Geneva Township (part 2 of 3)

Cheese-Factories

The first of these to begin operations in Saybrook was established by C. L. Johnson, on lot No. 69, in 1870. The first year he manufactured the milk from one hundred cows. In 1875 he did his greatest business, making that year fifty tons of cheese. In 1877 there were made some forty tons ; the milk of three hundred cows. This is a private enterprise, and is still in successful operation.

The nest factory was at the depot, lot 36, opened by a stock company. They conducted it but a single year, and then disposed of it to P. P. Chamberlin. He is now deceased, and the factory is conducted by his wife.

The third factory is on lot 62, opened by L. B. Brockett in 1872. The business done by these two last factories is considerably less than that of Mr. Johnson's.

Post-Office

The first one established was in 1816. A. Whipple was the first postmaster. In relation to the first mail-route, it is a fact that the mail was carried along the south ridge some time prior to 1816. Jacob Metcalf was mail-carrier, going at first on foot ; at length the route became passable for teams, and a clumsy lumberwagon was put into the line. A daily mail was afterwards established in 1821, and was transported along this route by four-horse coaches. At this time it was the great route of land-travel to the east.

The Warren and Ashtabula turnpike crossed the east line of Saybrook at Bunker Hill. This was nearly on the line previously occupied by the old Salt road.

The North Ridge road was surveyed and established in 1815. Peleg Sweet was one of the committee. The first record of the establishment of a road we find to have been in June, 1819. This was "from north of a road in the east part of Morgan and Austinburg to the south ridge, near S. Wright's." The subsequent December another road was laid out, also running south " from the south ridge, near B. Sweet's, to the road running through the centre of Austinburg."

Town Hall

This fine building was completed in December, 1871, at an expense of two thousand dollars. It is located on lot No. 43. The elections and other township business had been done, prior to the erection of this building, in a school-house, which stood near the original location of " Sweet's tavern."

Wrightsburg township was detached from Austinburg and organized as a separate township in the year 1816. An election was held at the house of Benjamin Sweet on the first Monday of April of that year, of which we find the following record: Nathan Williams was chosen chairman of the meeting. Levi Amsden and Benjamin Sweet were the judges, and Jessie Blackington clerk of the election. The officers elected on this occasion were Joel Owen, Samuel Wright, and Thomas Benham, trustees; Benjamin Sweet and Eli Roode, overseers of the poor; George Webster and Hubbard Tyler, fen ce- viewers ; Zadoc Brown, lister; and Levi Amsden, appraiser of property; Angell Whipple, Abraham Amsden, Samuel Benham, Levi Beckwith, Jason Norton, and Phineas Pierce, supervisors ; Thomas Stephens, constable ; and Joel Owens, treasurer. The first justice of the peace was Benjamin Sweet, who was appointed March 1, 1819. On the same record we find that Phineas Pierce and Levi Amsden were grand jurors, and Nathan Williams petit juror for 1819.

Prior to organization the name Mathertown was given the township, but was organized as Wrightsburg. The last date on which we find the name of Wrightsburg applied to the township was on the third day of April. 1827. The next entry was on the third of the subsequent May, when the designation is Wrightsburg alias Saybrook. To explain, in detail, the causes leading to this change of the name would require more space than is at our disposal, and would not perhaps be of interest to any considerable number of the patrons of this work.

It was in this township, in the year 1872, that Sylvester Brown took the life of his wife, and although justly entitled to the highest penalty for such an infamous crime, yet he was, by an Ashtabula County jury, acquitted.

Bear Story

In the autumn of 1817, a little fellow of some twelve years of age, named Oliver Steward, Jr., who lived on the south ridge, came to the house of Charlie Pratts, early in the morning, from a coon-hunting excursion, and told Mr. Pratt his little dog had treed a bear almost as big as a cow. He wanted to borrow a gun. Mr. Pratt thought he had better let the bear alone. No ! he wanted the bear, and must have the gun. Accordingly he took down the old musket, poured in an enormous quantity of powder and two balls, and handed it to the boy. He took an axe and went with him, all the way admonishing him of his danger. On arriving at the spot, there sat the bear, perched on a limb some twenty-five or thirty feet from the ground, while the little dog was dancing and barking at the foot of the tree. Restraining the boy until he could cut a stout cudgel, Mr. Pratt told him to make sure work, as a wounded bear was a dangerous plaything. " No danger," said the boy, as he rested his musket across the limb of a tree; "I shall kill him the first shot." Pulling the trigger, a tremendous report followed. The bear was killed by the shot, and the boy no doubt considerably astonished by the commotion at his end of the gun.

William T. Simonds

was born at Westminster, Windham county, Vermont, on November 29, 1809. He is the eldest son of Moses and Priscilla C. Simonds, who removed to Ashtabula County, Ohio, in the fall of 1821, and located in Harpersfield township, where they remained for perhaps one year, and then removed to the township of Saybi'ook, and made a permanent location. The father died in that township in April, 1828, and the mother in November, 1873.

The subject of this biography was educated in the common schools, and has all his lifetime pursued the occupation of a farmer. He has been a justice of the peace for twenty-seven years, and in the able discharge of duties has gained the respect and confidence of all who know him. In the fall of 1857 Mr. Simonds was elected to the office of county commissioner, and served successively three terms, - W. B. Quirk succeeded him for one term, - was then elected again, served one term, and was succeeded by H. L. Morrison. At the expiration of three years was again elected, and is at present an incumbent of that office. Politically Mr. Simonds was an old-line Whig, and is now, of course, a Republican. Although not a member of the army in the War of the Rebellion, yet he served his country well in the adjusting of quotas, and attending to the cause of the soldier. On December 23, 1852, Mr. Simonds was united in marriage to Susan, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Phineas Pierce, of Say brook. By this marriage two children were born to them. The elder is Charles W., born October 17, 1853; and the younger, Mary P., whose birth occurred September 4, 1857. They are unmarried, and reside at their father's home.

The Purchase

On the 5th of September, of the same year, the company received a deed for about three million acres of land lying in the northeastern part of Ohio, and called the Western Reserve.

It appears from the records of the Connecticut land company that when the division of the land was made among the members of the company, ninety-three townships, east of the Cuyahoga, were drawn in a lottery, and the township of Austinburg, then known as number eleven of the fourth range, fell to Messrs. Austin, Rockwell, Battell, and others, and these parties, in connection with other gentlemen in Connecticut who had drawn adjoining lands, formed themselves into a company, called the Torringford land company.

After the purchase and this singular allotment of the land, it was resolved by this last-named company to immediately attempt the colonization of their purchase. This first resolution, however, fell short of its purpose. The enterprise was committed to Colonel Blakeslee as leader, and preparations were made to set out at once for the region. It is said that Colonel Blakeslee went so far as to deed his property, and received a title to land in Austinburg in exchange, together with a grant of seventy acres on Grand river, including a mill-site. It will be discovered from the records of the surveying-party that the township now called Austinburg was designated in the field-notes by the name of " Blakeslee." The undertaking was abandoned, however, as the prospect of a war with the French, and some fear of Indian disturbances, discouraged the party and broke down the enterprise. Colonel Blakeslee therefore abandoned the property, and afterwards took a commission in the army, which had been called by the order of President Adams, and served until the adjustment of difficulties, in 1801. He afterwards removed to the west, and settled in Genesee county, in the State of New York.

About the same time a singular accident befell one of the company, which resulted in a way least expected, but which proved almost providential, at least a blessing in disguise.

This accident was nothing more nor less than the biting by a mad dog of Judge Austin, who seemed to be the leading spirit in the new company. The symptoms of the terrible disease of hydrophobia succeeded, nearly baffling the skill of the best physicians. It was, however, while in this state of anxiety and fear that it was advised by physicians and friends, as a relief, that the judge should, for a time, leave his home, and divert his thoughts from his dreadful disease by travel in foreign lands. To this he consented, but instead of going abroad he resolved to himself to make a tour to the wild lands in the west, and to open a way for a colony in that region.

The First Journey

Accordingly in the spring of 1799, Judge Austin, accompanied by Roswell Stevens and his wife, newly married, and three young men, David Allen, Anson Colt, and Samuel Fobes, all of whom he had hired for the purpose, and George Beckwith, his wife, and two small children in company, set out on his long journey, having taken farming tools and a team for the purpose of making improvements. All traveled together until they reached Schenectady. Here, however, he put the men and their wives and children aboard a couple of small boats, and himself proceeded with the team by land. From Buffalo to Austinburg the party were compelled to find their lodging on the bare earth, and to listen to the howling of wolves for their evening serenade. Their only provisions were those which Judge Austin had crowded into his capacious, but amply-stored, saddlebags. Such were the difficulties of the route and the delay of the journey, however, that the last two or three days the party was put on a short allowance.

The First Arrival

Having arrived in the vicinity, Judge Austin proceeded at once to Harpersfield, to the house of Alexander Harper, and thence to the landing, hoping to find the boat. Not meeting the party there, he then proceeded to the mouth of the Grand river, and up the river to a point near the present site of the village of Painesville. Here he rode his horse into the midst of the old Indian fort, which is situated on the east side of the river, halted, and looked around at the vast wilderness surrounding him. It is said that as he thus halted and took a view of the lonely solitude, thoughts of his old home, of his family and friends, and then of the vast and difficult enterprise which he had undertaken, came upon him, and his emotions were so stirred that he actually wept in his loneliness and disappointment. Returning to the residence of the Harpers', and here having seen that there were no provisions in the house, and knowing that a single pork rind was all that was left of the provisions in his saddle-bags, he went supperless to bed, too hungry and sad to sleep.

The moon shone brightly through the checkered forests and into the little window of the humble cabin, but the thoughts of the past and the future crowded thick upon that sleepless pillow. "The setting of a great hope," says Longfellow, " is like the going down of the sun." The stars came out, and the air seemed purer and heaven brighter, and so this scene was emblematic ; and yet another day was coming, - a day of hope and great progress in the midst of this wilderness.

During the night the family was aroused by the voice of a messenger who had arrived to tell of the safe landing of the boat and its occupants. Arising from his bed, the judge accompanied the man to the boat and brought provisions back to the house, on which the company and the family made a hearty breakfast, grateful that they had all arrived at last and were able to partake of so bountiful a repast. With the assistance of his men, the judge afterwards was able to transport his goods and provisions on hand-sleds from the landing to Austinburg.

The First Blow

On the 5th day of June, 1799, the first blow struck by a white man's axe in the town of Austinburg was struck by Judge Eliphalet Austin himself, the chief proprietor of the lands and the pioneer settler of all. It shows, however, his inexperience in all matters of wood-craft, to say nothing of the ordinary lot of the farmer's life, that the judge is said to have queried within himself how it was possible to clear the land aud remove such a mass of forest when, as he supposed, wood could not be burned when green. The experiment proved his mistake.

The forests in this season of the year presented their loveliest aspect ; all nature was dressed in its freshest, brightest array. The green leaves were crowding every portion of space, covering the soft earth with a canopy of thick foliage. The luxuriant herbage below grew in great masses, in which the few cattle which had been brought with the party fairly wallowed as they rambled and fed upon its abundance.

The First Cabin

Log cabins were soon erected by the little party. These were constructed of logs cut from the forest, unhewn and rough. The roof was made of bark, which had also been pulled from the trees, and held to its place by poles lying crosswise from end to end of the cabin. One of these rude cabins, the one occupied by Judge Austin and his company, was situated on a spot of ground which is now occupied by the brick building of Mr. Irving Knapp, in the village of Austinburg. The cabin belonging to Mr. George Beckwith and his family was erected on land near where Grand River institute now stands. Such was the beginning of the settlement of this village which has such historical importance in the annals of the great west. It was indeed a small beginning.

We can imagine the single hut hid away amid the forests, the only one which stood upon the site where the village now stands ; and out of sight in the distance. across the stream, almost lost amid the dense foliage, was another cabin, on the ground where now stands the academy, with its large, beautiful, and peopled buildings. It was a scene wild and primitive, such as only pioneer life, a home in the wilderness, could present. At this time the nearest habitation was at Harpersfield, five miles distant.

At Conneaut there was also a little settlement, consisting of Thomas Montgomery and Aaron Wright, who had settled at the place the previous year (1798). A band of Indians, consisting of three or four hundred, was scattered along the streams fishing and hunting, but the forest wildness reigned supreme over hill and valley, and the bear, wolf, and wild deer lurked undisturbed in many a dark hiding-place, and even disputed with the strangers the right to the fruits of the forest and the products of the soil. At Warren, thirty-five miles south, and at Vernon, forty miles southeast, in what is now Trumbull county, there were also white settlers, seven or eight families having located themselves in the former place at about this time. A single road led through the dense forest, - that, the one which had been cleared by order of the land company. This road had been girdled and cleared the previous year by the surveyors. It ran from the east line of the county, about seven miles south of the lake, across the site of Austinburg, to Little mountain, in Lake county, and from thence to Cleveland. The road passed by the door of Judge Austin's log cabin, and was the only sign of civilization presented in all the great wilderness. There was in all the settlements of this region a great scarcity of provisions, and in many cases of even the ordinary comforts.

Judge Austin and his little company, as soon as they had settled themselves in their new home, at once began the work of leveling the forests and clearing the laud preparatory to sowing the first crop of wheat which should be gathered off from the soil. The summer was spent also in exploring the land belonging to the various land companies, in searching for mill-sites, and in visiting settlers. Late in the autumn he started for his home in the distant east, leaving the little company which he had brought with him as the seeds of the colony which was to grow. Taking his son with him, he set out on horseback by the Indian trail which had been his route to the new forest home.

A Colony Organized

Having arrived at home and satisfactorily arranged the business of the land company, he proceeded to carry out the project which was in his mind of raising a colony for settlement in the distant west. In this enterprise Judge Austin was successful. It was fortunate for his own prosperity and for the village which bore his name that one so capable of devising and executing plans of large moment had set himself at this task. The principles which lay at the basis of this undertaking were not mere speculation in wild lands, nor the sordid desire to make money. It was not a band of adventurers, nor selfish, unprincipled moneyseekers, which were thus gathered by the commanding character and public spirit of this noble man. Those who were enlisted in the enterprise were men of the like spirit, - men who sought homes for themselves and their families, but who at the same time sought to plant institutions in the new land. It is remarkable that the character of a place as well as of a country through all time partakes of the spirit and character of those who first settled it. The foundations of society in the township of Austinburg were laid in such a manner as later generations have had much reason to be grateful, and by men of whom their posterity have no reason to be ashamed.

Names Of The First Colonists

The names of Deacon Noah Cowles, Captain Joseph Case, his son, afterwards Deacon Joseph M. Case, Adna Cowles, Solomon Cowles, Joseph B. Cowles, Roger Nettleton, Dr. Orestes K. Hawley, John Wright, Jr., Jonah Moses, Daniel C. Phelps, Isaac Butterfield, Ephraim Rice, Calvin Stone, David Allen, and Sterling Mills are all worthy of a high place, and should be highly regarded in the tablet of memory ; for they, with J udge Eliphalet Austin and his family, may be regarded as the founders of society in this important community, and as the originators of influences which have extended far to bless the country. These were all the members of the colony which, under the lead and through the influence of Judge Austin, were to start in the spring of 1800 for a permanent settlement in this far-off wilderness. They were all sterling men, - persons who had been brought under the firm but beneficent influence of the New England society and of the Puritan religion, men who carried with them, locked up in their own hearts, the attachment to their fathers' faith, and at the same time an appreciation of the progress which the growing institutions of our country might introduce.

Arrival Of The Colony

This hardy band of New England pioneers set out in early spring, and after a successful journey, arrived at the spot where still remained in the lonely forests the families who had established themselves the preceding year. The first effort of the colony after their arrival was to erect houses for themselves. These houses were indeed hurnhle dwellings. They were constructed of the timber of the forest, and for the most part contained but a single room. Riven splints formed the covering of their roof, and split logs or puncheons served for floors ; everything about them was very rude. But few families belonged to the colony, as the wives and children were left behind until preparation could be made for their comfort. The colony had, however, laid in a stock of provisions, a good supply of agricultural implements, and Judge Austin had transported about five hundred dollars' worth of goods, consisting of hardware, groceries, clothes, boots and shoes, aud the various implements aud articles which might be used in a new country.

The First Stock Of Goods

This stock of goods was one of the first that had ever been brought into this wilderness ; the only stock which had ever reached this deep interior before having been, in the year 1798, transported by way of Pittsburgh, and carried on pack-horses to the mouth of the Cuyahoga, and there stored in a log house, and afterwards transported by water to Detroit, Dennison & Wilson being the enterprising partners who introduced them to the country. In the year 1802, Mr. Foster established the first regular store in the Western Reserve, in the town of Poland.

A Night In The Woods

One incident of the immigration into this town has been narrated which is worthy of a place iu history. Early in February of the year 1800 Deacon Sterling Mills, with his wife aud four children, - two sons and two daughters, - the youngest a babe in its mother's arms, started for this distant point iu the wilderness. Taking an ox-team and sled, they arrived at Bloomfield, in the western part of New York, near the Genesee river, where they remained until the opening of spring. At that time they started again, aud arriving at Buffalo, the family were put aboard a small boat, which, in company with a number of others, was starting across the lake for the settlement on the Reserve. The boat made slow progress, but at length arrived at the dock at Madison or Harper's landing. The family, accompanied by Joseph M. Case, then sought to make their way by a trail to the Harper's settlement and to Austinsburg. Arriving at the settlement at Harpersfield, horses with saddles were procured for Mrs. Mills aud the children, and the little party set out through the forest for " Austin's Camp," as it was called. It was late iu the afternoon, and night was falling as they started. While iu the midst of the forest night overtook them. A rain-storm commenced, accompanied with sharp lightuing aud thunder. The little company knew not how far distant they were from the settlement, but the darkness surrounded them, aud it seemed impracticable for them to go farther. They had no means of making a fire, no provisions with them, and seemed helpless amid the dangers of the wilderness. There were wild animals in the forests, and now the flashes revealed only the wildness and darkness of the scene, while the echoes of the thunder rolled through recesses, bringing fear to the heart of the helpless mother and the little children. The party was obliged to stop ; and there, with nothing but the furnishings of the saddle to keep them from the damp earth, and nothing but a single umbrella to protect them from the rain which was falling, the little party, huddled together, spent the long and lonely hours of the night until the morning. The kind-hearted neighbor and friend, however, took turns with the husband in holding the umbrella over the little babe. As soon as the daylight appeared the party started, and soon arrived at the settlement, their night encampment being but about threequarters of a mile from the hospitable door of Judge Austin's cabin.

The First Boat On Grand River

The boat which contained the household goods was propelled along the lakeshore to the mouth of Grand river, and up that river to Mills creek, where they were landed. At this point a hut was erected by the men, and the household goods were stored, while the log cabin, a few rods away, was soon in process of erection, and the preparations were made for the permanent residence of the family.

A Woman Lost

There are many incidents connected with the arrival and early experiences of this little colony. It is said that Mr. Mills' family moved into the log house prepared for them before there was in it either floor, door, window, or chimney. During this time it is also narrated that Mrs. Mills, one morning whilst the men were away chopping, having need of the tea-kettle, which had been left at the shanty sixty or seventy rods distant, started alone through the woods to bring it, leaving the children in the house awaiting her return. The day was cloudy, and the path was a dim one. She lost her way. When the men returned at noon they found that the mother was absent ; she in fact was lost, - lost, too, in a perfect wilderness. Very naturally their fears were excited. There was at the time scarcely a single trail or mark of human presence from Buffalo to Detroit, or from Lake Erie to Pittsburgh, by which one who was lost could find direction. They at once set about to find her, running here and there, shouting, and firiug guns as they could. In the mean time the mother herself, almost frantic with fear and excitement, knew not which way to go, and yet could not bear to stop. She fled in different directions, fearing even lest every movement should carry her farther away into the forests. She heard the guns, but could not tell their direction. At length a conch-shell, which the family had brought with them from the Atlantic coast, and which had previously sounded from hill to hill in the New England home, was brought into use, and now sent out a blast long and loud, which echoed through the surrounding forests. The sound was familiar. As the wife and mother heard the familiar note, it seemed like sweetest music ; it spoke to her of children, of loved ones, and at once she was guided by it to her home, and was soon welcomed by family and friends after a bewildering and painful absence of several hours.

Scarcity Of Provisions

One of the great difficulties of this early settlement was the scarcity of provisions, as nearly all that the families had to eat was transported from a distance. During the season a small amount of grain was received from western Pennsylvania, and having been ground at a mill in the vicinity, was transported along the lake-shore and landed at Ashtabula creek, and so transported to the settlements. To Judge Austin belongs the honor of harvesting the first crop of grain in the county, and of securing the first flour from the native-grown wheat. During this season a large double house had been erected on land near and east of the academy buildings, and near the very spot where now stands the residence called the old Judge Austin house.

The First Harvest

A log barn was also erected during the same year. Into this Judge Austin gathered, in July of the year 1800, the harvest of wheat which he had reaped from the land which he had sown the previous year. It was a crop which his own hand had helped to sow, on land which he himself cleared, and which his own sickle had served to gather. The harvest was, however, no sooner gathered before the sound of the flail could be heard beating out the grain upon a puncheon floor in the open air, and this was taken to the landing, and then along the lake-shore to the mouth of the Cuyahoga, and again transported to Newburgh, where was the only mill of the whole region.

Arrival Of Families

During the fall, after the labors of the season were over, and suitable preparations had been made for their comfort, a number of these hardy pioneers returned for their families. Among those who had thus come alone and were now returning were Judge Austin, Deacon Joseph Case, his son Joseph Mills Case, Roger Net- tleton, who afterwards settled in Kingsville, Noah Cowles, and Joseph B. Cowles. The season had been a laborious, but nevertheless a happy and hopeful one. The forests had been cleared, crops had been sown, houses built, and fruit-trees set out, and now their first harvest of wheat, potatoes, and grain had been gathered. Early in the year 1801 a number of families arrived from the east, many of them the families of the men who had come the year before, and had returned for them. Some had come by the water-route, and had brought with them household furniture ; others had traveled the distance by land, bringing with them horses and wagons, domestic cattle, provisions, and implements, so by this means the settlement during this season began to assume much of the home-like look. Judge Austin at this time also brought his family with him, - a family consisting of five daughters and the son who had before attended him. It is narrated that upon reaching Buffalo the route was considered too difficult for wagons, and accordingly the whole family were placed on horses at Buffalo, and, following an Indian trail, thus made their way across the fords and through the wilderness, having camped two nights in the midst of the forest by the way. The only incident of especial moment which occurred on this memorable journey was the crossing of a stream where it seemed at one time as if two of the daughters must lose their lives, from the fact that the horse which bore them plunged off the track into water so deep as to overwhelm them. The presence of mind and ready movement of the father succeeded in rescuing them from their perilous position. An interesting story is told, however, of one of the daughters, then a little child. It appears that the route of the party had led through the Indian reservation of the Oneida Indians, and on their way they had stopped among that people. During the stay the little girl had caught the word which the Indians used when experiencing delight and surprise, and learned to speak it, " C-o-o-wah." On the journey she often amused the party by the exact imitation of the Indian accent and attitude in speaking this word. When the family arrived at the little settlement which was to be their future home, and alighted at the door of the humble cabin, the mother's heart was swelling with a conflict of mingled emotions. Just then, however, the sweet little child, catching sight of the little cabin, lifted up her hands in the same wild manner, and, with a loud, merry voice, uttered the novel exclamation, " C-o-o-wah." It was too good ; the mother, whose heart had been swelling with mingled emotions, burst into tears, but they were tears of joy rather than of sorrow. A note of joy and hope and gladness from her own little child had welcomed them all to their home in the wilderness.

One peculiarity about the settlement of Austinburg is worthy of notice, - the families who composed the colony and who were to be the residents had been accustomed in their New England homes to the habitual worship of the Almighty God, - the God of their fathers and their God.

Religious Beginnings

On the arrival of the first party in the year 1800, even before their families came, these devout men did not forget to acknowledge their dependence on the Almighty, whose are the forests and whose hand had woven the verdant roof and erected the lofty column of the great temple which they were inhabiting. " The groves were God's first temples," - in the midst of the solemn stillness they seemed to worship when none but God was near. During the first season there were but three families in all this neighborhood, and they scattered at a distance from one another, yet this little colony gathered regularly every Sabbath in the same place for the purpose of worship. Though there was no pastor or church in all the vast territory, yet devout prayer was lifted to God ; singing, reading of Scripture, and reading a sermon were the regular exercises of the Sabbath eve amid these men's surroundings. On the arrival of the families, in the spring of the second season, religious exercises were again established, and were never permitted to cease for a single Sabbath, and have continued for all the years which have since elapsed. Judge Austin's house was generally the place of meeting until the increase of the inhabitants rendered the place too small, and then his barn was occupied for the purpose. Meetings were also held in these early days at the house of the excellent deacon, Sterling Mills, who lived in the south part of the town, and whose house was regarded, on account of roads and weather, at the time as more convenient for those in the neighborhood.

First Sermon

In August of this same year the first sermon ever delivered in the county or in the Reserve was preached by the Rev. Joseph Badger, of Blanford, Massachusetts. This devout, excellent man had been sent out by the Connecticut missionary society as the pioneer missionary and general evangelist. It is one proof of the liberality and ecclesiastical comity of the Congregational denomination that at this time the society which sent missionaries into the west did not ask the question to what denomination a man belonged. Though itself a Congregational society, and receiving Congregational funds, it frequently made appropriations to

Presbyterian churches and to the support of Presbyterian pastors. Rev. Mr. Badger was a very useful man. His visit to the village of Austinburg was the beginning of an era in the religious character of the region.

Church Formed

On the 19th of October, 1801, Mr. Badger preached in Austinburg. We quote from his journal, "There being a small number of professors in the place who were desirous of being instituted into a church, a meeting was appointed for Thursday, October 24, and a church was formed, consisting of ten males and six females." This was the first church formed on the Reserve.

First Roads

We have stated that the site of the village of Austinburg was located on the road which had been girdled and partly cleared by the first surveyors, in 1798. Other roads, however, soon became necessary, as the arrival of families from various directions, and the settlement of other neighboring towns, required the opening of these lines through the w'ilderness. It will be remembered that after the first settlement of the town no wagon had made its appearance, and that the only access was on horseback or by boat. It was during the first winter, that of 1800, that the men who remained at the camp, while Judge Austin returned, cut a road through the woods from Austinburg to the Ashtabula creek. This road intersected the old girdled road at Austinburg, but in following years was extended from this place to Morgan, and so through N'ew Lyme, across a corner of Colebrook, to Wayne, and from Wayne, through Gustavus, Kinsman, and Vernon, to Poland. This was called the "old Salt road." Other roads were afterwards cut out to Harpersfield and Jefferson. This was the first which was traveled to any extent through this town.

Early Navigation

At this time there was a mode of conveyance which is rather interesting, ns showing the means resorted to in a new country to penetrate the interior when there are no roads, and forests present a barrier to immigration. A large whitewood tree was worked and dug out, and from this a boat was constructed, which, for the purpose for which it was designated, was as useful as a first-class vessel. This was launched upon Grand river, and was manned by a party from Austinburg. Joseph Case and a companion acted in the capacity of captain, of mate, and of sailors, and at all hours. By this vessel salt and lime, household goods and provisions, were carried from Gregory's mills, in Harpersfield, to Griswold's Landing, in the edge of Windsor, and a right useful craft did it prove to bo.

First Saw Mill

The Grand river rises in Trumbull and Portage counties, and crosses Ashtabula County near its west border, and makes its mouth in Lake county, near Painesville. It is a very crooked and shallow stream. It enters the town of Austinburg three-fourths of a mile from its southwest corner, and after making several wide turns passes out of the west line about one and three-fourths miles north of the same corner. Near this point Mills creek, which flows from the cast and drains a large part of the township, empties into the Grand river, making a considerable increase to its depth.

There are bottom-lands on these streams in the limits of the township which form some of the deepest and richest soil in the county. On this stream, "the Grand river," in the town of Austinburg, the first saw-mill in the county was erected. This was in the year 1801, Judge Austin being its owner. Here also was erected the first grist-mill in the county, the latter owned by Ambrose Humphrey. In the year previous to the erection of this grist-mill, the people of Austinburg were accustomed to take their grist to Newburgh by way of Harpersfield and the landing, - at Madison, - along the lake to Cleveland, and so overland to the waterfall and flour-mill. It was a tedious, wearisome undertaking, occupying two or three weeks in coming and going and in waiting for the grinding.

During the early times, it was all that one wanted to do to keep some of the settlements provided with flour in this way. After the first season a substitute for a mill was erected in Harpersfield. This was a rude machine, which was run by horse-power, and consisted of a single pair of buhrs, which with the pinion and lever could be turned by a horse, but its grinding was very slow and coarse. It was the custom of the neighborhood when the flour was needed to mount some boy on a horse with the corn or bag laid across the horse's back, and start them for the mill. Arriving, the same horse was used for propelling the mill, the boy turning miller for the time ; then when the grist was done, without paying any toll, the whole was taken back to the family.

These buhrs were afterwards bought by Ambrose Humphrey, and put into a mill at Mechanicsville, and long served the purposes of the country in grinding out their grain. The mechauical interests received an impetus at au early day from the enterprise of Judge Austin. A deed is in existence in which the millsite was conveyed to him. The property, however, afterwards became a gift to the Manual Labor school. Iu this capacity it remained, but the property was sold, and now the enterprising little village called Mechanicsville occupies the site. The stones had been used by the Harper colony to grind their wheat, which was drawn on a hand-sled from Fair River, Pennsylvania, on the ice of the lake. The Harper mill was unfortunately broken in the spring of 1799 beyond repair, and the event caused consternation and dismay to all the settlers of northern Ohio. In June of that year, while the men were abseut in Canada for a new supply, and long detained by adverse circumstances, the Harper colony was reduced nearly to starvation, but the timely arrival of Judge Austin fortunately brought them the needed and welcome supplies.

A Sad Incident

Two travelers on their way south were arrested in their journey in the month of August. 1SD4, by high water iu the Mills creek. Captain Joseph Case, ever ready to help the wayfarer on his journey, determined to assist them in crossing the creek. For this purpose he went with them a short distance to his canoe. Stripping their horses of saddles and baggage, the strangers holding their horses by the bridles, led them into the water upon the lower or down-stream side of the canoe, one at the bow and the other about the middle of it, in which position they held them, while Captain Case paddled the canoe to the opposite bank. Their horses safely over, one of the strangers remained with them, while the other returned with their benefactor for their saddles and baggage. While crossing with these, the man with the horses saw Captain Case go over the side of the canoe with his arms upraised in a tremulous manner, grasping the paddle. The man in the canoe, looking towards the shore, did not witness this sad catastrophe. Mr. Lucius Badger says of this event : " I stood by the side of my father, Rev. Joseph Badger, upon the bank of the stream, viewing its maddened current, and watching the progress of the canoe approaching the shore, propelled through the foaming stream, when, to my utter amazement, I saw Captain Case fall from his seat into the stream ou the upper side of the canoe. As soon as the cauoe struck the shore my father sprang into it, and both paddled with all their might to save him from a watery grave. The current was so strong that when lie rose he rose nearly half his length out of the water, raising his hands towards heaven as though supplicating Divine assistance. When the canoe arrived alongside of him, one man threw down his paddle to seize hold of him, but at that moment he sauk like a stone. Thus was the community deprived iu its infantile state of one of its most useful citizens, the church deprived of its most efficient member, and his family bereaved of an affectionate father and pious counselor. The death caused a gloom over this region, and has been dwelt upon as one of the sad incidents of this early day."

TH£ ARRIVAL OF REV. JOSEPH BADOER was un event in the history of Austinburg. As he came with his large family, he brought an accession to the society of the place. His home was located in the south part of the town, near the residence of Deacon Mills. He began to labor for the church, but was frequently absent for months at a time.

Mr. Badger says, . . . " It became uecessary on my arrival in this wilderness to provide bread for my family. (In this small settlement the people had the previous season raised considerable wheat, corn, and some potatoes, and in the winter of 1801-2 a small mill for grinding was erected, adjoining Mr. Austin's saw-mill.) Got flour at the mill, coarse enough, but served well for bread. Meat was more difficult to be had. Hearing of a barrel of pork at Paincsville, I sent a man with a dray to haul it through the woods, thirty miles; paid twenty silver dollars for one hundred and seventy pounds ; it was the whole hog, feet, head, snout, and ears. I procured two cows, which furnished plenty of milk. Our pasture was large, without a fence; sometimes the creatures rambled out of hearing for a day or two. Notwithstanding our long and tedious journey, wc had obtained such supplies as made us comfortable, and had much to be thankful for, although sometimes our prospects were very dark. About this time it was necessary to extend my missionary labors to other parts of the Reserve. I had only made such arrangements as to shelter my family from the storm and supply them with bread for about two months."

The Great Revival

During the year 1804 a remarkable revival occurred in the place. This revival was attended with singular physical exercises. They arc spoken of in the general history. By the means of this revival a large uumber were added to the church, and the whole community was much affected. The whole number admitted at the time was forty-one, and the Lord's supper was administered to sixty-two persons. Among those who joined by profession were Eliphalet Austin, Thomas Montgomery, Q. F. Atkins, Henry L. Badger, Juliana Badger, el ul. In a single day the church was increased to six times its original membership. It continued, however, without regular preaching. Mr. Badger supplied as he could, but had appointments at Conneaut, Harpersfield, and other places.

The Congregational Church

The Congregational church of Austinburg was organized October 24, 1801. It consisted of ten male and five female members. This was the first church organized on the Connecticut Western Reserve. The names of the members are as follows : William Harper, Betsey Harper, Abraham Bartholomew, Zerah Cowles, Erastus Austin, Sally Atkins, John Wright, Jr., David Wright, Moses Wilcox, Alexander Harper, George W. Hawley, Lydia Battell, James Montgomery and Mary, his wife, Edmund Strong and Anna, his wife. Noah Cowles and Sterling Mills were the first deacons. Rev. Joseph Badger was the first pastor, commencing his labors in the year 1802. He preached also regularly at Conneaut, Harpersfield, and Morgan. He was for a time the only missionary in the county, and was often absent from his family and the people. During the first year the church was deprived of two valuable members, Mrs. T. R. Hawley and Joseph M. Case. In the fall of 1803 great religious interest was manifest.

For several years the church was deprived of regular preaching, *as Mr. Badger was so often absent, but Sabbath services were punctually continued.

In the year 1810 the Rev. Giles H. Cowles was called to the pastorate of the united church of Austinburg and Morgan. Previous to this time a society had been organized, and " it was voted that Austinburg and Morgan unite for three years in one society, to be known by the name of the Richfield Ecclesiastical society, for the purpose of hiring the preaching of the gospel." September 27, of the same year, another organization took the place of it, called the Austinburg Congregational society, but composed of citizens of Austinburg, Morgan, and Rome, or towns 9, 10, and 11 of the fourth range. At this meeting ninety-two persons signed the compact by which they agreed " that we will pay such tax as shall be agreed by a vote of a majority of the members present at the annual meeting, to be assessed on such personal property as shall be listed, or made subject to taxation for county purposes, and the value of the improved part of our farms and buildings that are not listed."

At a meeting held at the house of Deacon Sterling Mills, in October, 1810, it was " voted unanimously to give the Rev. Giles H. Cowles a call to settle with us as our minister. Voted that we give Rev. Mr. Cowles $200, payable in produce, annually, for one-half of his time." The Rev. Mr. Cowles was installed over the church in October, 1811. The society continued to raise the salary by assessments and taxation for many years. In the year 1816 a revival of religion was enjoyed by the church, at which time a large number of the young people of the congregation united. The church continued to meet in the log building which was erected at the centre until the year 1824, when they began to occupy the frame building, although it was in an unfinished condition. Rev. G. H. Cowles resigned in 1830, and in the same year Rev. Henry Cowles became the pastor. During this pastorate there occurred another revival of religion. This began with a " four days' meeting." Such meetings had been held in other places, but this church was the first to introduce them into northern Ohio. They were commenced with considerable doubts and anxiety, but proved a source of great blessing. Neighboring pastors came together, and persons from many of the towns surrounding assembled. Rev. Henry Cowles says, " The revival of 1831 doubled the membership of the church in one day. When I went there, September, 1830, there was but one unmarried member in the church. No revival had been enjoyed since 1816. A generation of young people had sprung up with no professed Christians among them. It was greatly to their advantage that the religious elements all worked together, all Congregational. Other denominations had no religious footing there during my pastorate. I think their first good church building was in advance of any other on the Reserve, - earlier, better."

In the year 1841 the church moved to a new house of worship which bad been erected at the north end, where the village now is. An unhappy division occurred here, and a large number of the members returned to the old house of worship at the centre. This was during the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Avery, subsequent to the resignation of the Rev. Henry Cowles. The withdrawing party employed for a time the Rev. Henry Burton as supply, and soon after built another house of worship at the village. Services were held in this church building until it was burned, since which time the two congregations have been united in worship in the sanctuary first built at this place.

The pastors who have served the church are as follows : Rev. Joseph Badger, 1801 ; Rev. Giles H. Cowles, 1811 ; Rev. Henry Cowles, 1830-35 ; Rev. S. W. Burrett, 1835-38 ; Rev. Sereno Streeter.

Church Buildings

The original proprietors of Austinburg appropriated a lot of land of one hundred and sixty acres to the purpose of sustaining the church. After the arrival of the Rev. Mr. Cowles, in 1811, eighty acres of this land were given to the first minister. On this land Rev. Mr. Cowles erected the house which still stands. The first house of worship erected in the township was on this land, in 1810. It was a log house, covered with long oak shingles, and having a floor of puncheon or split logs, a chimney made of sticks and mud, and a door with wooden latches and hinges. Previous to this time meetings had been held in private houses, Deacon Sterling Mills' and Judge Austin's generally being the place. On unusual occasions the barns belonging to Deacon Mills and Judge Austin were occupied. It is also stated that a log hut at the centre was used alternately for the accommodation of strangers and families who were emigrating to the place, and as a house of worship. This first log meeting-house was the scene of many interesting exercises. The inhabitants of the town always found it a place where they were sure to meet one another at least once a week. Some ludicrous things are told of it, however, owing to its rude construction. It appears that Rev. Mr. Cowles had a fine drove of hogs which suddenly disappeared. Nothing could be found of them, though the hired men were sent far and near, and the family had about given up, and supposed that they had been destroyed by the bears. On Sabbath morning, however, as the reverend pastor went to the sanctuary early for devotion, approaching the door, he heard a grunting within, but the door was fastened. The hogs had got inside, and had rooted the puncheon floor against the door, and the stone hearth in every direction, and had made the primitive sanctuary the place of confusion.

In 1824 the first frame church building in the county, or on the Reserve, was erected in this place. It was at the centre, just opposite the log church spoken of. It was modeled after the Norfolk meeting-house, in Litchfield county, Connecticut. It was a solid white-oak frame, very high, and when finished had a gallery on three sides. It had a tower in front, a circular belfry, and a tall spire, and although built while the country was new, was a very stately and handsome edifice.

Mr. Joseph Mills has given a description of the erection of the building. He says the raising of the building commenced Monday morning, and continued throughout the week until late Saturday afternoon. It was raised with tackles and guy-poles, with block and pulleys attached. The services of an " old salt" were procured to erect the affair, by the name of Ebenezer Church. When the last timber was laid in its place, Church climbed to the top of the spire, taking rope with him, and when at the top, one hundred and five feet from the ground, he drew up a bottle of whisky, which, with three cheers for the new church, he threw as far as he could. Betsey Cowles, however, says that at the time of the raising the leaders resolved that there should be no whisky drank, as was the custom in those days. Accordingly, they prepared an abundance of provisions and good coffee for the occasion.

Mr. Mills says, " The frame church was raised in September, and barely inclosed ; and there, without stoves to warm us, without wrappers or drawers, cloaks or overcoats, we used to go to church and continue through two services each Sabbath. The house was not seated, but ordinary benches without backs were used for a long time. The church was furnished in neat and appropriate style in 1824, and dedicated to God with solemn exercises, and our pastor, Rev. Giles II. Cowles, preached the dedication sermon, in which he said this church, properly cared for, will stand long down into the millennium period. I was myself leader of the choir. We sang on the occasion, ' old Denmark' :

The new and elegant edifice was built during 1877. It is a fine structure, fronted by a large tower at the northeast corner, which is surmounted by a belfry and steeple, also with a tower at the northwest corner, and with two entrances near the back end. It is furnished with gothic stained windows and pilasters, or false pillars, on the side, and stone caps surmounting. The interior contains a commodious audience-room, a large gallery in front and an orchestra in the rear of the pulpit. The audience-room is finely frescoed, and memorial tablets are inserted into the sills of the windows. There is a small basement-room below. The house is an imposing one, very commodious, attractive, and is an ornament to the place. Its cost was seventeen thousand dollars.

Schools. - The first school in Austinburg was taught by Miss Betsey Austin, afterwards the wife of Dr. Orestes Iv. Hawley. It was in a log barn, which stood west of the old homestead of Judge Austin, now belonging to the institution, and known in 1850 as the King house. The teacher received nothing for these services, which were rendered in 1801. The first school-house was built in the autumn of 1802 ; was located on the little rise of ground west of the dwellinghouse of Mrs. Sally B. Austin, in or near the orchard, which is west of the small stream. It was made of plank notched together at the end, with a mud-and- stick chimney. The second school-house was built of logs, and was situated on the east side of the turnpike, a little south of the orchard, on the farm of James Selleck, and nearly opposite his residence. This was built in 1806. The third was also a log house, and was situated near the present residence of Seth Walkley, a little west of it.

First teachers. - Miss Betsey Austin was the first teacher in the town. Among the early teachers at the north part of the town were Clarissa Cowles, Fanny Forbes, Dr. Hawley, Chauncey Hawley, Joel Austin, Florilla Austin. At the south part of the town were, first, Nancy Wright, now Mrs. Harry Loomis, of Eagleville, Lucinda Atkins, Diana Atkins, Noah Smith, David Wright, and Josiah Brown.

Grand River Institute

The history of Austinburg illustrates one truth, that the sustaining of religious sentiments secures educational and social advantages. As in Connecticut the school-house is identical with the church building, so here education has attended the church. The home, the church, and the school were the trinity in which society here believed.

At the very outset, while homes were all new and when families had become scarcely settled, a little house had been erected for a school. The teacher taught without pay, but she found satisfaction in the good accomplished. The schoolhouse was built of plank, and was located on the ground where the Grand River institute now stands.

In the year 1831 began that movement which culminated in the establishment of the institution which has been a source of pride to the place. Perhaps the credit of having started it should be given to Lucius M. Austin, a nephew of Judge Eliplialet Austin. He commenced a school at the village in an old coopershop. This was in 1830. The school began with only one or two scholars. Rev. Henry Cowles states, however, that it was mainly owing to the revival of religion in 1831 that the institution was established.

The design was to establish a school for educating young men for the ministry. It was even proposed by some to establish a college, but the Western Reserve college had just been started at Hudson, and this idea was abandoned. Rev. Henry Cowles says, " It may have been due somewhat to my influence that it commenced with the more modest idea of an institute, - a preparatory department and the early stages of a college course. I insisted that a second college in this small northeastern section of Ohio was premature and unwise."

A charter was secured by the act of legislature February 22, 1831. The original incorporators were Rev. Giles H. Cowles, Moses Wilcox, Judge Eliphalet Austin, Dr. Orestes K. Hawley, Joab Austin, Joseph M. Case, Jarius Guild, Ward Childs, Gains W. St. John, and Rev. Eliphalet Austin.

The institution was first started as a manual labor school, and the act of incorporation specified the object. It was called the " Ashtabula County Institute of Science and Industry," and was located at Mechanic-sville. Dr. Orestes K. Hawley and Joab Austin were the prime movers in this enterprise. These gentlemen owned a large amount of property at Mechanicsville, consisting of a grist-mill, a saw-mill, an oil-mill, and some other works. These the owners proposed to donate to the institution, and no one at the time doubted that with these as the basis the plan of manual labor would prove successful. The students, who at first were few, soon began to flock in. In the year 1836 about thirty young men came in a body from Oberlin. That institution had been established on the same plan, but was overrun with students. Suitable accommodations could not be secured for the numbers. The citizens of Austinburg made every effort to accommodate. Mechanicsville became populous with students. The mills were run by them. Every facility was afforded for the success of the plan, but it failed. The mills ran down, although the school flourished.

At this time Mr. Joab Austin, who was a successful merchant at the north end, proposed to the trustees that he would give twenty-five thousand dollars if they would move it up to that end of town. The proposition was accepted. By consent of the legislature the name was changed to that of Grand River institute. The land was deeded and the building was moved. In effecting this change some difficulty was experienced in moving the building. A hundred yoke of oxen were at first employed, but no chain could hold them. After moving it about three hundred yards it was abandoned. It was afterwards moved by a slower process, and is now the South hall. From the time of the location at this spot the school has continued to flourish.

The first teacher of the academy who led to the organization of the institution was Mr. Lucius M. Austin. After the incorporation the first principal was Ralph M. A\ alker, a graduate of W esteru Reserve college. The second principal was Rev. Thomas Teuny, a graduate of Dartmouth. With him was associated

Miss Betsey M. Cowles, the first lady principal. The third principal was Seth Waldo. Following him were Mr. A. A. Smith, Rev. S. J. Davis, Messrs. Lucius M. Austin, George McMillan, Joseph Barnum, George Walker, and Myrton L. Pinney.

In 1840 a ladies' department was established, and since that time both sexes have been educated together. The average attendance has been nearly two hundred, at times reaching nearly three hundred. The scholarship in the institute has been of a high grade. The full course is designed to be equivalent to the scientific department of many of the universities. Many students, however, take a partial course, and fit themselves for college. A few have left the institute in the senior year, and joined the senior class of certain colleges in this State.

The present principal, Professor J. Tuckerman, has been engaged in schoolteaching for his lifetime. His first school was at Orwell. Afterwards he was a professor in Farmers' college for eleven years. From that institute he came to Austinburg, and has taught now ten years.

The course of study embraces two departments, the normal and academic. The academic course embraces algebra, geometry, calculus, and mechanical philosophy, Latin and Greek, consisting of Caesar, Cicero, Virgil, Tacitus, and Horace, Xenophon and Homer, beside the usual English studies.

The endowment of the school is mainly that which was made at the beginning by Dr. 0. K. Hawley and Joab Austin. After its removal from Mechanicsville, the mills and property at that place were sold, and the money put into Lake Shore railroad stock. This, with the addition of some land given by Mr. Brewster, is all the endowment.

The school is at present in a flourishing condition. Its religious character is one marked peculiarity. At the time of the removal and new organization it was stipulated " that no regular professor or teacher should be employed who was not of the orthodox Trinitarian school." This was in compliance with a condition of a gift of land made by Mr. Brewster at the time, and has been conscientiously complied with by the trustees.

Grand River institute is now the only school of the kind in the county. Other academies have been established, but have at last been given up. First, one at Wayne ; second, one at Wayne ; and, third, that at Orwell. The public school system has taken their places. For the purpose for which it has been established few schools have been more successful. Many persons of note in the country have received their education here, among whom we may mention Judge Samuel Cowles, of California, and Alfred Cowles, of Chicago.

Hardships Of Early Settlers

Noah Cowles, of Norwalk, Connecticut, arrived in Austinburg in 1801. He had exchanged his farm there for land here. He brought with him mill-irons and nails to build a grist-mill. He brought with him a number of hired men and millwrights. He spent the summer with seven hired men in building the dam and mills on Grand river, at Mechanicsville. In the fall there was a flood that swept away part of the dam, leaving the mill far out in the stream. To repair the damage he got every man able to work within twenty miles, thirty in number, and paid them a dollar per day. To feed them he sent a young man through the woods to Youngstown to bring a barrel of pork, over sixty miles, which cost fifty dollars when they got it home. They used to eat a beef every week. His wife was taken sick in the summer, and it was thought necessary for her to have some wine. There was none to be had short of Pittsburgh, some hundred and twenty miles. Roswell Stevens was hired to go on foot through the woods ; it took him eight days. He brought a gallon on his back, which, with the wages and expenses, cost sixteen dollars. Expenses of sickness lasting more or less for nine or ten years so embarrassed him with debts that he never fully recovered. It is said that he paid one physician two thousand dollars. In the fall of 1809 his wife died, leaving him, with all his other trials and embarrassments, bereaved indeed. She was one of the excellent of the earth.

Pictures Of Early Times

Two pictures have been given of the early times, which are certainly worthy of perusal. They were depicted by those who were familiar with the scenes and who were capable of portraying them in words after fifty years of the passage of time. This retrospective power of memory is wonderful. No imagination can so depict the outlines and give the shading. Therefore we take pleasure in giving the very words of the narrator. They are indeed descriptive of different eras, as the narrators belonged to different times, but are all the more interesting on that account. At the fiftieth anniversary of the settlement of the place, Mr. Q. F. Atkins wrote : " Old scenes and old associations have been brought to remem- brance, and made to pass, like a living panorama, before my enchanted vision. The countenances of friends, both of the dead and the living, bear the imprint of the ' olden time.' Their speech, their dress, their food, their culinary preparations, and the cheerfulness with which they dealt out their hospitalities 1 to all comers,' from all parts of the country, however remote, to neighbors and strangers alike were the same as formerly, and to complete the picture, their log meeting-houses, school-houses, barns, and out-houses, all formed of the same rough material ; their primitive mud-roads, pole-bridges, deep sloughs, bridle paths, blazed lines through the woods, from dwelling to dwelling ; their cleared fields, studded with blackened stumps and inclosed with log fences; their newly chopped acres, their large 'slashings,' where the sturdy axeman had felled the timber merely, - all these stood out upon the encircling canvas as most truthful and sober realities. By and by audible sounds fall upon my listening ear : the early gabble of the wild turkeycock, far oflP in the woods, bidding his sleepy mistress good-morning ; the last sad howl of the hungry, disappointed wolf, retiring to his lair; the faint tinkle of the cow-bell, in a different direction, and farther from home than I expected, as she, the chief supporter of our weaned children, busies herself in cropping the wild herbage for her morning meal. At the hearing of this, with rifle in hand and dog at my feet, I haste away after the old dun cow. Half an hour's travel seems not to have lessened the distance between us much, - the long-legged fastidious brute is making off for the rich bottom on Mills creek, and sure I am that I hear another bell in that direction. My usually quiet but lone cow has heard the inviting sound, and is bent upon a morning visit to her neighbors, some three miles off. I must follow, whatever the encroachment may be upon the business plans of the day. Pushing on through the tangled forest, the object of my pursuit is overtaken in time to turn her back, before the gratification of her proneness to gossip can be satisfied."

Hon. J. F. Case, at the seventy-fifth anniversary, gives us the following second picture: " We were also peculiar in our habits. It would look a little strange now to see the observances of those years gone by. Suppose to-night, if it were clear enough to see the sun set, that just as it set you should see every man, woman, and child stopping work, for then the Sabbath began with all the people of Austinburg. Down to the time when I was, perhaps, ten years old, every family in Austinburg religiously observed Saturday evening as a part of the Sabbath ; when the sun set next evening, of course, the Sabbath was ended. They counted from sun to sun, and when the Sabbath came there was only one place of worship ; and if anything made one feel sad and gloomy, it was to pass by there yesterday and find not a vestige remaining of that good old meetinghouse, - not ' church,' for we did not call meeting-houses ' churches' then. The church was the organization, and the building was the meeting-house. You might look into house after house on the Sabbath and find not a living being there, perhaps, except the dog. They tell the story about the dog belonging to my old friend here. He always went to meeting, but one Sabbath missed the time, and finally went and gravely sat down in the pulpit. They used to tell a similar story about my father's old family horse, - how she once went alone to her hitching-post at the meeting-house when my father could not go. The children all went to school in those days. There was no shirking. The parents were thorough, earnest, - determined that their children should have an education. There was a true genuine democracy in Austinburg in those days. I had no idea then what the word servant meant. We had hired men and hired girls; but they stood on the same footing as the best of us, with the same facilities as the rest of us, and they have made as good men and women as the rest of us. These little incidents show what were the habits of the people. I have noted here how sincere they were, how earnest, aud even how rigid. But these men were men of nerve, men of will, men with a progressive spirit. When one reform after another was begun, it always found its most earnest supporters in Austinburg. We once had a distillery in Austinburg; but there was no such intemperance as there is now. The church had not yet taken a decided stand in the matter, not even the church in Austiuburg, though not any church in this western country was ahead of Austiuburg in taking ground against intemperance. You know we bad to come up gradually to our present position on the temperance question. The first settlers of Austinburg were not mere religionists, not mere devotees. They were devoted to truth wherever they might find it, and so when they saw the evils of intemperance they were among the very first to take a stand against it, and fight it to the death. And so it was with slavery. In speaking of this subject my mind is crowded full of the history of the past. When I was last here it was to mourn over my father, who was one of the few men with families who settled in Austinburg township in 1800, just seventy-five years ago to-day. He lived to a good old age, and it seemed to him and to me that he had reached the proper time to die. He lived until he had seeu our country in the honor of victory, after all the perils and the struggles of the war. On his death he closed his own eyes for the grave, and folded his own hands across his breast."

Methodist Church

The first meetings held by this denomination in the township of Austinburg were at a very early date, in the northwestern portion. A class was formed here of a few members. Father Webb and wife were members of it, and these meetings were held in private houses principally. There was also another class at Eagleville prior to 1838. At this date there was a class of seventy members and a flourishing Sabbath-school. Their meetings were held in a school-house standing on the spot now occupied by the cheese-factory, and subsequently in the academy building. In, perhaps, 1855 this church began to decline. Many have removed, until at present there is no class in existence at this point. We are indebted to the Rev. Samuel Collier, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church at Mechanicsville, for the following in relation to that church, which, by the way, is the only class now existing of this denomination in the township: A Methodist society had, since the year 1824, worshiped in a school-house in Harpersfield township, about one and one-half miles southwest of the present church edifice, supplied by ministers of the Erie conference of the Methodist Episcopal church. In 1852 a new church was proposed, and a site selected on lot 41 at Mechanicsville, a place at that time busy with manufacturing industries. The society at this time consisted of some sixty members. Rev. T. B. Tait was pastor in charge; Jonathan Warden, now of Geneva, was class-leader, and the following individuals trustees: Jonathan Warden, Frederick Webb, Ebenezer Andrews, Henry Winchel, Francis Stevens, Daniel Ballard, and Aaron Hubbard. The church was built by Aaron Hubbard and Ebenezer Hubbard (deceased), and was dedicated to the worship of God according to the usages of the Methodist Episcopal church by Rev. John C. Ayres, presiding elder of the Cleveland district. The following conference ministers have since that time served the charge: Revs. H. Kellogg, P. Sullivan, E. Wade, E. C. Latimer, D. Smith, S. Wilkinson, E. II. Knapp, H. D. Cole, S. L. Wilkinson, R. Gray, D. Rowland, J. B. Hammond, C. W. Darron, E. C. Latimer, and the present pastor, S. Collier. There is now a membership of seventy. A. N. Parker and W. W. Gorsline, classleaders; trustees, II. S. Pangburn, H. J. Chapman, W. Greenslade, I. Wheeler, L. Williams, W. W. Gorsline, and A. N. Parker. The Sabbath-school at this place has a goodly attendance.

Disciple Church

It was not until about the year 1846 that a permanent organization of this society was effected. This was under the pastorate of Rev. J. B. Bartholomew. The first officers were Michael Webster, E. A. Mills, and Asel Case, overseers; Alfred Mills, A. I. Hall, and Bradford Tuttle, deacons. The membership increased the first three years to one hundred and forty. Their neat church edifice at Eagleville was erected in 1850, at a cost of some two thousand dollars. The society here is small at present. Rev. J. B. Bartholomew is overseer, and Alfred Mills, H. P. Tuttle, and J. K. McNutt, deacons.

The first of these industries to begin operations in Austinburg township was at Eagleville, in the spring of 1868. The following are the original stockholders, viz. : A. W. Howard, S. Hill, R. W. Payne, O. S. Payne, James Selleck, Joseph Mills, H. H. Austin, S. Staidey, W. J. Gibson, and John Fairchilds. The cost of the building aud machinery was nearly five thousand dollars. This being the only factory in the vicinity, there was for the first three years an extensive patronage, they working the milk from one thousand cows. Since which time the average make has been about seventy tons per year. There are now but eight stockholders ; J. A. Chapell, one of the number, is superintendent

Austinburg Cheese-Factory

In the spring of 1869 the following citizens of Austinburg township formed themselves into a company, and under the name of the " Austinburg Dairymen's Association" began the manufacture of cheese, viz. : L. B. Austin, A. E. Austin, O. B. Henderson, H. Bissell, A. H. Pearce, Dan Fobes, E. L. Whiting, D. C. Quiuby, J. G. Dudley, Erwin Bulen, II. M. Dewey, N. H. Henderson, Augustus Rose, and E. B. Whiting. They erected that season the commodious factory building now occupied by them, which is without doubt the largest of its class in the county. The total cost originally was over seven thousand dollars. The first two years it was conducted for the benefit of the company. The third year, however, a general patronage was solicited, and from then until the present have manufactured the milk of from three hundred to six hundred cows per year. Mr. T. B. McDowell has been superintendent for the past two years, aud is at present in charge. The manufacture for 1877 was something over one hundred tons.

There are two other small factories in the township, one styled the Cold Spring factory, owned by Geo. M. and Jno. B. Pierce, built in 1872, and cost two thousand dollars ; average number of cows, one hundred and seventy ; and another at Mechanicsville, owned by L. B. Woolever, opened in the spring of 1878. Mrs. ('has. Spencer has an interest in this factory and makes the cheese.

M A Nufactl'Res

At Mechanicsville there was at one time an extensive woolen-factory, gristmill, oil-mill, etc., under the management of the late W. I). Palmer. This property was purchased by L. B. Woolever, and in December, 1874, was destroyed by fire. Mr. L. has since rebuilt the flouring-mill. This is a fine building, and is furnished with all the modern appliances, and does a large business. He has also a saw-mill near by. propelled by water. There is a steam saw-mill at this point. This is owned by Orlando Hubbard.

At Eagleville there is a grist- and saw-mill owned by A. W. Howard. There is also a general store owned by J. W. Fisher ; grocery, by J. B. Bartholomew ; shoe-shop. L. Cushman ; blacksmiths, A. I. Buck. A. Olmsted, and W. Munger. J. K. McNutt represents the dental profession ; also, postmaster.

Austinburg Village Business Houses

F. A. Barnes, drugs, dry goods, and groceries; George A. Pulis, dry goods and groceries; E. C. Miller, drugs and notions; J. H. McClure, hardware; W. S. Orcutt, boots and shoes ; F. Shepard, planing-mill ; D. S. Alvord, wagon-manufactory ; H. G. Shipman and M. E. Seoville, blacksmiths ; J. C. Shepard, livery. The hotel at this point is at present under the able management of H. G. Shipman. F. B. Pierce has a saw- and grist-mill in the northeast part of the township, located on a small stream which flows into Grand river. Simon Reed operates an extensive brick-kiln at the village. F. A. Barnes is postmaster at this point, the office being located at his store.

Biographical Sketches Giles Hooker Cowles

son of Dr. E. W. and Almira 31. Cowles, and grandson of Rev. Dr. Giles H. Cowles, was born in the year 1819, in Brownhelm, Ohio. His boyhood days were spent in Mantua, where his parents lived for several years, and with his grandfather in Austinburg. In 1832 he moved with his parents to Cleveland, and in 1833 he finished his education with the Rev. Samuel Bissel, preceptor of the Twinsburg academy. In 1834 he first went into business by serving as a clerk in the drugstore of the late Dr. B. S. Lyman, in Cleveland ; afterwards he went into the employ of Mr. Orlando Cutter, an auction and commission merchant of that city. Young as he was he gave evidence of extraordinary business ability, and at the age of eighteen Mr. Cutter took him in as a partner. In 1839, owing to having hemorrhage of the lungs, young Cowles was obliged to dissolve his connection with Mr. Cutter and travel to Texas for his health. In 1840 he returned to his home in Cleveland apparently improved in health, but the insidious disease he was afflicted with, consumption, soon undermined it. and, in spite of the best medical skill and the tireless nursing of the most affectionate of mothers, he passed away, April 2, 1842, aged twenty-three years. As his soul left its earthly tenement, his loving aunt, Miss Cornelia R. Cowles, sat by his side, while she sang to him in her angelic tones that beautiful hymn commencing with these lines :

Of all the children of Dr. E. W. Cowles, Giles was endowed with the most natural talent, and was considered the flower of that group. With a fine conversational power for one so young, he had a business talent that was regarded by all wbo knew him as being very extraordinary. Said the late Mr. Cutter, " Giles Cowles was the smartest young man that I ever came in contact with, a young man of honor and integrity, and had be only lived and enjoyed good health, he would have been one of the wealthiest men of the country." one of the first settlers of Austinburg, was born in Norfolk, Connecticut, October 18, 1774. His parents were Joseph Cowles and Sarah Mills. He was married to Miss Lois Hungerford. In 180ft he accompanied Judge Austin's family to Austinburg with his own family, consisting of wife, one boy, Lyman, aged five years, and an infant. After a toilsome journey of some several weeks, 31 r. Cowles arrived at Buffalo, where he embarked in an open boat, with a member of Judge Austin's party, and sailed by day for Ashtabula Harbor, and at night they would pull the boat on to the beach and camp out. In this manner Jlr. Cowles and his party made their way to New Connecticut. After bis arrival at Ashtabula creek, he followed the blaze on the trees with his little family, and reached the north end of the township of Austinburg. The first night he made a wigwam and camped out. The next morning, with the assistance of a few neighbors who came in from within a circle of twenty miles, he put up his log cabin, just a quarter of a mile south of where the post-office now is in Austinburg. In this manner this brave pioneer started life in the town which he eventually helped to clear and beautify.

3Ir. Cowles was a fine specimen of a New England farmer. He was a man of the strictest integrity, and everything he did was founded on a sense of duty. As an illustration, the following incident will show how his sense of duty impelled him to risk even his life. In the year 1803 a settler, by the name of Beckwith, resided in a log cabin at the mouth of Ashtabula creek. In midwinter, when the weather was intensely cold and the ground was covered deeply with snow, 3Ir. Beckwith started for the Austinburg settlement, ten miles off, for the purpose of sharpening his axe and obtaining a bag of salt. Towards night he started to return. The sky was cloudy, and the prospect of a pitch-dark night was imminent, and the weather, as before stated, was terribly cold, rendering the attempt to walk that ten miles through a forest over an apology of a road a very dangerous undertaking, and Judge Austin earnestly tried to persuade him to wait till morning. 31 r. Beckwith stated that be had promised his wife that he never would leave her alone overnight, and that brave and devoted husband started on his fearful and, as it proved to be, his last journey, rather than to break his solemn promise made to his wife. The next day, towards dark, some of the settlers at the north end of Austinburg saw an object staggering through the snow. They went to it, and discovered that it was 3Irs. Beckwith, who was in an exhausted condition from traveling on foot from her home. It seemed that her husband did not reach his home, and as she knew he would not violate his promise not to stay away overnight, she concluded that he must have lost his way and perished. The next morning she left her two children in bed aud started for the Austinburg settlement to make known the loss of her husband, and arrived there in the condition described. The unhappy wife and mother was in a state of agouy about her children she had left alone in her cabin, for fear of their freezing to death. 3Ir. Cowles volunteered to start that night, dark as it was, and rescue those children. Accordingly, he mounted his horse and proceeded on that perilous journey. Should he on account of darkness lose his way in the wood, it was sure death. But the courageous man felt it was his duty to relieve the feelings of the poor mother and rescue those children, even to the extent of risking his own life. Happily, after groping his way for five mortal hours, he succeeded in reaching the cabin, and found the children alive and safe. He built a fire and kept it up all night. In the morning he took the children in his arms, mounted his horse, and in that mauner carried them to Austinburg, and delivered them to the almost heart-broken, widowed mother. That day a party of the neighbors started to search for the remains of 3Ir. Beckwith. He was found frozen and dead sitting on a log. From the tracks in the snow, it was evident he tramped around a tree for hours, vainly endeavoring to keep himself warm, and he at last succumbed to sleep, aud sitting down, he soon became frozen.

In 1816, 3Ir. Cowles became a professor of religion, and joined the church over which the Rev. Dr. Cowles presided. As he advanced in life he accumulated property by honest labor, and lived till 1853, when he died universally respected for bis Christian virtue aud strict integrity. His first wife died in 1841. In 1842 he married 3Irs. Hannah Winchester, the widow of a Rev. 3Ir. Winchester. He had three children, namely, Lyman B. Cowles, born in Norfolk, Connecticut, 1795, and died in Jefferson, June, 1875; Sally 3Iaria, born in Norfolk, 1799, and married to 3Ir. Enos Ryder in 1820, aud died in the year of 1831 ; and Louisa, bom in Austinburg, 18ft6, and died in 3Iareh, 1835.

3Ir. Cowles was a brother of the late Hon. Samuel Cowles, a prominent lawyer and judge of the court of common pleas in Cleveland, who died in 1837 ; a halfbrother of 3Irs. Dr. E. W. Cowles, and uncle of 3Ir. Edwin Cowles of the Cleveland Leader.

Lysander Mix Cowles

Captain Lysander M. Cowles was born with his twin sister Cornelia, in Bristol, Connecticut, in the year 1807. He came to Austinsburg with his father, Dr. Cowles, in 1811, where he lived till his death, which occurred April 4, 1857. Captain Cowles became a prominent citizen of the township, and for a number of years commanded an independent military company. He filled at various periods the offices of justice of the peace, township treasurer, and other offices. In May, 1835, he was married to Miss Rachel Cowles, a sister of the Rev. Henry Cowles, who was pastor of the church in Austinburg till the following winter, when he moved to Oberlin, where he occupied for many years a professor's chair.

Captain Cowles was universally respected, and was popular among his acquaintances on account of his being a peculiar wit. Many stories have been told of his doings in that line, and we will give one or two illustrations of that peculiarity. He took great delight in playing the incorrigible Yankee, nasal twang and all, which he could do to perfection. While in New York on a certain occasion, he noticed a lottery sign offering tremendous fortunes to all who would invest in a ticket. The captain walked in, and, playing the green Yankee, interviewed the lottery dealer as follows :

" Why, sir, if you will take a ticket costing you only five dollars, you will draw a prize of ten thousand dollars in money, - ten thousand dollars, sir !"

" Yes, I do. I mean what I say : you will draw ten thousand dollars, and it will be yours if you purchase a ticket costing you only five dollars."

" Wal, mister, I'll tell yeou what yeou may dew, I will take the ticket and yeou may take the five dollars out of the ten theousan' dollars which yeou say will become mine. That will be all right, won't it, mister?"

" Look here, mister, don't git wrathy; let me keep the ticket which yeou say will draw ten theousan' dollars, and yeou can deduct the five dollars and give me nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-five dollars. Isn't that fair, mister?"

This story the captain was in the habit of telling in his inimitable manner. On another occasion, when Mr. Henry C. Wright, the famous advocate of universal peace, was on a visit at Miss Betsey Cowles', he encountered our military friend in the horse-stable, and entered into a discussion on the evils of war. After descanting in his eloquent and argumentative style, showing that war produced all manner of violence, misery, murders, robberies, and rapine, and that soldiers were no better than so many murderers, the captain, after listening in his imperturbable manner with a sober face, was bound as the commander of a military company to defend the honor of the American army from such a slanderous assault, and he coolly replied as follows :

" Mr. Wright, allow me to say you are mistaken, sir, as far as our glorious army is concerned. Why, sir, during the whole Mexican war not one of our fifty thousand gallant soldiers engaged was ever known to commit a single dishonorable act, sir. This is a fact, sir ! You are mistaken, sir !"

Mr. Wright looked at the captain with blank astonishment. The idea that out of an invading army of fifty thousand men not one has ever been known to commit a single dishonorable act during the entire Mexican war ! He saw it was useless to argue with " such a case," and he retired discomfited to the house.

In 1844, during the Clay and Polk presidential campaign, the Whigs had a grand mass convention at Erie. On the printed posters announcing the convention it was advertised that all military companies would be carried free on the steamboats, - there were no railroads in those days. The Austinburg Guards accepted the invitation, and marched to Ashtabula Harbor and embarked for Erie. On their return they took passage on another steamer. As it neared Ashtabula, the captain of the boat notified Captain Cowles that his men would have to pay fare. This Captain Cowles emphatically refused to allow, and called attention to the arrangement that had been made to carry all military free. The captain of the boat then said he would not stop at Ashtabula. " All right!" replied Captain Cowles, " we will accompany you to Chicago. We'll stick by you like a brother, and come back with you. But mind you, we shall take the first seat at your table, sir! We shan't submit to any nonsense, there sir!" The captain of the boat found he was cornered, and he put into Ashtabula Harbor and landed the boys.

These incidents illustrate the humorous feature in the character of Captain Cowles. Although he never sympathized with the ultra views of the Garrisonian element of the anti-slavery party, he was a zealous friend of the down-trodden slave. He acted with the old Liberty party, and when the Free-Soil party was organized in 1848, he affiliated with that party. None had a warmer heart than Captain Cowles. He was a consistent member of the Congregational church till a few years before his death, when he changed his views and joined a Unitarian society. In 1856 he was taken ill with that incurable disease the diabetes, which resulted in his death, April 4, 1857. Had he only lived and had good health, he would undoubtedly have participated in the War of the Rebellion.

Rev. J. B. Bartholomew

It seems but simple justice that this gentleman should be placed on record in this volume, he being the pioneer minister of his faith in Ashtabula County. Born in Bristol, Connecticut, April 8, 1807, he was the eighth child of Jacob and Rebecca Beach Bartholomew, who removed to Ohio in 1810, locating in Farmington, Trumbull county, and were among the pioneers of this township. His educational advantages were of course meagre, the clearing of the forest being considered of prime importance. At the age of twenty-one he found himself broken down with labor, and has remained an invalid until the present. At the age of twenty-three he married Martha Reeves, and until 1846 passed much of his time in travel. In the above year he came to Eagleville, where he still resides. In 1844, was ordained a miuister of the Disciple church, and sent out as an evangelist. Called to Eagleville, March, 1846, by a class of twenty-five. Mr. Bartholomew raised this church to a membership of one hundred and ten in three years. Through his efforts during this time churches were established in Saybrook, Geneva, Trumbull, Footville, Hartsgrove, Denmark, Orwell, Rome, and many other points, making a total of seventeen. Truly he has done a noble work for his Master. In his township, he has been a justice of the peace for fifteen years, and postmaster for perhaps the same length of time.

Abial Williams Howard

The subject of this sketch, a view of whose fine residence, with portraits of self and wife, appear in another portion of this work, is the fifth of a family of eight, the children of Hezekiah and Margaret Spring Howard, of Preble, Cortland county, New York. He was born January 7, 1819,. and resided in New York and Pennsylvania until 1838, when he came to Ohio, making his first stop with an uncle in Concord, Lake county. His education was received at common school prior to his coming to Ohio. About January 1, 1839, he came to Austinburg, where he remained some three years. On the 11th day of January, 1842, he found a wife in the person of Almira G., daughter of Salmon and Damaris Pitkin Hills, of Austinburg, and taking his young bride, removed to a wild farm in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, and here, some three-fourths of a mile from a traveled road, they began the battle of life, and we may judge something of his success by the fact that he now owns some five hundred acres of land, which, with the mill property, etc., aggregates the snug sum of thirty thousand dollars. In the township he has held numerous offices, among which has been township trustee for many years. He is public-spirited, a kind and indulgent husband and father. His children are as follows: Emily A., born August 26, 1844, married Hubert E. Wadsworth, and resides at Eagleville. The next were twins, - Eugene L. and Emogene L., born October 2, 1846. The former is doing an extensive business in Bridgeport, California. The latter yet remains at home, as do the remaining three children comprising this interesting family. Salmon Hills, the next child, was born November 29, 1848; Edward F., born July 25, 1855; and Dwight A., the youngest, born February 28, 1859. Politically Mr. Howard is a Democrat. His father was born in Tolland, Tolland county, Connecticut, in 1784, and is still living, - resides in Franklin, Pennsylvania. The mother was a native of