Dorset Township

Dorset Township

Though among the latest settled townships of the county, yet her worthy pioneers endured more hardships than many of the earlier settlements. This township is described on the county records as township No. 10 of the second range of the Connecticut Western Reserve. The original owners, so far as can now be ascertained, were Judge Isaac Mills, Pierpont Edwards, and others, of New Haven, Connecticut. The date of their purchase was in the year 1798.

In about 1824 this territory was organized as a separate township under the name of Millsford, and continued to be called the same until 1849, when, by special act of legislature, the present name Dorset was substituted. There are some sixteen thousand acres of land within the boundary lines of the township, which were in 1799 divided into lots by T. R. Hawley, under the supervision of Judge Mills. This was some twenty years prior to any permanent settlement in the township. In fact, nearly the entire portion of Ohio now denominated the Western Reserve was an unbroken wilderness. The soil, or the greater part of it, consists of a rich, deep muck, well adapted to agriculture. The eastern half was originally wet. There is still a marsh of quite considerable proportions in the southeast corner of the township, across the centre of which is a curious embankment, supposed to have been constructed by beavers, dividing its waters; those from the south, flowing into the Pymatuning creek, which empties into the Mahoning river, eventually reaching the Atlantic ocean in the Gulf of Mexico via the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. From the northern part flow small streams tributary to Mills creek, the waters of which, by the aid of Grand river, Lake Erie, etc., finally reach the same grand old Atlantic through the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Wild game was abundant ; in fact, a deer is occasionally " brought down," even at this late day, in the wooded fastnesses of the township of Dorset. There are a great number of saline springs or " deer-licks" in this township, some of which are thought to be more strongly impregnated with salt than any in the county.

In June or July, 1799, the first attempt at settlement was made by Joel Thorp, of North Haven county, Connecticut, who, with his wife and three small children, accomplished the journey of over six hundred miles, much of the way through an almost trackless wilderness, his mode of transit being two yoke of oxen harnessed to one of those pioneer wagons which were nearly as indestructible as the deacon's memorable " one-horse shay," which lasted

It is thought that his location was in the southwest part of the township, on the bank of a small stream now called Bassett's creek, from the fact that a number of apple-trees were found growing on this spot by the later settlers, surrounded by a thicket of second-growth trees. The remains of a log house are still plainly visible, which was, beyond the shadow of a doubt, the first one built by a white man within the boundary lines of the township of Dorset. The Thorp family remained for nearly three years in this " howling wilderness," suffering almost incredible hardships, at times nearly dying of starvation. Many incidents are narrated relative to this family and its fortunes. Not, however, having proper authentication, we omit their reproduction here. In the early part of the summer of 1802, Mr. Thorp abandoned his claim, and, repairing to Warrensville, Cuyahoga county, began a settlement there which was soon after exchanged for land in Newburg, where it is thought some of his descendants still reside.

In 1812 a family named Cowles located about one mile west of the centre, built a cabin, " slashed" down the trees on several acres of land, remained a few years, but removed prior to 1818, in which year Asa Richardson exchanged his farm in Vermont with Judge Mills for lands here, brought his family from Steuben county, New York, and erected a cabin about three-fourths of a mile northwest of the centre, on the farm now owned by George and Henry Arner, made some improvement, but removed from the township after some four or five years' sojourn.

On February 8, 1821, John Smith, of Worthington, Hampshire county, Massachusetts, arrived in the township, and began life on lot No. 21, soon erecting the first log house built by a permanent settler. The tract upon which he then settled oonsisted of three hundred and eighty-four acres, and was the same upon which he now resides, enjoying those comforts to secure which he braved the many dangers and hardships incident to pioneer life. He informs us that the first year in the wilderness he raised forty bushels of potatoes and an equal number of bushels of corn. His family consisted of nine children, of whom John C. was the eldest. Following his birth, were Mary, Alexander H., George, and Philander (who both died young), Philander (2d), Lucy (also deceased), Henry P., and Rufus C., all living in the township, the last named occupying the old farm, with whom resides his venerable father, the mother having deceased September 7, 1860.

The spring following, Abitha Sutliff, of Connecticut, made a commencement on the centre lot, near where now stands the town hall. While engaged in clearing his lands he was, on the 9th of January, 1822, struck by a falling tree and instantly killed. This was, without doubt, the first death of a white person in the township of Dorset. Dr. Giles Cowles, of Austinburg, was the officiating clergyman on the occasion of the funeral, and his sermon is thought to have been the first delivered in the township.

The Sutliff family seemed doomed to fatal accident. Upon the death of the father four children were left, viz., Anson, Joel, Lyman, and Hiram. On or about the 29th day of April, 1854, Lyman, the third son, was murdered, but a few rods from the spot on which the unfortunate father was killed. Horace Haynes, the murderer, was sent to the penitentiary for life, which seems to be the greatest punishment meted out to him who takes the life of his fellow-man in Ashtabula County. Haynes was eventually pardoned out.

A little son of Hiram Sutliff was bitten by a mad dog, from the effects of which he died in horrible agony. This occurrence was less than one-half mile from the spot where the grandfather was, years before, crushed by the falling tree. The date of this death we are unable to obtain.

Nathan Bassett, of Dalton, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, arrived in the township March 10, 1822, and settled on the lot first occupied by the Cowles family. His son William informs us they came through with teams, were about six weeks on the road, and made a stop in Madison, Lake county, remaining for a time engaged in the occupation of brick-making; in fact, Mr. Bassett built the first brick kiln in Dorset, in about 1824 or 1825.

The children of Nathan Bassett are William C. (to whom our thanks are due for many facts of early history), Julia, Emma Jane, Mary Esther, and Solomon, who died in California.

The June following several families arrived, and located near the Thorp place, only remaining a few years, however. They were - two brothers Richardson, Walter Marsh, and David and Abijah Winch, all originally from the State of Vermont.

The first birth is thought to have been that of a daughter to John and Charlotte Smith, which event occurred in July, 1821. Austin Burr, another permanent settler, immigrated from Paris, Oneida county, New York, in 1821 ; was by occupation a cooper, and his first work was done in Madison, Lake county, afterwards wielding the adze and shave successively in Ashtabula, Harpersfield, Geneva, and Andover. He informs us that on the 28th of December, 1826, he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Houghton, of Andover, the ceremony taking place at the residence of the bride's father, Esquire Houghton. Mr. Burr tells me further that they had a pretty good time on the occasion. He located in Dorset in January, 1827, on the farm adjoining the one which he now occupies, and on which was erected the first building in the township where whisky did not add its " mechanical" powers to the furtherance of the work. From that time forward he has ever been an efficient worker in the cause of temperance. Seven children were born to him, of whom three still reside in Dorset, two in Kansas, one in Michigan, and one in New Lyme, this county. Lyman Larrabee, formerly from Vermont, was married in Jefferson, in 1824, to Elizabeth Cole, and in 1825 settled on lot No. 20, Dorset, where he still resides. Nathan Phillips, wife, and nine children came from Connecticut, and located in Kingsville, this county, in 1829, where B. W. Phillips, the present justice of the peace, was born, removing to Dorset some four years subsequently, and settling on lot No. 34, being the same now owned by E. G. Phillips, with whom the aged mother still resides, the father having deceased in 1853.

county. Austin Burr, Esq., made the happy couple one, and it is said he did exceeding well for a " raw hand" (this being his first attempt).

The First School

was taught in the summer of 1823, by Miss Sarah Houghton (now Mrs. Austin Burr) ; it was kept in a small log house standing near the Thorp place. This was the first house occupied for school purposes in the township, but we are unable to give the date at which it was built. Miss Houghton taught a term of three months, receiving for the same six shillings per week, aggregating nine dollars for the term. There were some sixteen scholars in attendance. The first natural death is thought to have been that of Elijah Richardson, which occurred in perhaps 1830. Rev. Giles Cowles, of Austinburg, officiating at the funeral, which was held at the house of deceased, then standing near the corner of lot No. 21. The body was interred in the cemetery near the residence of Lyman Larrabee, Austin Burr, Esq., having given the land to the township for that purpose. The first church organized was that of those grand old pioneer religionists, the Methodists, and was formed in 1825, by Rev. Joseph Carr. The services were held at the residence of Cheever Richardson, with a membership of fifteen souls. This church is, we learn, still in a flourishing condition. The first store was opened in about 1857, by John C. Smith. The goods, of which there was the variety usually found in country stores, were displayed in a portion of his dwelling, located about one-half mile east of the centre. We learn he did a good business. The first tavern was built by George Phillips, near the spot upon which now stands the town hall. It was a frame structure, and first opened to the public in the year 1838 by William Bell, the owner. It is said a general good time was had at the " opening," fluid nourishment freely furnished by the landlord no doubt materially increasing the hilarity of the occasion. Dr. Day was the first doctor. He " hung out his shingle" from one corner of the tavern, in about 1840, and remained in Dorset about two years. Of his professional attainments we are unable to learn anything. The first orchard was planted by Nathan Bassett, on lot No. 39, - this was in the year 1835, - Mr. Bassett and his son William bringing the trees, about forty in number, on their backs from Denmark. The first steam saw-mill was built by John Smith, on the farm now occupied by his son (John C.), in about 1840 ; he also put in stone for grinding corn and coarse feed. No grist-mill other than this has ever been in the township. John Smith also built the first cider-mill, which was in about 1842. Quite a considerable portion of the turnpike, from Leon to the centre of Dorset, was built by Mr. Smith, for the sum of twenty-five cents per rod ; for the bridge across the stream near Philander Smith's he received one dollar. The first brick house, and in fact the only one ever in the township, was erected in 1836 by the same, and is still occupied by him. The winter of 1853 witnessed the inauguration of the first singing-school, which was taught by Hiram Woodworth, in the school-house on lot No. 34. There were over thirty scholars in attendance, while the remainder of the house was filled to overflowing by citizens. The first Sabbath-school was held in a log school-house, which stood about thirty rods northwest of the present residence of B. W. Phillips, Esq., and was organized with Austin Burr as superintendent. The first road was a pioneer blazed route, running southeasterly from Jefferson, diagonally across the township ; the second was what is now known as the Jefferson road, - both of which thoroughfares were surveyed by Timothy R. Hawley, of whom former mention was made. There has been a post-office at or near the centre of the township for so many years that the memory of deponent runneth not to the contrary ; but when established, or who was the first postmaster, it seems beyond the power of mortal man to ascertain. It is quite possible, however, that one of the Richardsons first held the office. The mails were transported over the Jefferson road for some time prior to the establishment of a post-office. The first building occupied as a town hall was erected by John Smith, at or near the centre. It was a small frame building, and was also occupied as a school-house. This building was erected in about 1840, and served its purpose perhaps two or three years, when it was destroyed by fire. The township took the matter in hand, and erected the present commodious town hall.

The first and only cheese-factory in the township was built in 1870, by J. F. Burr. It is located near the centre, is quite a large building, and at present a paying institution. In 1873 it was purchased by T. B. Wire, who went into bankruptcy in 1875, when J. W. Chapin, its present owner, came into possession. The number of pounds of cheese manufactured the first year was fifty-eight thousand three hundred and sixty, which netted the sum of eight thousand eight hundred and eight dollars and ninety cents.

On the east bank of Mills creek, north of the Jefferson road, and near the covered bridge, stands a willow-tree of such extraordinary size and luxuriant foliage that the attention of the passer-by is attracted thereto, the trunk measuring eleven feet one and one-half inches in circumference three feet above the ground, while the top is at least sixty feet across. As the history of this huge tree will doubtless be of interest, we give it. In about the year 1830, Mrs. Tom Collins, who then lived on the place now occupied by the Arners, was returning home from an equestrian trip, and, stopping to allow her horse to drink, carelessly inserted the end of a small twig of willow (she had used as a riding-whip) into the soft surface of the bank. Whether intentionally or not, she rode away and left it in that position, and from it has grown this monster tree. Truly,

Of the early elections in Dorset we are unable to find any record, except the following copy of a poll-book, which sufficiently explains itself :

" Poll-book of an election held in the township of Millsford, in the county of Ashtabula, on the 14th day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty-eight. John Smith, Nathan Bassett, and Elijah Richardson, judges, Austin Burr, and Marinas Pierce were severally sworn as the law directs. There were eleven votes cast. The candidates were Allen Trumbull, governor ; Elisha Whittlesey, member of congress ; Lemuel Lee, representative ; Lynds Jones, sheriff; Samuel Whelpley, auditor; Christopher Champlin, commissioner; Marvin Leonard, coroner. There were also on same date township officers elected as follows: Samuel Fox, Rufus Thompson, John Smith, trustees; Austin Burr, clerk ; Lyman Larrabee, treasurer ; Hiram Bassett, constable ; Walter Marsh and Nathan Bassett, poor-masters ; Samuel Fox and Nathaniel Hubbard, fence-viewers ; and Rufus Thompson, John Smith, Nathaniel Hubbard, and Hiram Bassett, supervisors. Chester Woodworth was undoubtedly the first justice of the peace, but when elected we are unable to ascertain. He was succeeded by Austin Burr, who served three terms, and he by Nathan Phillips, who was elected, it is thought, in about 1838. The vote for President in 1876, as shown by the report of the secretary of state, was : Rutherford B Hayes, ninety-seven ; Samuel J. Tilden, fifty-four.

There were, in 1877, four separate school-houses and three joint districts ; estimated value of schools and school property, four thousand five hundred dollars. The enumeration of scholars shows a total of one hundred and twenty-six.

'Tis said of the patriotism of Dorset that during the Rebellion she sent to the defense of our glorious old flag a goodly number of her citizens. Many a grave in the sunny south bears witness to their loyalty.