership and wealth until some twelve years ago, when a frame church, costing about $2.000, was built on the east side. A portion of the members have been Rev. Thomas W. Pope, a local preacher ; Billings Chaffee and | wife; John H. Curtis and wife, the husband | also being a local preacher ; Mr. Ford and wife, ' Mr. Davis and wife, Dr. Lunt and others. This , society has passed through periods when it was | not. If not, like a cat, it possessed nine lives ; for it is now as strong and full of life as could be expected. A Methodist society was organized on the State road as early, perhaps, as 1825. This, however is not known with certainty. In after years it became well known, and was well attended. But little could be ascertained concerning this church. Religious services have been held from time to time in the schoolhouses in and near Boston Village, but no church has been erected and no permanent society organized in that portion of the township. A

In March, 1837, a post office was first located at Peninsula. It was secured largely through the influence of H. V. Bronson, one of the most prominent and respected citizens of the place, who was commissioned first Postmaster, an office he retained until 1845, when Billings Chaffee succeeded him. The post office at Boston Village was secured as early as 1830, mainly through the instrumentality of William Mather. One was secured at " Johnnycake" a few years later.

Anglo-Saxon race. But with the year 1807 the history of Springfield actually begins. The in- . flux of population that commenced with the | dawn of that year, ceased not until all the va- | cant land was occupied. The early settlers of Springfield Township, forgetful of their own. ease, at a time when years of toil could reasonably have demanded repose for their declining | days, they braved the difficulties of the un- | known wilderness, that their children might | achieve that wealth and greatness their faith | pictured in the future. The broad lands, rich and fertile, the thousand homes, adorned with the comforts and luxuries of an advanced | | civilization. the vast resources of mineral | wealth that abound. not only in this township | - * Contributed by W. H. Perrin. : but throughout this section of country, are among the memorials that attest the wisdom of their choice. The inducements which invited the immigration of the pioneers of Springfield was all that the most exacting could demand, or that Nature in her pleasantest mood could offer. Fine forests, streams of flowing water, productive lands, and, as afterward discovered, vast stores of mineral wealth. Such advantages as these were not to be overlooked in the se- | lection of homes.

Springfield is situated in the east tier of townships, and but one from the southeast corner of the county. It intrudes its northwest corner | into the city of Akron, and is bounded on the | north by Tallmadge Township ; on the east by Suffield Township, in Portage County ; on the south by Green Township; on the west by Coventry Township, and is designated as Town- field is on the southern boundary of the Western | Reserve - the forty-first parallel of latitude. This causes a slight jog in the east line of the ' county, as the townships south of the Reserve : are of a different survey. The surface of the ' township is rolling; but not sufficiently so to ' be termed broken, with one or two small ex- - ceptions. It is drained mainly through the , little Cuyahoga River. in the north part, and ' the Tuscarawas in the south part and their tributaries, together with a number of little lakelets in different parts of the township. The largest of the latter is Springfield Lake, in the - geographical center of the township, and is about a mile in length and half a mile in width. Of this little lake, Gen. Bierce says: " A com-

Ohio. Gen. Bierce gives the following interest- Ing sketch of Mr. Bradley: " He was born in Salisbury, Conn.,in 1767. Naturally of a strong, adapted to wheat growing, although other small _ grain. as well as corn, are produced in more or less abundance. some attention, but is not made a specialty by the farming community. The timber consists of the kinds common in this section viz.. beech, maple, ash, elm, poplar, hickory. white oak, walnut. etc. Coal-mining was rather extensive _ at one time. clay industries, will again be referred to in this chapter. An extensive cranberry marsh was boldly passed within the British lines under pretense of going to mill. He was arrested. as he expected to be. and taken to the British camp for examination. Here, without exhibiting «ny unusual curiosity. he observed all that was goingon. A long consultation was held by the officers. as to what should be done with him; but young Bradley acted the * Johnny Ruir so completely that they finally dismissed him, thinking him more fool than spy. As he was leaving. one of the officers remarked, «I The

| moved to Suffield Township, in Portage County, ' and settled on what is known as the old Kent | farm; and, in 1807, settled in Springfield, in |

| of which was set to Town 4, Range 8, to make | that equal with the average. | west side was attached to Shalersville. | drawn and belonged to Mr. Shaler, of Middle- ' town, Conn., father of Judge Shaler, of Pittsburgh."* Olds, Collar and More, of what is now Mahoning | County, and the strip off the west side to Henry _ and Charles Chittenden. *Gen. Bierce.

brought on pack-horses from Georgetown, on | | the Obio ; and salt was an unknown article. In | | 1802, Bradley went to Georgetown for bread- | '-stuff; but was unable to get a pound of flour taken sick, and he was compelled to camp out in the woods. He hitched his horse, and, for ; his own security, climbed a tree. Soon after dark, the wolves surrounded him, determined to have him or his horse; but Bradley was not disposed to surrender either, and, descending | from the tree, he procured a good club, with | of wheat. As the wolves would come near him, he would strike at them, and they would retreat. Near morning. one more brave than the rest, came so near that he hit him over the head. The fellow sounded a retreat, and the rest followed with tremendous yells.

The same year that saw Bradley settle in Springtield witnessed the coming of Benjamin Baldwin, Nathan More and Reuben Tupper, | all of whom were originally from Salisbury, Conn., the native place of Bradley. Baldwin settled just across the town line. west from the Kent farm, where he died in 1847. More and Tupper also died in the township. John and in 1807, and were the next settlers in Spring- | tield ; John was about eighteen years old and | his brother was still younger, and they remained alone in the wilderness the first year. Their eabin was built near a spring half a mile east - of the Presbyterian Church of North Spring- - field, and. at the time, there was not a road to - plenty, they dare not sleep in the house. but. | at night, would make up a fire in the house and » then take their guns and go into a corn-field to | see any one entering the door. In this manner they passed the first summer and fall. Jobn, the elder of these two brothers, died in Marion County, and James went to Huron County. John Hall, a lawyer in Akron, is a sonof John Hall referred to above. Robert Hall, also from Pennsylvania, came next and settled on the place now owned by Peter Lepper. He died in the summer of 1808, from the bursting of a ship. He was buried in the cemetery northeast - of Middlebury. The old Keystone State contributed the fol- | lowing Pennsylvania Dutchmen to the settle ment of Springfield Township: Rev. Thomas - Beer. Thomas Metlin, John Vallandingham, | James McKnight, Samuel Wood, Capt. William Foster, Abraham DeHaven. Francis Irvin, Dea- con Ewert, Joseph Scott, Jacob Winters, Samuel Hinson, James Wertz, the Bairds, Judge Robert Clark, George McGrew, Patrick and Archie Christy, the Smiths, Deacon McWright, the Ellets, Robert Smith, Henderson, James McCormic, and perhaps others. Mr. Beer was a Presbyterian preacher of the strictest oldschool principles ; he moved away and is dead. Metlin settled in 1814, and moved into Norton Township, where he died. Vallandingham settled in 1811-12, and moved to Holmes County and died there. He was an uncle to Hon. Clement L. Vallandigham, who, when a boy, used to visit his uncle in Springfield, and is well remembered by many of the older residents of the neighborhood. McKnight was a brother-in-law of John Vallandingham, and

Wood was the father of John B. Wood, of Akron; came in early, and died many years ago. Capt. Foster was a brother-in-law of Wood, and died in the township at the age of eighty-seven years. DeHaven came in 1809, and died many years ago. Mrs. Clark, of Akron, is a daughter of his. Irvin and DeHaven were brothers-inlaw. Deacon Ewert came about 1809-10, and died on the place of his original settlement, at an advanced age. Joseph Scott settled in 1811 ; died about 1830, while making a visit to Pennsylvania ; he was brought home and buried by the side of his wife in the Kent burying-ground. David Scott, of Akron, is his son. Winters came with Wood and Metlin, and was from the same place ; he died in Richland County. Hinson came in early ; he met with a melancholy accident which resulted in his death ; returning away with him and threw him with such violence that he died in a few hours from the effects of the fall. Wertz died on the place of his settlement many years ago. The Bairds were a large family, of whom Joseph, James | George and Robert were brothers, and came in

Associate Judge of Portage County. McGrew came in 1809-10, and died in the neighborhood as did also his wife. The Christys were early settlers ; Patrick died in Akron and Archie moved back to Pennsylvania. The Smiths, as they are everywhere, were a large family, and came in about 1811; there were Thomas, Jacob, George, James and Caleb, who were all brothers. Thomas fitted out a flat-boat at Massillon, loaded it, and started for the Crescent City via the Tuscarawas and Muskingum Rivers, to the Ohio. He arrived safely at Natchez, Miss.. with his boat, but was there taken sick and died. Dr. Smith, of Akron, is his son. Jacob Smith was a hatter, and used to follow his trade in Springfield.

Deacon McWright came in about 1809- 10, and was one of the original members of the Presbyterian Church. The Ellets were early settlers, and comprise quite a large family. The old gentleman of all was a Revolutionary soldier. A Mr. Henderson was an early settler in the extreme south part of the township. Robert Smith, another family of those mentioned above, came in shortly after Bradley and mic also came the same year, and settled in the corner of the township. It will thus be seen that Springfield was settled originally mostly from Pennsylvania.

Peter Norton, who came in quite early, was from Connecticut. and came to Trumbull County, Ohio, at an early day. In 1809, he moved over into Tallmadge, and, four years later, came to Springfield and settled in the woods. He died there in 1822. Two sons are still living - Lester, now eighty-three years of age, and "Tommy," as everybody calls him, who is seventy-five years of age. George Carroll settled near Springfield Lake. It is not known where he came from, but it is supposed he was from Germany, as he could speak very little English when he first moved in. He lived and died upon the place of his settlement. John Weston ranks among the early settlers of Springfield. He was considered well off at that early period, because when he came he had a wagon and two yoke of oxen. He stopped with Norton until he got a cabin put up to go in. A son, Francis Weston, is still living on the old homestead, an old man now himself, and nearly ninety years old. The old gentleman was a Revolutionary soldier, and died at the age of eighty-three. Henry and Charles Chittenden, mentioned as having bought the west side of the township, came from the East (probably from Connecticut) and were early settlers. Peter Rodenbaugh came in about 1815, and Capt. Fulkerson in 1820. Many others settled withoe 7

At the time of the organization of Springfield as a township, it was a part of Trumbull County, as the first records are headed, " At a meeting held in the township of Springfield, county of Trumbull and State of Ohio." It

Tallmadge, Portage and Coventry. in Summit. At the election held on the day of organization, Josiah Ward, of Randolph, was one of the Judges ; John Foster, of Mantua. Clerk ; John Goss (of Randolph), Benjamin Baldwin (of Springfield) and Stephen Upson (of Tallmadge), Trustees.

township. Robert Baird was probably the next Justice of the Peace in Springfield ; Austin Weston was an early Justice of the Peace, also, in this township.

and upon the outlet of Springfield Lake. One branch of the Little Cuyahoga has its source in this lake, and the other in Suffield Lake which makes the flood of water very uniform. As an example of the fine water-power. the water in the race opposite the Empire House fore the breaking up of the ize on Springfield Lake, there is often heard a curious, moaning sound that is audible, at times, for miles. The first time it was noticed was in 1813. by James McKnight, while out hunting. He supposed it to be some huge animal, and started with his gun and little boy in pursuit. The sound ap- peared to be near the outlet, at the northeast part of the lake. In crossing the lake on the ice, when near the deepest part, it being very dark, he stepped into an 'air-hole' and went entirely under; but holding on to his rifle, which reached across the hole, he drew himself out by it and thus saved himself. The longest cords that have been tried, or that can be proparts." But to return to the water-power. One of the first mills in Springfield was built by James Brewster, the father of Alexander Brewster, in the extreme south part of the town, and is now known as the Fritts Mill. The next one, perhaps, was McCormic's, at Mogadore. Clinton also built a mill very early, but it has long since passed away, and another, known as "Gilchrist's Mill," has been built in its place. DeHaven built a mill in 1830, on the Massillon road not far from the " White Grocery," on the outlet of Springfield Lake. Another of the early mills was built on the Tuscarawas in the south part of the township. There were mills built in Middlebury very early which were well patronized by the people of Springfield.

Springfield Township is intersected by the Valley Railroad, which enters at the northwest corner and passes out near the center of the south line. While there is no station in the township, it is of great benefit to the people, as Middlebury is within easy reach and has good roads leading to it from all parts of Springfield.

There are several hamlets laid down on the | map of Springfield, but none of them amount to much in the way of towns. Indeed, they | have not even arrived at the dignity of villages. This, perhaps, arises from the fact that other villages and trade-centers sprang up, leaving but little or no necessity for villages in the township. Middlebury, a portion of which is in Springfield, was, at one time, the most important place in Summit County. It commanded the entire trade on this side of the | county, far beyond the present county limits. | The nearest approach to a village in Spring: | field, outside of Middlebury, is Mogadore, on the east line of the township, and about as | much in Portage County as in Summit. It | consists of a few dozen or so of houses, @ store | or two, shops, several potteries and a couple of | churches, and, as we said, is on both sides of | the county line. The Disciples and Methodists have churches in the village, though we believe the Methodist Church is over in Portage County. The Disciples' Church has been there for a number of ;ears. Alexander Campbell, himself, was the first to preach that particular doctrine at Mogadore, and established the church, which has ever since continued. One of the first merchants was Henry Sawyer, who had a small store there many years ago. Several others have had stores since, and Robert Atchison has one there at the present time. Thomaston is a coal mining place, and consists of a few straggling houses and a post office. It is on the line and mostly in Coventry Township, and is too near the city of Akron to ever amount to anything of a town. North Springfield, or North Center, is another small collection of houses, sometimes honored by the name of village. It is situated just north of Springfield Lake, and is known as the township center, because Springfield Lake occupies the geograpical center, and the only means by which the official center of the township could have been placed in the geographical center, would have been to have it like the city of Mexico, in the midst of a lake. And, in this case, the danger would be that, as the lake is said to be bottomless, the town house might have gone down to China, sometime in the midst of an important township meeting. There is no store at North Center or Springfield, but the place consists of a few houses only, the town house, a pottery and the Presbyterian Church. Milheim is a hamlet in the south part of the town, and as regards population and importance, is on 'a par with North Center and Thomaston.

One of the first coal mines opened in Summit County was opened in Springfield Township, by Abram DeHaven, in 1808. It cropped out on his land, and was accidentally discovered by him. He mined it there for years, and the coal was hauled away in wagons. About 1842, Philpot leased the mines and built a horse railroad to them, and thus facilitated the work. 'hese are the only mines that have ever been worked to any extent in the township. A small one is owned by L. Sumner, but has | not been worked very extensively.

The clay used in the various potteries is of | far more importance in Springfield Township | than coal mining. There is an almost endless number of potteries in the township, turning stoneware manufactured in the States, but not on clay. The enterprising Yankees came it over him by carrying the clay to Canada and manufacturing it there." The first of this clay

1828, who manufactured the first stoneware in Springfield. under the firm of Fisk & Smith. Mr. Fisk discovered the clay on a four-acre lot. owned by a man named Cutchel. Fisk & Smith bought it of him and started a pottery. Since then, almost hundreds of potteries have been established, and the amount of stoneware. sewer-pipe, drain-tile, etc.. etc., made each year. is simply immense, and must be passed with

The Presbyterians organized the first church in Springfield as early almost as any settlements were made. Rev. Thomas Beer was the first preacher, and was of the most unadulterated old school, believing in all the strict tenets of that strict sect. informed us, he " believed in fore-ordination, A about the year 1812. This building was burned and another erected, which lasted some time, when the present one was erected. The last one is said to have been built in 1828. and hence is a rather old church building. Rey. Beer was the first Pastor, and was followed some years later by Rev. Benjamin Penn. Other early ministers, who preached in this old

| church, were Revs. Lathrop, Merriman, Hanford, Sheldon, etc. The membership has decreased within the last decade by death and removals, but the church is still prosperous.

A post office was established in the southeast corner of the township about the year 1818, with Benjamin Baldwin as Postmaster. He was a Whig in politics. but kept the office for many years through Democratic administrations as well as Whig. Samuel Ellet was the next Postmaster in Springfield, and kept the office at his residence on the Canton It was established in 1835. The first white Hall, a daughter of Robert Hall. born in 1809, who, when grown, was married, and removed to Indiana.

The first school taught in Springtield was in a little log cabin, which stood near Cass' camping ground. It was taught in the winter of 1812. by Reuben Upson. and was on the subscription and ~ board-around © plan. this little log structure.

was called after a family who settled in the | neighborhood very early, named Sheep. They | finally grew tired of being considered s/repish, : and had their names vhanged by legislative act to Morton. acognomen that their neighbors soon perverted into Mutton. Benjamin Meachem followed Weston as the next teacher, and taught in the McGrew Schoolhouse ; next came William L. Clark, whose widow has died in Akron since this work (1881) has been in the course He was followed by Robert Baird, who taught in the Metlin Schoolhouse ; and Baird was followed by Henry Westfall, who taught in the Dunbar Schoolhouse. Sam- baugh Schoolhouse. This comprises the early schools of Springfield, and brings the educational history of the township down within the period of the free school system. Springfield now has some six schoolhouses, all of which are good, comfortable brick buildings, well furnished and appointed, in which schools are taught by competent teachers during the requisite terms each year.

For years after the first white people settled in Springfield, their highways of travel were blazed paths through the forest. The first road laid out was that leading from Canton to Middlebury, known as the "Canton and Middlebury road." The next, perhaps, was the Middlebury and Kendall road. These were followed by others, mostly centering in Middlebury, then a place of much importance. The first mails were brought to the post office at Baldwin's, on woods, from Canton to Middlebury and back again. This road afterward became a somewhat noted thoroughfare. and was a stage route between Cleveland and Canton. John C. Hart. of Middlebury, ran a line of stages over this route for a number of years.

Originally, as we have stated, Randolph, Suffield, Springfield and Tallmadge comprised a single township. This was the case in 1812, ' and, under the old militia law of that period, all able-bodied men between eighteen and fortyfive years of age, were compelled to drill on certain days of each year. The township above-mentioned was a military district, and formed a militia company, of which Bailey Hubbard was Captain; Ariel Bradley Lieutenant, and Aaron Weston, Ensign. Weston was also Ensign of the company of volunteers from this section. under Capt. John Campbell. who were surrendered by Gen. Hull at Detroit. in the opening period of the war of 1812.

When John Bull, in 1812, unchained his hungry lion upon the United "States, there was considerable population in this section ot Ohio. In Springfield Township there had settled quite a number of families. Gen. Bierce thus tells the war news of that period: " After Hull's surrender, a draft was made, and eight were | taken from Springfield - Joseph D. Baird, John | Hall, Timothy Holcomb, Alexander Hall, James | Baird, Lee Moore, Nathaniel DeHaven, and Mar- | tin Willis, who went as a substitute. They be-

Lusk, of Hudson; Lieut. Holcomb, of Hudson, resigned to John Caris, of Rootstown, who was Second Lieutenant; Hiram King, formerly of Middlebury, was Ensign. They belonged to the regiment commanded by Col. Rayen, of Youngstown, in the brigade of Gen. Simon Perkins. Joseph D. Baird, Timothy Holcomb,

: Nathaniel DeHaven and Lee Moore are yet liv- .ing.* John Hall died in Huron County, and Alexander Hall died at Camp Huron ; James ; Baird died at La Grange, Ind.; and Martin - Willis died on his way home at Tinker's Creek. | On the return of the wreck of Hull's army, ' after his surrender at Detroit. the 'Ohio volunteers,' under Cols. Cass and McArthur, passed through Springfield, and encamped on the banks of the river near the south end of the | bridge, at 'Clinton's Mill.' Samuel Ellet, the father of John and Jehu Ellet, who then lived where Jehu Ellet now does, measured off half an acre of green corn and turned it out to the soldiers, who picked and roasted it for their | suppers. The following year, Maj. Croghan, | when going to the lines with his command, encamped on the same ground. At that time, Dr. Joseph DeWolf. of Ravenna, was the only practicing physician, except Dr. Ashmun, of | Hudson, between Cleveland and Canfield. De- | Wolf being a Democrat and a strong supporter

_ of the war, could do no less than attend on the | , the sick and wounded soldiers as they were returning from what was worse than sickness, | Hull's disgraceful surrender. He rode night | and day, performing that unpaid office of hu- , manity. The poor soldiers owe him a debt of | gratitude. and his country ought to compensate | him. Many a political brawler has received , thousands of dollars for far less meritorious service than that performed by Dr. DeWolf in | receiving the sick of the 'Ohio volunteers.' » Whatever may become of the pecuniary ob- | ligation of this Government to him, let not the , gratitude be canceled by the statute of limit- - ation. " After the surrender of Hull, a press was ; made for horses for the use of the Government. David Preston, of Tallmadge, and oth- | ers, were in the employ of the United States | collecting 'horses in Springfield. The Rev. Mr. | ress ae would not take any of Ais that he would pilot them to the shanty of Hall, where they could get a first-rate one. They accordingly let the 'priest' off, and he piloted them through the woods to Hall's. Just as the 'press' got into the clearing of Hall to catch his horse, he happened to come home, and, thinking he had a better right to the horse than the United

When the first settlements were made in Springfield, there were plenty of Indians within "easy reach," though none living within the township limits. Yet they used to sometimes come into the neighborhood on hunting excursions, but did no harm, and were quiet and peaceable. During the war of 1812, more than one scare, however, occurred, and the | people took flight to places of safety, but they always turned out to be false alarms. The fol-

In the summer of 1812, the report was circulated that the Greentown Indians were on the war-path, and approaching the settlement with hostile demonstrations. Arrangements were at once made for protection, and the residents of the more exposed localities left for places of safety. The rumor was at length found to be groundless. Mrs. Henry Chittenden, who was living in a rather isolated section, was forgotten, and remained with her little children alone and unprotected until the scare passed, not | knowing until the danger was over how near she and her children came to being tomahawked and scalped. But, after the close of the war of 1812, there was no more apprehension from the savages. The close of hostilities settled the Indian problem so far as this section was concerned, and, in a short time. the "noble red man" passed to reservations beyond the great Father of Waters.

| TALLMADGE TOWNSHIP - ORIGINAL SURVEYS AND PROPRIETORS - TOPOGRAPHY - THE EARLY SETTLEMENT - PIONEER REMINISCENCES - INDUSTRIES - TIIEIR GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT - CHURCHES AND SABBATH SCHOOLS - EDUCATIONAL, ETC.. ETC.

Y the surveyors of the Connecticut Land Company, Tallmadge was known only as Town No. 2, in the tenth range of Townships. The east line was run in July, 1797, by Wareham Shepard and Amzi Atwater, who were employed by the Connecticut Land Company in running township lines, each alternately carrying the compass. The surveys of the township lines of the Western Reserve, east of the Cuyahoga River and Portage path, by the | Connecticut Land Company having been completed, and the Committee of Equalization, in company with the surveyors, having explored the townships, went to Canandaigua, N. Y., and, ; on the 13th of December, 1797, ..ade out their | Teport to the Connecticut Land Company. The | drawing commenced in Hartford on the 30th of January, 1798. The book of drafts says: | "The twenty-fourth draft drew Town 2, Range 10, and was drawn by Jonathan Brace, of | *Contributed by C. C. Bronson.

Hartford, Conn.; Roger Newberry, of Windsor, Conn. ; Justin Ely, of West Springfield. Mass. ; Elijah White, of Bolton, Conn. ; Enoch Perkins, of Hartford; Azariah Rockwell, Roswell Root, Abner Root and Oliver P. Dickinson, of Pittsfield, Mass., and Stephen W. Jones, of Stockbridge, Mass.. containing 15,225 acres. To which is added Lot No. 13, in Town No. 1, in Range 11, 1,918 acres ; total, 17,143 acres, valued at $12,903.23." The owners of the land received their deeds in April, 1799, and, in October of the same year, Stephen W. Jones sold his share to Ephraim Starr, of Goshen, Conn., and Stanley Griswold, of New Milford. Griswold sold to Starr, December 31, 1800, Rockwell, the Roots and Dickinson, signed a deed, dated November 9, 1799, conveying all the land they owned in Town 2 , Range 10, and Town 1, Range 11, to Col. Benjamin Tallmadge, of Litchfield, "Conn., which deeds are on record Gen. Simon Per- kins, of Warren, being at the time agent for the proprietors, had a survey made of Town 2, Range 10, into lots a mile square, making a total of twenty-five lots, No. 1 being at northwest corner of the township. Caleb Palmer made this survey in 1803, and it was on this survey that the Brace Company, Starr and Tallmadge, made the partition of their land in The Brace Company

Ephraim Starr received 3,493,541, acres, being a strip one mile wide through the center of the township, from the north to the south line, and Lot 24, east of Lot 23, on the south line. Col. Tallmadge received about 5,611 acres, lying on

(for part of their lands), to become their agent | tor the sale of their lands in Town 2, Range 10. | Mr. Bacon established himself with his family ' Tracts 1 and 4 - the latter was surveyed by the mechanics' shops, dwelling houses, etc., and from it eight roads diverged, so that all residents of the townships had a road to come to meeting on the Sabbath Day. This showed

Mr. Bacon's foresight, thus placing every lot or subdivision on a road, which has had a tendency to prevent much contention about roads, that some of the neighboring townships have been subjected to. Mr. Ensign made this survey in November, 1806. His assistants as far as known were Justus Sackett and Salmon Weston, of Warren, Conn., and a man named Singletary. William Prior says: "I carried their provisions to them on a mule from Northampton Mills to their camp. They found the northwest corner of the township, then run east two and a half miles, then south two and a half miles, where they set the center stake, and turned their attention to a camping-place. They chose a spot about a fourth of a mile southwest from the center stake on the bank of the brook." Mr. Weston informed the writer that the camp was between the brook and a bank several feet high. They felled a large basswood tree which stood on the bank, and trom it split puncheons with which the sides and top of their "camp" were formed. This circumstance it was that gave to the little stream the name of Camp Brook. When their camp was finished, they again went to the northwest corner and commenced work. They run a line south one and a fourth miles, then east to town line, then south one and a fourth miles to the center line, then west again. The northwest corner

Elizur Wright in 1817, for Col. Tallmadge. The land of Tallmadge Township is rolling and somewhat elevated ; several points rising to a height of 540 feet above the level of Lake Erie. The summit of Coal Hill (near Daniel land in the county, with one exception. The highest point is in Richfield Township. The soil is a light loam, and in places, somewhat sandy, but upon the whole, well adapted to grain, and also to grass. The prevailing timber is oak and chestnut, intermixed with which is hickory, elm, ash, white and black walnut, bass, cucumber, with beech and maple on the streams. On many tracts, quite a collection of sugar maples were found, from which quantities of sugar and molasses were manufactured. The drainage of Tallmadge is all into the Cuyahoga River on the north, and the Little Cuyahoga on the south; the east and west center road being about the divide. streams are all small. The Little Cuyahoga runs through Springfield near the line, and the Cuyahoga runs near the north line in Stow, making a sharp bend into Tallmadge on the ous springs, furnishing water on almost every farm in abundance. The swamps have been mostly reclaimed, so that at the present day, there is in the township but very little land unsuitable for cultivation.

Falls was set off as a township, and takes from Tallmadge the whole of Tract No. 1, containing 899 acres, and about 100 acres off the north Then in 1857, Middlebury was set off as an independent township, taking from Tallmadge Lots 3 and 5, containing by Ensign's survey, 299 acres. The productions of the township are the various kinds of grain, grass and truit. The pursuit of a large majority of the inhabitants has been that of farming in its different branches, no one branch being made a specialty.

The first permanent settlement in Tallmadge Township, from the most reliable testimony, seems to have been made by George Boosinger. He was born in 1777, and, in 1801, his father emigrated to Ohio with his family, and located in Ravenna, in Portage County. George lived there until grown to manhood, when he married Miss Nancy Simcox. seventy-five acres of land in this township, in Lot 6, Tract 14, of Jotham Blakslee. of Ravenna, and off the west side of the lot. This farm is now (1881) owned by Sherman Pettibone. Boosinger came ver and selected spring of water, near the south line of the township, and then returned to Ravenna. In March, 1807, he again came over, and brought help with him preparatory to building a house on his new purchase. Those who came over with him were Henry Sapp, Jotham Blakslee, Jr., John McManus, Moses Bradford, Philip Ward, William Price, David Jennings, William Chared, Robert Campbell, Abel Forshey and

Henry Bozor. in the morning, cut the logs and raised the house, which was about 16x20 feet in dimensions, made the long shingles, or "shakes" (as they were called), put on the roof, cut out a door and laid down a floor of puncheons. These puncheons were split out of a straightgrained tree, and hewed smooth on one side and laid down upon the sleepers. As they seasoned, they were driven up close together, and made a good substitute for board or plank | floors. The doors were also made of punch- | eons. pinned on to wooden battens or hinges, © and often not a nail was used in making them. |

The windows of the pioneer cabins were quite as primitive as the doors. A place was cut out, across which sticks were put at right angles, and covered with greased paper as a substitute for glass.

His cabin being ready for occupancy. Boos- . inger left Ravenna the last of March or the - first of April, and with his family moved into | his new home, thus becoming the original set- , stances. They were well satisfied of the fact that Boosinger settled in the township in March or April. 1807. These pioneers are now dead. but, in years that are past, the confirmed him in the opinion that Boosinger was the first settler. on the part of any one to deprive Mr. Boosinger of all the honor that belonged to him. but there was evidently a hasty conclusion of ment to Mr. Bacon. Soon after Boosinger's settlement, his wife went back to Ravenna, and, while there, gave birth to twins - a boy and girl. As soon as prudent, she returned to her home in Tallmadge. In a few weeks afterward, the boy sickened and died, and was buried on his father's farm. This was the first death in the township. Mr. Boosinger and his wife were honest, upright and industrious people, and just in their dealings with their fellowmen. He was not in sympathy with Bacon and his grand scheme for supporting the church by direct taxation, and united with the Presbyterian Church in Springfield, where he and his family attended meeting. Mrs. Boosinger died in Tallmadge, and he married a second time, to a Miss Wolfert. He sold his farm to Pettibone in 1836, and removed to Macoupin County, lll., where he died in 1862.

New England civilization as an example. Dr. L. Bacon, in an address delivered June 24, 1857, speaking of his father, says: " Being on the western limits of civilization, he looked about for a vacant township, in which such an experiment might be tried. His prophetic mind saw the capabilities of Township 2, duced many others to settle here from towns on the Western Reserve, and to co-operate with him in his plans for building up a state of society of Puritan tendencies. born in Woodstock, Windham Co., Conn., in 1771. In early life he had a strong desire for a college education, but this he was unable to obtain. It did not lessen his desire, however, to preach the Gospel, and to this end he commenced the study of theology with Rev. Levi Hart, D. D., of Preston, New London Co., Conn. He was ordained a minister of the Gospel December 31, 1799, and was married to Miss Alice Parks about the same time, at Lebanon, Conn. He left Hartford on the 8th of August. 1800, under the patronage of the Connecticut Missionary Society, with a view of visiting the Indian tribes bordering on Lake Erie. He sailed from Buffalo September 8. arriving at Detroit on the 11th, and about the middle of December he returned to Connecticut with much valuable information. The next year he came back to Ohio. bringing his wife with him, arriving in safety at Detroit. This place was then but little else than a trading-post of the Indians, and a military point. garrisoned by United States troops. Here Mr. Bacon labored as a missionary among the Indians for some time, and here his eldest child (Rev. Leonard Bacon, D. D.. of New Haven, Conn.), was born February 14, 1802. He went from Detroit to Mackinaw, where he labored until the latter part of the summer of 1804, when he left the place, and after a long and dangerous voyage, part of the time in a canoe, he arrived with his family on the soil of the Western Reserve. About the Ist of October, he found a bome temporarily at Hudson. He labored on the Reserve as a missionary, but soon became convinced that more good could be accomplished for the Reserve by a township with all abundant water, its streams singing in the grand old woods and rich with power for the service of man. He saw the proprietorship of it was in the hands of men who, as his trusting and hopeful nature led him to believe, willing to sacrifice something of their possible gains if need should be) for so great a scheme of public usefulness as that with which his mind was laboring." his family near the close of the year 1804, and, as already stated, secured the agency of the proprietors of most of the land in Tallmadge Township. Being a descendant of the Puritans, and deeply imbued with New England the settlement but those of that denomination, or who were in sympathy with the strictest Puritan principles. As a people and a township we are greatly indebted to Mr. Bacon for | laying, as he did. foundations so broad and | and educational principles. Some of the land he was unable to control, and a few persons settled on it that did not agree with Mr. Bacon in all his grand views.

the ground and cut logs fora house. The house was built, and was of pioneer pattern, with its puncheon floor and door, stick chimney, etc., and when completed the family moved into it. Says Dr. Bacon in the address already quoted from: "I well remember among the dim and

: world's goods, but rich in faith and in the treasure of God's promises rich in their well-tried mutual affection, rich in their hopes of useful- the three little ones that were carried in their arms or nestled among their scanty household goods in the slow-moving wagon. were familiar with whatever there is in hardship and peril.

age of the noblest manhood or the immortal of The little ones were natives of the wilderness. the youngest a delicate nursling of six months. This child's name was Juliana; was born in Hudson February 25. 1807. The others were born in a far remoter and wilder West than this was even then. These five were the family who, on that day, removed to their new home. I remember the setting out; the halt before the door of good old Deacon Thompson to say farewell; the

_ fording of the Cuyahoga, at Monroe Falls ; the ' slow day's journey of somewhat less than thir- ' teen miles, along a road that had been merely ' cut, not made, through the unbroken forest ; the | little clearing where the journey ended; the _ new log house so long our home, with what

' when at night, the first family worship was : offered in that lonely cabin, when the father , and mother, having read from this Bible (Dr.