Green City (part 6 of 14)

JUDGE HUMPHREY. - " The crime of which you stand convicted is second to none in enormity - the highest known to our laws - and in this instance perpetrated under circumstances awfully barbarous and shocking. Yet your present afflictions excite our sympathy. As individuals we commiserate your situation. We have all the feeling for you consistent with our relation. Butasolemn duty has devolved upon us. No choice of alternatives is presented. The laws of God and man attach the penalty of death to. the crime of murder. The divine maxim, "whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed " - quoted and appreciated by your counsel - as. well as the violated laws of the land, declare that you must die. Your life is. forfeited. Unworthy to live. with your fellow-man, whose rights you have. trodden down with unparalleled cruelty, justice demands a separation between you and your species, and calls loudly for your extermination.

"Tn the dead hour of night, with a bosom rankling with revenge; at that hour when nature was hushed in silence, and sleep had sealed the eyes Of your victim, you approached, not the dwelling of astranger; not the dwelling of anenemy; nota dweiling protected by the arm of man; but the undefended home of a brother, and there, with the deadly axe you bore along, coolly, barbarously, cruelly murdered your unoffending sister. A more bloody butchery stains not the annals of man; a more heartless assassination lives not in the history of crimes. I make not these remarks to harrow your feelings, or to disturb the equanimity of your bosom, if, possibly, it remains. quiet at this withering crisis; but to apprise you that your time is fixed ; that your days are numbered; that before another year shall have passed away, you must sleep beneath the "clods of the valley," and that it behooves. you to make preparation for that dreadful event. :

"Think not any interposition of the Executive will relieve you. Indulge not the hope of commutation or pardon from any temporal source, but appeal to the Power which is able and willing to exercise clemency indeed ;

"From your declaration and confessions is clearly shown the fatal error into which you have fallen, in supposing that offenses might be committed with impunity; that detection would not overtake crime. Too late you learn that

"A period co-extensive with the power of the Court will be alloted you to settle your temporal affairs, and to prepare for another world. Your friends will be permitted to visit you in prison, and such spiritual advisers as you may need, will attend you to point the way to future happiness. Improve, then, the few remaining days you have to live, in preparing to die. You know your fate. You know your time, Not so with Catharine McKisson. No precursor kindly whispered her dissolution; no messenger of mercy warned the devoted wretch of woe and death. But in the vigor of life, while reposing in fancied security, you tore her from the side of her sleeping infants, and with that bloody instrument hurried her into eternity, with all her 'sins fresh blown upon her!'

; "It is, therefore, the sentence of the law, that you be taken hence to the jail of the county, there to remain until Friday, the 9th day of February, 1838; that between the.hours of 10 o'clock in the forenoon and 4 o'clock in the afternoon of that day, you be taken thence to the place of execution, and be then hung by the neck until youare dead. And may He who trod the wine press alone have mercy on you!"

Wrirrs A History oF His Lire. - After his conviction and sentence the prisoner busied himself in jail, in writing a so-called history of his life, in which, while detailing a large number of youthful peccadilloes, and petty crimes and offenses, he sought to convey the impression of his,innocence of the murder of his sisterin-law, and to direct suspicion towards Mr. Dorsey W. Viers, who, unfortunately, was at that time resting under a cloud of unjust suspicion, in regard to the disappearance from Northfield, of Rupert Charlesworth, several years previously (but which cloud was wholly cleared, away some two or three years later, as already detailed in the preceding chapter), and even intimating that his old father, notwithstanding his triumphant acquittal, may have committed the murder, after all, saying,in that connection: "But when I take the testimony of the girl, and the fact that I know his disposition when in liquor, and his clothes being at the fire, and then the dying words of her who saw him every day, and who most certainly did see the man who done the deed, when I put all these things together, to say that I suppose it was not him is as much as I can say." His rambling and disjointed, as well as decidedly illiterate narrative, closes with the following remarkably good advice to both children and adults:

"Thus I have set down the chief of what I am here for, and for what I am about to suffer an ignominious death upon the scaffold; together with all the crimes that I can recollect. I have omitted many things I have done which are not consistent with good conduct in youth, but the untimely end that awaits me I hope will bea caution''to youth not to walk in the paths that I have trod. Two things I would impress upon their minds, viz: not to roam about nights, and keep as much as possible out of bad company. * * * Now, let me leave a caution to parents, guardians and masters. I am young and unqualified to do it in style, but as I have traveled considerable, and been in good and bad company, I know something of the world. Ifa child is stubborn, never whip it without knowing it is 'Tight to do so; never make a promise without fulfilling; never lay up two charges for one whipping; and never whip in a passion; by so doing you are not only not punctual yourself but you learn the child to be so. Again, if a child tellsa lie, and you tell it to own the truth and you will not punish it, fulfill your promise or it will never own its faults again; and if you have any good article of food on the table, never take it from the children, for this will make them steal. Ifyou pursue a different course you will not bring up a child in the way it Should go, but in the way it will go. Thus ends my saying to the world." vil #

THE ExEcuTion. - The 9th day of February, 1838, was one of the most bitterly cold days of that remarkably severe winter. The ground was covered with snow, and though bright and pleasant overhead, the naturally frigid atmosphere of the day was many fold intensified by a cutting wind, that pierced one's system to the very vitals. Executions in Ohio, then, unlike those of later years were open to the general public, and the gallows had been erected ina broad meadow, amphitheatrical in form, about three-fourths of a mile southeast of the court house in Ravenna, and the sheriff

The writer, as a newspaper man, was on the ground as early as 7 o'clock in the morning, and even at that early hour the streets and public square of the village, were rapidly filling with a promiscuous crowd 'of men, women and children; pouring in, on foot, on horse-back and in almost every style of vehicle then known, through every road leading into the town. In addition to hotels, and other regular places of entertainment, large numbers of booths and stands had been erected for the sale of eatables, and drinkables, too, and in those days there were very few-of what are now known as temperance drinks, in vogue, either. And during all that long forenoon, yes,.and until three in the afternoon, did that vast crowd, variously estimated at from 10,000 to 15,000, uncomplainingly endure the biting cold and fatigue of the day, though towards the last, from the long delay, and the effects of the whisky imbibed, it very largely resembled a howling mob, clamorous for the hurrying up of the ghastly exhibition, and kept in check from open acts of violence, only by the presence of the military, and the activity of the extra constabulatory force that had been provided.

At precisely 3 o'clock Pp. M., the condemned man was taken from the jail, by Sheriff George Y. Wallace, and his attendants, and - in an open carriage, preceded and followed by a company of militia, was taken to the place of executidn. On reaching the gallows, he alighted from the carriage with agility, and walked up the steps to the scaffold with a firm tread. The sheriff having adjusted the fatal noose about his neck, asked him if he desired to address the audience, whereupon, with a slight inclination of the head, he spoke substantially as follows:

"TADIES AND GENTLEMEN: - You are in a few minutes to witness the departure of a fellow-being from time to eternity, and I hope my life will deter you all from crime of every description, such as lying, stealing, swearing, Sabbath-breaking, etc. Break not the laws of that book (holding up a small Bible) and you break not the laws of man. I am reconciled to my God, before whom I am shortly to appear. I have been charged with the crime of murder. I have been tried before a jury of twelve men of my country, and I have pleaded "not guilty." Circumstances were against me, and that jury brought in a verdict of murder in the first degree. he court sentenced me to be executed, and Iam about to receive the penalty due to the crime of murder. And now, when Iam within afew minutes of eternity; when I am about to enter the presence of my creator, the truth must be told. It is said, and gone forth to the world, that, at the dead hour of midnight, I stripped myself, and with an axe, entered the dwelling of a brother, and cruelly murdered an unoffending sister; and now the question is,am I guilty of the crime?. No, gentlemen, I am not. May my voice reach the ear of the farthermost person on yonder hill; I AM NOT GUILTY OF MURDER. Is it reasonable to suppose that after committing a murder, I should go to Cleveland, and stay there half a day; through mistake take a boat that was going down the lake instead of up, and on discovering my mistake, get off at Fairport and return to Cleveland, and on being told by an acquaintance that three men had gone to Turtle Island to arrest me, immediately start for that Island? No, gentlemen, it is not. I intended to have spoken a few words about the testimony, and I believe I will. Does it look reasonable that I should say to Robert, "T hope these hands will smother out of it," and then, in a louder voice, say, "these hands never done the deed." I say does it look reasonable that I should say so to a brother whose wife [ had murdered? No, gentlemen, it does not. I have committed a great many crimes; I have led a very wicked life, but am innocent of the crime for which Tam about to be executed. Again I would say, break not the laws of that book, and you break not the laws of man. You may all consider yourselves

Then, turning partly around, he repeated some poetry, composed by himself, which was inaudible to the writer. The attend-: ing clergyman then offered a short prayer, and, with the doubly bereaved brother, Robert, shook hands with him and descended 'from the scaffold. Sheriff Wallace then pinioned his arms and legs, adjusted the rope around his neck, placed him in position, drew the black cap over his face, bid him good-by, descended the stairs, touched the fatal spring, the drop fell, and David McKisson,. whether guilty or innocent, was in eternity - a few spasmodic movements of the shoulders and legs, only, being observable after the drop fell.

DISPOSITION OF THE Bopy. - When the attending physicians. had pronounced life extinct, Sheriff Wallace delivered his body to: his brother Robert, and his aged, grief-stricken father, tobe taken to Northfield for interment; his age,on the day of the execution being 21 years, 2 months and 21 days.

The funeral services were held at the house of the father, a day -or two afterwards, and quite largely attended by sympathetic neighbors, the burial being made upon the home farm, where, also, the father was buried a few years later. Theremains of the dead 'malefactor were not exhibited to those in attendance at the funeral, and it was several years after alleged that, while the party employed to transport the body from Ravenna to Northfield, having driven his team under a shed, was warming himself by a hotel fire in Hudson, certain physicians of that town, extracted the body from the coffin, substituting therefor a log of wood, and that the carefully articulated skeleton, so often seen in the cabinet of a prominent physician of Hudson, for many years thereafter, was none other than that of David McKisson.

THE ConcLusion. - It was believed that the father, having himself been acquitted of the crime, and therefore not liable, under the law, to be again put in jeopardy for the offense, would, upon the trial of the son, swear that he (the father) had alone committed the deed. But this the old gentleman peremptorily declined to do, declaring that he could not add the crime of perjury to the mountain of sorrow then resting upon him. This, and the expression he used, on first meeting David, after their arrest: "David, you dog! See what you have brought us all to!" togethér with his apparently sincere manifestations of grief over the terrible event, was conclusive to the family, and their best informed neighbors, that the old gentleman was entirely guiltless of any complicity in the affair; though there are people to this day who fully believe that Samuel McKisson was the real murderer, and that David was a victim of untoward circumstances, and used simply as a scapegoat to suffer the penalty due to his aged father. But though convicted upon circumstantial evidence, and in spite of the declaration of the murdered woman, and the positive testimony of the daughter, the only eye-witness of the 'tragedy, to the contrary, and notwithstanding his asseverations of his innocence to the very last moment of his life, there was no doubt in the minds of the court and jury, or the general public, in regard to the guilt of the doomed young man, the righteousness of the verdict, or the justice of his fate. ;

It was afterwards learned that his bold and persistent denial of his guilt, in the very face of death, instead of making a full confession thereof, was probably iuspired by the expectation of a repreive at the very last moment, as he had been made to believe, by "Col." William Ashley, then in jail awaiting trial for counterfeiting, as elsewhere related, that a commutation of his sentence to imprisonment for life was already in the hands of the sheriff, and that if he asserted his innocence to the last the execution would be stayed. Thus ended one of the most fearful and thrilling, of the many thrilling tragedies that have been enacted within the present limits of Summit county; not only producing the greatest excitement throughout the entire vicinity, but the denouement of which, trom the intense coldness of the day, created a permanent data for comparison of the weather, for many years, and with some, even to the present time, a very common expression being: "This is the coldest day I have experienced since McKisson was hung."

Chapter Xliii

NORTON - AN EVENTFUL HISTORY - ORIGIN, NAME, EARLY SETTLEMENT, ETC. - GROWTH AND POPULATION - BUSINESS CENTERS, INDUSTRIES, ETC. - "QUEER" TAVERN KEEPERS, EARLY CROOKEDNESS, ETC. - REMARKABLE REFORMATION - LUNATIC GROCERY KEEPER'S MAD PRANKS - SHOOTS AND WOUNDS TWO MEN - INMATE OF COUNTY INFIRMARY FOR OVER THIRTY YEARS - POSTMASTER SHOOTS AND INSTANTLY KILLS A BURGLAR - GREAT EXCITEMENT OVER MISSING CHILD - NORTON IN WAR AND NORTON IN PEACE - THE MCLISTER-WELSH HOMICIDE - TRIAL, CONVICTION, SENTENCE AND IMPRISONMENT OF MCLISTER, PARDON, ETC.

Origin, Name, Etc

4 eee township of Norton, originally designated as township 1, range 12, was, like Copley, at first officially associated with Wadsworth, Sharon, Guilford and Montville, under the general name of "Wolf Creek Trownship," being organized as a separate township in April, 1818. The township derived its name from its principal Connecticut proprietor, Birdsey Norton, who, however, never resided therein. It is bounded north by Copley, east by Coventry, south by Franklin and Chippewa and west by Wadsworth, and is one of the southern-most townships of the Western Reserve.

The first settler in the township is said to have been James. Robinson, from Oswego county, N. Y., who, in 1810, located upon lot 19, on Wolf Creek, in the northeast portion of the township, since known as the Sylvester Van Hyning farm. The friends of Mr. John Cahow, a native of Maryland, claim for him the honor of being Norton's first settler, his cabin also being erected in 1810, upon lot 20, half a mile east of Robinson's, where, both before and during the War of 1812, he furnished "entertainment for man and beast," the first tavern, probably, west of Middlebury in what is now Summit county.

In 1814, James Robinson was married to Lois Bates, by Simeon Prior, Esq., of Northampton, a year later removing to the latter named township, but soon afterwards returning to Norton, settling near New Portage, where he subsequently died.

Very little progress was made in the settlement of the township until after the close of the War of 1812, in 1815. Then there was a rush, so that on the organization of the the township, in 1818, it must have numbered some 25 or 30 voters. The names of all the early settlers cannot now be given, but among them, besides James Robinson and John Cahow, already noted, may be mentioned Henry and Abraham Van Hyning, Joseph Holmes, Elisha Hinsdale, Rzra Way, Joseph D. Humphrey, Charles Lyon, Philemon Kirkum, Seth Lucas, Charles Miller, John O'Brien and Nathan and Lyman Bates. Henry Van Hyning died December 25, 1839, aged 102 years.

Pioneer Experiences, Hardships, Etc

At the first election, April, 1818, Abraham Van Hyning, Charles Lyon and Ezra Way were chosen trustees; Joseph D. Humphrey, township clerk; Joseph Holmes, Elisha Hinsdale and John Cahow, supervisors; and Henry Van Hyning, Sr., justice of the peace.

The Indians had nearly all vacated the township before white settlement fairly began, so that very little, if any, traditionary lore In regard to encounters with the red-skins has been handed down. Nor are there any very serious reminiscent tales of deadly encounters between the early settlers and wild beasts now extant among the people, though the forests of the township, particularly the jungles of Wolf Creek, and contiguous swamps, were then quite largely infested with wolves, bears and other similar game, it being related that Henry Van Hyning, Jr., and the Bates brothers once killed a bear a short distance southeast of what is now known as Loyal Oak, which, when dressed, weighed some 500 pounds,

NATHAN SEIBERLING, - born in 4 Lynn, Northampton county, Pennsylvania, April 14,1810; boyhood spent on farm, and learning shoemaking with his father; with less than a year's schooling, by close personal application, he acquired a fair business education; was married December 6, 1829, to Catharine Peter, born) June ?27,71811%" in Jane, 1831, removed to Norton, Ohio, purchasing 96 acres of uncultivated land, devoting his days to clearing and improving his farm, and his evenings to his trade, often working late into the night, in making and mending shoes for his neighbors, splitting and whittling out his pegs by hand. Prosperity attended his labors, and as the years passed by, hundreds of acres and large blocks of bonds and stocks were added to his possessions, enabling him to very materially aid his enterprising sons, whose manufacturing successes will be found chronicled born to Mrs and Mrs. Seiberling, township. Mr. and Mrs. Seiberling eleven of whom are. still living. were tor over sixty years members of Though a stanch Republican, living the Lutheran Church, of which in a continuously Democratic town- organization the entire family are ship, he was elected justice of the members. His death occurred Novpeace, and his services were otherwise often called into requisition in the management of the affairs of the

The story of the incessant toil, patient self-denial, privation and frequent suffering incident to pioneer life - the low price of farm produce, the high price of all kinds of merchandise, and the scarcity of money, have too often been told to need repetition here. But it is gratifying to know that amid all their trials, hardships and enforced strict economy, there was always a cheerful goodnature, a genial helpfulness and an unstinted hospitality, in the intercourse of neighbor with neighbor, and an ae Ne warm

Though getting a later start than most of its neighbors, Norton was, in point of topography and soil, so desirable a location that it soon caught up with the most, and surpassed some, of the townships of the vicinage, in point of population, enterprise and wealth.

The center of the township, though handsomely located, has never hardly arrived at the dignity of a village, some three or four dwellings, a small public house, graded schools and a portion of the time a store and a postoffice, constituting the entire hamlet, with the addition, in later years, of a substantial two-story frame edifice, 28x60 feet, with rear basement, for the use of ''Summit Grange of Patrons of Husbandry," composed of the very best farmers of Norton and surrounding townships, and one of the most successful and influential local granges in the State.

A mile and a half to the northward, is the village of Loyal Oak, originally called Bates' Corners, with its hotel (sometimes two) store, two fine churches, school house, with, at times, various industries, such as blacksmithing, tanning, milling, tin-smithing, harness-making, etc. About the same distance southward is Johnson's Corners, very similar in its church, school, hotel, store and mechanical appointments to those of Bates' Corners, with about the same show of business and population.

On the west line of the township (and county) is the village of Western Star, originally called Griswold's Corners, after several stalwart enterprising brothers who established themselves in business there, in the latter twenties, though Mills, Cullen and Ezekiel Richards had settled near the corners several years before. Its present name is in honor of Nathan Starr, of Connecticut, the original owner of the land at that point. Mr. Starr and his wife, Grace T. Starr, on the 7th day of November, 1844, donated and deeded in trust one acre of land for educational purposes, with the proviso that said trustees "erect on said lot a suitable building for a seminary building, and keep the same in 'good repair at all times, otherwise the land to revert to the original owners."

Western Star was incorporated and organized as a village in 1842, with mayor, marshal and other village officers, having in later years adopted the graded school system, the seminary building being used for the higher grades of the system. The village also maintains one church (United Brethren), a hotel, one or two stores, and various mechanics' shops, the business and population being about equal on either side of the line, the number of inhabitants in the Norton portion of the corporation, as shown by the census of 1880, being 75, and by the census of 1890 given as 88.

New Portage, two and a half miles east of the Center, on the line between Norton and Coventry, has been already pretty fully described in the sketch of the latter township, the most of the present business of the village - railroad station, store, postoffice, strawboard works, church, etc., being upon the Norton side of the line. Since the above was first published, in 1888, new honors have come to Norton in the founding within her borders the new industrial city of Barberton, which is fully described further on in this work. There is also a small mining hamlet called Dennison in the western portion of the township, on the N. Y., P.& O. R. R. with postoffice (named Sherman), store, saloon, etc. Also, on the Wooster road, about two miles southwest of Johnson's Corners, upon the line between Summit and Wayne counties, is the hamlet of Hametown, so called from the tact that quite an extensive shop for the manufacture of hames was established there some forty or more years ago. Though that particular industry was long since relegated to other labor centers, Hametown, though having no postoffice, is quite a business point, with store, grocery, shoe shop, etc.

CARESS MILLER, - born in Upper Nazareth, Pennsylvania, November 29, 1815; raised on farm; education limited; learned carpenter's trade; in 1838 came to Ohio, working at trade in Guilford, Medina county, returning to Pennsylvania in the Fall; in 1843 again came to Ohio, working at trade in Wayne county, finally settling on farm in Norton; in 1857, engaged in selling farm implements for C. M. Russell & Co., of Massillon; in 1861, engaged in selling Excelsior reaping and mowing machines, manufactured by Mr. John F. Seiberling, at Doylestown ; in 1863, purchased a quarter interest in Mr. Seiberling's patents; in 1865, organ-

\\ Company, of Akron, building exten- MN sive works opposite Union railroad depot; through business complications and internal dissensions, company made an assignment in 187, Mr. Miller sinking $65,000 in stock, and several thousand dollars loaned with his sons, purchased the Matherson chain works at Cuyahoga Falls, consolidating them with the Chevrier works, at Akron, previously purchased, afterwards adding the match making business to their works, in both departments building up an extensive and protitable business.

bore him seven children - Emma E., now Mrs. Frank Reifsnider, of Akron; Henry D., of Tiffin; Amanda M., wife of R. N. Kratz, of Mitchell, Dakota; Harvey F., of Akron; Leon J., of Little Rock, Arkansas; S. Samuel, of Akron, and Cora O., now Mrs. Charles Huntley, of Akron. Mr. Miller died December 9, 1886, aged 71 years and

It will thus be seen that though Norton is emphatically an agricultural town, it has also, besides its extensive mining operations, quite a large urban population, and considerable of a variety of mechanical and manufacturing industries. For many years Clark's mill, one mile east of Loyal Oak, on Wolf Creek, built by Mr. Carlos Clark in the early thirties, did an excellent business, until its destruction by fire in 1879. Still earlier, about 1830, Thomas Johnson built a grist mill on Hudson's run, at Johnson's Corners, which is still running, another similar mill, built by Mr. Johnson, some two or three years later, further down the stream, having gone into disuse many years ago. As many as ten or twelve saw-mills, probably, have been erected within the township at different times, most of which, whether profitable to their owners or not, have been of very great convenience to the farmers, in converting their surplus timber into lumber for the construction of their comfortable houses and magnificent bank barns.

EarLy "FINANCIAL" OPERATIONS. - In an early day Norton became quite seriously involved in the prevailing "crookedness " of the Cuyahoga and Tuscarawas valleys. Besides the operations of this character at New Portage and Wolf Creek Lock, already alluded to, Johnson's Corners was for many years a prominent point for the gathering together of the members of the brotherhood, and for the dispensation of the "queer." Thomas Johnson, somewhere in the middle twenties, built and kept the tavern upon the northeast corner, the same site now occupied by the fine new hotel of Mr. J. T. Price. This house was a well-known resort for the sporting gentry of that day, of which fraternity Johnson himself was understood to be in full fellowship, though of the strictest integrity in all his neighborhood dealings.

At length, in the Fall of 1833, Johnson got into "financial" difficulty in Portage county (Norton then being in Medina county), and was bound over to court by Justice George B. De Peyster, of Franklin Mills (now Kent), and at the October term of the court, 1833, was indicted for "bartering a counterfeit bank note," and entered into bonds in the sum of $1,000, with William Coolman, Jr., and William King (both hotel keepers at Ravenna) for his appearance at the March term, 1834, Lucius V. Bierce being the prosecuting attorney, and Gregory Powers officiating as counsel for the defendant. Atthe March term Johnson failed to appear and his bond was declared forfeited, the record showing that Coolman and King each paid $250, the other $500 being remitted by the County Commissioners. Johnson remained in hiding fora short time, when, through the intercession of Mr. Charles Miller, father of Norton's present well-known and highly respected citizen, Cyrus Miller, Esq., the authorities dropped the matter against Johnson, on account of valuable information given by him in regard to the operations of the gang, and of his solemn promise to sever his connection therewith. From that time until his death, March 13, 1836, at the age of 45 years, Johnson led a strictly upright life, and is said to have been a class-leader in the Methodist society organized at the Corners, a year or so previous to his death. Johnson left quite a handsome property, his widow, Mrs. Klizabeth Johnson, an energetic and most estimable woman, afterwards being married to the late Joshua F. Shaw, Esq., father of Mr. Merwin Shaw, still an influential resident of the village.

Jonathan DeCourcey was another of Norton's early crooked financiers, and was the builder and keeper of the brick tavern on the southwest corner of the Clinton and Wooster roads, which is still standing. De Courcey was far less enterprising and industrious, but vastly shrewder and more unscrupulous in his illicit monetary transactions, than Johnson, but, in the latter thirties, he, too, lost his grip, and in 1840, being under indictment in Medina county; he forfeited his bond and fled the country, as is more fully set forth in another chapter devoted to the operations of the counterfeiters of the Cuyahoga.

_. Norton's Lunatic MrercHant. - From about 1854 to 1860, one William Pierce, was the owner and keeper of the canal grocery store at Wolf Creek Lock, a mile or so south of New Portage.

Pierce, then about 25 years of age, was a sober, shrewd, moneymaking fellow, and, keeping a good stock of boatmen's supplies, soon built up a profitable trade, and rapidly accumulated property. After two or three years, however, Pierce became quite irritable, and strongly inclined to quarrel with his customers, especially if any fault was found with the quality or prices of his goods, and soon came to be regarded as a little "off" in his mind, though still attentive to business, and as sharp at a bargain as ever.

Nothing serious resulted from his aberration until about the first of August, 1857, when, having had some words with a boat captain by the name of Hugh Kelly, he deliberately fired his revolver from his grocery door, at the Captain, just as he was about to step from the lock on to his boat, the ball taking effect in the tendons of the heel, and also striking and slightly wounding the - Captain's son.

Pierce was arrested and put under bonds to answer to the Court of Common Pleas, on the charge of shooting with intent to: kill; Captain Kelly also commenced civil suit against him for personal damages in the sui of $3,000 for himself, and $1,000 for his son. On investigation, the Grand Jury failed to find a bill against him on the ground of insanity, the civil suit, at the March term, 1858, resulting in a verdict for the plaintiff, in the sum of $254.00 damages, and the costs, amounting to $39.00 more: The shooting was admitted, but defendant's council, General A.C. Voris, urged the insanity of his client, if not as a vindication of the act, at least in mitigation of damages. Pierce was greatly exasperated at this, and vehemently berated Voris, in open court, claiming that in shooting Captain Kelly he was only defending his rights.

Immediately on the announcement of the judgment, by Judge Carpenter, in accordance with the verdict of the jury, Pierce went to his grocery, at Wolf Creek Lock, and placing the amount of damages and costs ($293.00) in gold and silver coin, in a small canvas bag, returned in the afternoon, and, in the midst of another trial then on, walked up to the Judges' desk, dumped the contents of the bag upon the desk, and told the Judge to count it and see if it was all right. It was with considerable difficulty that Judge Carpenter made him comprehend that Clerk Green was the proper officer to pay the money to, Pierce insisting that, as the Judge had rendered the judgment against him, he was bound to count the money to see if it was all right.

Notwithstanding the finding of the Grand Jury that Pierce was insane, no steps were taken towards sending him to the Insane Asylum, and he contined to carry on his grocery business, with his customary diligence, at Wolf Creek Lock. Though still giving frequent manifestations of mental unsoundness, nothing serious happened for about two years, when another, and this time nearly fatal, shooting affair occurred substantially as follows:

Joshua F. Shaw, Esq., of Johnson's corners, had a piece of land adjoining the premises owned by Pierce. Some difference arising as. to the division line, Mr. Shaw, on Saturday, March 17, 1860, stepped into the grocery to consult with Pierce in regard to employing the county surveyor to run out the line. Pierce objected on account of the expense, and Mr. Shaw, pleasantly remarking that he would foot the bill, started to go out. As he reached the door the report of a pistol rang through the grocery, the ball striking Mr. Shaw on the lower back portion of the skull, glancing around under the skin and coming out at the upper part of the right ear. :

The affair created the most intense excitement in the neighborhood, and Pierce was immediately apprehended, by Constable Merrick Burton, of Akron, and taken before Justice William L. Clarke, of Akron, who, on hearing, committed him to jail to answer to the Court of Common Pleas, to the charge of shooting with intent to kill.

At the May term of the court, the Grand Jury returned a bill of indictment, in accordance with the finding of Justice Clarke. On being arraigned, Pierce, with great emphasis, pleaded not guilty, declaring that in shooting Shaw he was only defending his rights. Pierce's counsel, Wilbur F. Sanders and Dudley C. Carr, Esqs., then moved for a continuance until the next term of the court, which was granted.

At the November term, a long and exciting trial was had, the costs in the case amouuting to nearly $300, the verdict of the jury being "not guilty by reason of insanity;' the Court making an order that Pierce be remanded to jail, and the case duly certified to the Probate Court for proceedings in lunacy. Pierce remained in jail until the 5th day of March, 1862, when he was taken to the county Infirmary, where he was confined for over a quarter of a century, a good share of the time in a separate cell, to prevent his doing injury to others, which he had several times attempted to do, his death occurring September 23, 1889.

Like Captain Kelly, Mr. Shaw brought suit against Pierce for personal damages, but, more modest than the Captain, laid his claims at $500 only. The case was referred to ex-Probate Judge Noah M. Humphrey, Hon. John Johnston and Arad Kent, Esq., who awarded the plaintiff $175, for which amount and the costs judgment was rendered by the Court, to satisfy which the Wolf Creek property was sold by Sheriff Burlison, in February, 1866, for $960, of which amount, after satisfying the judgment and costs, $326.50 was paid to Avery Spicer, guardian for Cyrus Pierce (minor son of the defendant) the balance being paid to Mrs. Pierce.

Sometime in 1882, it came to the knowledge of Prosecuting Attorney Charles Baird, that Pierce was entitled to a onefifteenth share of the estate of a deceased sister, Mrs. Sophia Weeden, of Sandusky City, and by taking the proper legal steps in the premises, about $1000 was covered into the county treasury, to the credit of the poor fund, thus, in some slight degree, reimbursing the tax payers of the county for the care and keeping, for so many years, of their unfortunate fellow-citizen.

PosTorrick RoBBER KILLED. - In the latter fifties, a resident of New Portage by the name of William Witner, then about 25 years of age, being employed as mail-carrier between New Portage and Doylestown, was detected in robbing the mails, and served a short term in the penitentiary. Returning to New Portage, immediately after his release from prison, Witner conducted himself fairly well for a few years, marrying into a highly respectable family of that village, though he was largely disinclined to engage in any hard or very useful labor.

Postoffice Burglar Killed

manufactory at New Portage, and, in connection therewith, a store, also officiating as postmaster. During the Summer and Fall of 1869, several depredations upon the mails had been committed, and sundry small articles of merchandise had also been missed from the store. Finding no indications of "breaking in,' Welch concluded that the thief had possessed himself of a duplicate key, and accordingly had the lock of the store door changed.

The depredations continuing, Welch consulted Sheriff James Burlison, besides being visited by a special agent of the postoffice department, and it was determined to establish a watch in the store. He employed Witner and another man to do the watching, and one night when they were on duty, a package of money was stolen. Welch then determined to watch the store himself. So rigging up a bed back of the counter, armed with a double-barrelled shot-gun and revolver, and accompanied by his son, Corwin, on the night of November 4, 1869, Mr. Welch entered upon his vigil. No disturbance occurring, about 1 o'clock Mr. Welch sent Corwin home, continuing the watch alone until morning.

Soon after 3 o'clock Mr. Welch heard a noise at the rear basement window, and in a short time heard foot-steps coming up the basement stairs and enter the storeroom. At this moment the intruder struck a match, which, flashing for an instant, went out. Not recognizing his visitor, in that momentary flash, Welch raised his gun and fired in the direction where he stood. The intruder then exclaimed, " My God! Welch, you have killed me!" Welch then asked him if he was armed and he replied that he was not, and was then recognized by his voice. Welchimmediately aroused the neighbors, and on returning to the store found Witner dead, the charge having entered the body a little below the shoulderblade, penetrating and lacerating the lungs.

In the absence of the coroner (Gen. O. E. Gross, of Stow), Justice William M. Cunningham summoned a jury to investigate the affair. After an exhaustive examination of Jacob and Corwin Welch, and several other witnesses, including Dr. William Bowen, who made a post-mortem examination of the body, the jury, through its foreman, Sherman Blocker, Esq., returned a verdict as follows: 'We do find that the deceased came to his death bya gun-shot fired into him by Jacob Welch, while the deceased was in the act of committing a burglary in the store of said Welch, and that said Jacob Welch was justified in firing said shot."

AN Excitinc Eprsope. - On Saturday morning, November 10, 1866, a little six-year-old daughter of Mr. Samuel Reimer, living a short distance northwest of Loyal Oak, wandered away from home, and, as it afterwards appeared, traveled west to Wadsworth, north to Sharon, east to Copley, and northerly, again, in a zig-zag course through Bath, into Richfield, where near evening, she was picked up, in analmost exhausted condition, a short distance south of the center of Richfield, and fully 20 miles, by the route traveled, from the starting point.

On being missed, the child was searched for in the neighborhood, by the parents and neighbors, but without success. The interest and excitement increased, as the hours glided by, until during the night, and on Sunday morning, there were several hundred persons engaged in the search, occasional tidings of her having been seen, upon several of the roads indicated, but with no definite clue to her present whereabouts or fate. On Sunday, in the neighboring churches, the little one's loss was proclaimed, persons who had seen her upon her travels arising in the congre- ~ gation and announcing the fact, a good share of the several congregations immediately forsaking the sanctuary, and joining in the search.

In the meantime, in answer to inquiries, she had told the family who had taken her in, that she lived at Bates' Corners, and as they were not familiar with the locality they sent a messenger to the Center of Richfield, on Sunday morning, for information. On the return of the messenger, the gentleman and one of his neighbors started in a buggy, to return the child to her almost distracted parents. As they met the cortege of searchers, the word passed rapidly from mouth to mouth, and from house to house, that the "lost was found," and as they neared the Corners, and the home of the little wanderer, the demonstrations were very marked and enthusiastic, indeed - the wonder, on the one hand, being that so young a child could possibly have traveled so far in so short a time, and on the other hand, that she should not sooner have been picked up by those who noticed her - a strange child, and alone - as she traversed the several townships and neighborhoods, on her long and devious journey.

R. JOHN HILL, - born in Hastings, Sussex county, England, October 26, 1823; came with parents to America in 1828, settling near Utica, New York; removed to Orange, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, in 1832; the family going thence to Illinois in 1843. With such education as the schools of the vicinity afforded, after teaching a few years, young Hill, in 1847, began the study of medicine with Dr. Alexander Fisher, at Western Star, attending lectures at Cleveland Medical College; in 1850, went to California, and in 1853, to Australia, stopping three weeks enroute at Apia, on the now noted Island of Samoa; in May, 1854, sailed from Australia for London, and from thence, in the Fall of that year, for New York; 1854, '55, attended medical lectures in Cleveland, in Winter of 1855, '56,continuing studies atJefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, graduating therefrom in March, 1856; practiced medicine one year in Sharon, Medina county; March 26, 1857, mar- ried to Miss Catharine Pardee, daughter of the late Ebenezer Pardee, of Western Star, where, aside from his public duties, he thenceforth principally devoted himself to the cultivation of his fine farm at that place; elected county commissioner in 1870, 1873 and 1876, serving nearly nine years ; elected State representative in

_Norton's Mirrrary Recorp. - Several of the early residents are believed to have been soldiers in the Continental Army, during the Revolutionary War, but no data is now available as to who they were, except Mr. Henry Van Hyning, a native of the State of New York, who died in Norton, December 25, 1839, at the age of 102 years, and Mr. Hinsdale Bates, 84, reported as being a pensioner, by the census of 1840. Itis very likely, too, that some of her pioneer settlers may have " played well their part" in the War of 1812, though she could not have directly furnished many, as it will be remembered that there were but few accessions to the population of the township until after the close of that war, in 1815. For the Mexican War of 1846-48, Norton probably furnished no soldiers, few being recruited in this part of the State.

In the War of the Rebellion, however, Norton was well represented, furnishing her full quota under the several calls, mostly from among her own brave and patriotic sons, of both political parties, several of whom laid down their lives in the service, or have since prematurely died from injuries received, or diseases contracted during the sanguinary struggle. Without disparagement to others, honorable mention may be made of Major Myron T. Wright, of the 29th O. V. IL, who died January 7, 1865, at Savannah, Georgia, of wounds received in battle. |

TEPHEN D. MILLER, - born July 19, 1827, in Northampton county, Pennsylvania; common school education; raised a farmer; in 1843, removed with parents to Ohio, settling in Norton; November 6, 1854, imarried to Mary Ann Musser, three years his junior, who bore him six children, as follows: Sarah Jane (now Mrs. Columbus Seiberling), born July 1, 1852; Albert, May 21, 1859; Norman F. October 26, 1861, deceased; Harriet O., born March 13, 1863; Charles O., November 11, 1866; Mary \ Susannah, August 23, 1870. Besides 1 Mal the successful cultivation of his farm, Ac SHS Mr. Miller was special and general WY . manager for the mower and reaper i firm of Seiberling, Miller & Co., of Doylestown, for some 15 years. Though an earnest Republican, ever in the minority in Norton, Mr. Miller _was often honored with important township offices; during the War, was two years deputy revenue asses- sor for a portion of the 18th Congressional district, and at the time of his death, October 14, 1889, was just closing his second term (nearly six years), as director of the Summit County

Infirmary. Faithful to every public and private obligation, his sudden death, at the age of 62 years, 2 months and 25 days, was universally regretted.

The following, furnished by the late Mr. Stephen D, Miller, and compiled from the assessors' returns for 1865, is believed to be nearly a correct list of the soldiers furnished by Norton during the War for the Union, 1861-65: : :

Israel Beck, Eber Bennett (died in service), John L. Baker, Henry A. Baker, Jacob S. Baker, Eli Blocker (died in_ service), George W. Betz (left arm severely shattered at battle of Columbia, Tenn., November 28, 1864), Charles W. Betz (died in service), John B. Betz, Aaron Betz, Thomas Bear (died in service), Levi Bear (died in service), Stephen D. Bauer, Albert Beckwith, J. W. Brown,

On the organization of Summit county, Norton patriotically stepped to the front, and in the civil offices of the county has ever since been a prominent and useful factor.

EvisHA HINSDALE, a prominent and prosperous farmer of Norton township, residing near Bates' Corners (now Loyal Oak), was elected coroner at the initial election in April, 1840, re-elected for two years in October of that year, and again elected in 1842, holding the position four years and seven months, and making in every respect a first-class officer.

GrORGE Kirkum, Esq., son of Philemon Kirkum, one of Norton's earliest settlers, and at whose house the first election ever had in " Wolf Creek township" was held, and at which he was elected town clerk, grew from a small boy to manhood in Norton township. Reading law with Van R. Humphrey, Esq., of Hudson, he commenced practice at Ravenna, where he served for several years as clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, removing to Akron in 1838 or 1839, and building for himself the house now owned and occupied. by Mr. Benjamin McNaughton, corner of East Middlebury and Kirkwood streets. In 1842, Mr. Kirkum was elected prosecuting attorney for the new county of Summit, serving for two years, with marked ability, when, in 1844, he was elected as representative to the State Legislature, serving through the session of 1844,'45, with great acceptance to his constituents. A few years later Mr. Kirkum moved to the city of New York, and

James A. METLIn, then residing on his fine farm on the Akron and Bates' Corners road, in Norton, was elected county commissioner in 1853, holding the office for three years. Subsequently Mr. Metlin committed the too common error, among prosperous and successful farmers, of abandoning his farm and entering upon a life of speculation in the city, whereby he became so seriously embarrassed that in 1875 he was compelled to make an assignment for the benefit of his creditors. He is now in California.

AMES H. SEIBERLING, - son of Nathan and Catharine (Peter) - Seiberling, was born in Norton, November 20, 1835; as a boy, attended district schools and Western Star Academy, and aided in clearing and working his father's farm, operating saw-mill, etc.; in the Fall of 1863, located in Doylestown,Wayne county, as an employe of the mower, reaper and binder firm of Cline, Seiberling & Co., established in 1860; in 1865, purchased an interest in said business, the firm name being then changed to Seiberling, Miller & Co., now one of the most successful establishments of its kind in Ohio, and the leading manufactory in Wayne county, Mr. Seiberling being its superintendent. In 1860, Mr. Seiberling was married to Miss Elizabeth Baughman, daughter of David and Elizabeth (Blocker) Baughman, of

James H. Seiberling

Dr. JOHN Hit, residing at Western Star, was elected county commissioner for three consecutive terms of three years each, from 1870 to 1879, filling that responsible position for nine years with marked fidelity and good judgment.

Dr. JoHN HILt, on the close of his third term as commissioner, was in October, 1879, elected as representative to the State Legislature, where, as the colleague of Dr. L. S. Ebright, of Akron, he ably looked after the interests of the people of Summit county, and of the State of Ohio, for the years 1880 and 1881.

STEPHEN D. MILLER, a substantial and successful farmer, residing in the western portion of the township, was during the War one of Internal Revenue Collector John E. Hurlbut's most efficient deputies for Summit county, and was elected one of the directors of the Summit County Infirmary in 1883, performing the duties of the office in so satistactory a manner as to secure a re-election for three years longer, in 1886. Mr. Miller, notwithstanding his activity in public and private life, was for many years a constant sufferer from abscess of the right lung, and died suddenly from general paralysis, on the morning of October 14, 1889, two months and a half before the expiration of his term of office.

Wi OREGs SEIBERLING, - son of Nathan and Catharine (Peter) Seiberling, born in Norton, January 16, 1839; common school education ; worked on father's farm till 25 years of age; in 1864, took management of farm and saw mill, jointly owned by himself and his brother, fois F., continuing four years; selling his interest to his brother, engaged in the later purchasing an interest in the Akron Strawboard Company, officiating as its secretary and superintendent, until September, 1884: was one of the incorporators of the Akron Twine and Cordage works; with others bought the Upper Sandusky Strawboard works; in 1887, established Strawboard works at Kokomo, Indiana, and in 1889, with other Akron capitalists, established the Diamond Plate Glass Company, of Kokomo, and Ellwood, of which he is general manager, being also a stockholder in the Hartford City (Indiana) Glass works, and owner of a fine hundred acre farm in Norton. November 6, 1862, he was married to Miss Sarah Miller, daughter of John Miller, who settled in Norton, in 1843. They have had ten children, eight of whom are now living --Emma, Alton, Katha- rine, Ella, Frederick, Laird, George and Grace. Mr. Seiberling is an earnest Republican, and an active member of the English Lutheran' Church of Akron, of which he has been both a deacon and an elder. The family residence of Mr. Seiberling is now in Kokomo, Indiana.

Samuel Tarrison Miller

AMae HARRISON MILLER, - son of John and Susan (Bauer) Miller, born in Nazareth, Northampton county, Pennsylvania, May 20, 1839; came with parents to Norton in May, 1843; educated in district schools and Akron High School; from 12 to 18, clerked in store of Milton W. Henry,in Akron; then worked on father's farm six years; December

15, 1863, engaged as bookkeeper with Cline, Seiberling & Hower, manufacturere of reapers and mowers, at Doylestown, Ohio ; September 1, 1865, became a member of the firm of Cline, Seiberling & Co.; December 31, 1878, changed to Seiberling, Miller & Co., now composed of John F. Seiberling, of Akron, and James H. Seiberling and Samuel H. Miller, of Doylestown. August 29, 1867, Mr. Miller was married to Miss Ella L. Schneider, daughter of Alfred and Clarissa (Clewell) Schneider, who was born in New Hanover, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, January 27, 1847, the family removing to Norton in 1852, and now residing at Loyal Oak. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Miller, four of whom, only, are now living - Fred. J., born December 8, 1868; William R., March 6, 1875 ; Sidney L., April 5, 1885; Lucile M., November 3, 1886. A stanch Republican, but not an office seeker, Mr. Miller has served as member of the board of education and as village treasurer; is a member of Doylestown Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Commandery, No. 25, K. T., and of Northern Ohio Consistory, A. A. S. R., Cleveland; is also a director in The J. F. Seiberling Co., The Akron Savings Bank, and The Seiberling Milling Co., of Akron.

In the mining district of Norton township, two boys, Joseph 'Welsh and Robert McLister, grew up together as playmates and fellow-workmen, the most friendly relations existing between them until a short time before the sad occurrences to be hereafter related took place. Unfortunately for the peace and the moral wellbeing of the mining region where they worked (Dennison), two or three saloons, for the sale of intoxicating liquors and the playing of exciting games, had been established there, to the frequenting of which all the trouble herein related, and a good deal more, may be directly traced.

On the night of Friday, March 24, 1882, a party of young men were assembled at the saloon of John Smith, at Dennison, engaged in drinking beer, playing billiards, etc., among the participants being Joseph Welsh, then 25 years of age, and Robert McLister, 23. During the progress of the game, a dispute arose between those two young men, provoked, it was said, by Welsh, in which McLister, on being attacked, struck Welsh upon the head with a billiard cue, he, in turn, being knocked down and _ otherwise assaulted by Welsh, the combatants being finally separated by the by-standers. Being very angry Welsh made several threats against McLister, to the effect that he would "cut his heart out of him the first time he met him," etc.

Evidently fearing to remain in the saloon, McLister slipped out of the back door and went home, he living with his parents, near by, Welsh's home being with his mother at Johnson's Corners. Instead of remaining at home and letting the matter drop, however, McLister put his revolver in his pocket, and started back towards the saloon. Welsh came out, and McLister asked him if he intended to do as he said. Welsh immediately pulled off his coat, when McLister fired at him, the ball striking Welsh upon the abdomen, but being turned aside by a button did not penetrate the body; the force of the ball, however, doubling Welsh up and causing him to fallto the ground.

Without waiting to ascertain the effect of his shot, but supposing that he had made a serious, if not a fatal, injury upon his antagonist, McLister immediately walked to Akron, and arousing Prison-Keeper Edward Dunn, informed him that he had shot a man, and requested to be locked up.

The writer was then officiating as mayor of the city of Akron, and the next morning McLister was brought before him and questioned, eliciting the story, substantially as above given. An hour or two later, Welsh, accompanied by Mr. Archibald McLister, the father of Robert, and several other residents of Norton, came to the mayor's office to talk the matter over. Welsh declining to prosecute McLister for the reason.that he (Welsh) was the most to blame, in forcing the quarrel upon Robert, they then and there settled their differences, McLister paying the small amount of costs that had been made, and the two young men, in the presence of the writer, shaking hands with each other and leaving the office together apparently upon the most friendly terms.

Nothing of an unpleasant nature occurred for several months, when gossips and tattlers began to carry exaggerated tales between the two, of any chance remarks that had been made by either regarding the other, and in this way the naturally warm Celtic blood in the veins of the two impulsive young men at length became heated to the boiling point, somewhat increased, perhaps, by the fact that one of them was Catholic and the other Protestant in religious belief and training. As time passed on, the enmity between the two became most bitter and intense, though, by reason of their working in different mines, personal contact was avoided, it being stated that McLister, being less muscular than Welsh, sought to avoid the haunts which the latter frequented, while at the same time going armed with a loaded revolver, with which to defend himself, in case of an unexpected meeting or sudden attack.

Thus matters stood between the two young men upto theevening of Saturday, November 29th, 1884. On the evening in question, McLister was at the saloon of Thomas Williams, near Dennison, or Sherman as it is now called, drinking beer, singing songs, etc., with several companions, when Welsh was seen approaching by Williams who went out and begged of him not to enter, as McLister was there and he did not want any trouble in the house. Welsh disclaimed any intention of making any trouble, but wanted a glass of beer, and Williams conducted him into the kitchen, intending to bring the beer to him there. But Welsh 'demurred to this, and solemnly promising that he would not speak to McLister, or make any disturbance whatever, Williams permitted him to enter the saloon, and drawing a glass of beer for him, placed it upon the counter.

At this time McLister was standing on the opposite side of the room, near the stove, singing a song, several others also sitting or standing around the stove. As the glass of beer was set upon the counter, by Williams, Welsh took it up with his right hand and drank the contents, when, suddenly facing about and uttering an opprobrious epithet, he hurled the heavy tumbler at the head of McLister with such force that, just missing his face, it knocked off McLister's cap, and went crashing through both the window and the slatted blind on the outside.

McLister exclaimed, " Por God's sake Joe, don't! I don't want anything to do with you!" Williams, the saloonkeeper, and his brother-in-law, Thomas Lewis, then seized hold of Welsh, and endeavored to put him out of the saloon. As they neared the door Welsh broke away from them and turned back towards McLister, at the same time, as was alleged, reaching backward as if to draw a weapon from his hip pocket. At this point McLister fired two or three, possibly four, shots at Welsh in rapid succession, whereupon Welsh turned and staggered through the door to the gate, some 20 feet distant, where he fell and immediately expired. +

It was found that one of the balls entered the side of the deceased, passing through the intestines and lodging in the abdominal wall upon the opposite side, the other striking him in the back and entering the chest, from one of which, or a conibination of both, he died.

The affair created the wildest of excitement throughout the entire neighborhood. McLister made no attempt to escape, but later the same night was arrested, at the home of his afflicted parents by Constable George Jennings, on a warrant issued by Justice Michael Wise, of Johnson's Corners, on the affidavit of Thomas Lewis. Being held by Justice Wise to answer to the

Trial, Conviction And Sentence

Court of Common Pleas, then in session, McLister was duly committed to jail. Prosecuting Attorney Charles Baird moved the court for a special Grand Jury, which was accordingly impaneled as. follows: N. E. Vansickle, Stephen Ginther, EK. S. Oviatt, C. C. Wilcox, Frank Danforth, A. H. Mallison, Everett Foster, Samuel Findley, S. A. Lane, George Payne, Charles H. Edgerly, A. Ruger, W. W. Arnold, C. P. Mallison and H. K. Sauder. ;

After the examination of a large number of witnesses, the Grand Jury, by its foreman, N. EK. Vansickle, returned a true bill of indictment consisting of three separate counts, charging McLister with murder in the first degree; the first count, omitting legal phraseology, setting forth the deliberate and malicious shooting of Welsh in the back to the depth of eight inches; the second count, shooting in the side to the depth of 14 inches, and the third count combining the two shots, with intent to kill and murder, etc.

On Wednesday, December 17, 1884, Messrs. Kohler and Sadler, attorneys for the defendant, filed a plea in abatement of the indictment, on the grounds, first, that H. K. Sauder, one of the special grand jurors finding said bill, was an attorney at law and the duly appointed court stenographer, and in the employ of the prosecuting attorney, while acting as such grand juror; and second, that S. A. Lane, being then, as deputy clerk, an officer of the court, was incompetent to serve as a grand juror, etc. (Mr. Lane, in the latter part of Clerk Nash's administration and early part of Hale's term, temporarily, for a few months, officiated as deputy clerk, as his services were needed by those officers).

To this plea in abatement, Prosecutor Baird filed a demurrer, which, on being fully argued by counsel on both sides, was sustained by Judge Green. A plea of not guilty was then entered by the defendant and the case continued till the January term, 1885.

On the commencement of the January term, the trial of McLister was set for Monday, February 9th, Judge U. L. Marvin being assigned by the court to assist Prosecuting Attorney Baird in the trial of the case, a special venire for 36 jurors being summoned to appear at the time designated.

At the appointed time the case was proceeded with in due form. The first venire being exhausted, the second, third and fourth venires were issued for six, four and three jurors, respectively, and at length the panel was declared full, and the jury sworn as follows: C. C.Swinehart, Corwin T. Hamlin, Champ Mouiton, C. H. Ellsworth, N. G. Mellinger, Henry Raber, M. EK. Foster. W. H. Miller, John Stutz, T. N. Ganyard, KE. P. Holloway and Henry Federick.

The trial lasted over a week, sixteen witnesses appearing for the State, forty-one for the defense, and ten in rebuttal for the State. The case was ably handled on both sides, counsel for McLister, endeavoring to show that the shooting was done in self-defense. The theory was deemed untenable, by the jury, however, from the fact that, though Welsh was the original aggressor, by hurling a deadly missive at McLister's head, one of the fatal shots took effect in Welsh's back, indicating that he was then retreating, while there was some testimony, to the effect that as Welsh left the saloon, McLister followed him up and sent a shot after him from the door.

After eloquent and exhaustive arguments, on both sides, under the very full and able charge of Judge Green, the case was given to the jury, on Monday at 5:15 p. M., and at 12:30 p. M., Tuesday, February 17, 1885, the jury through their foreman, William 7. Miller, returned a verdict of guilty of murder in the second degree.

It afterwards transpired that thirty ballots were taken, the most of which stood, seven for murder in first degree, three for second degree, and two for manslaughter. Changes finally began to take place, until at length eleven to one was reached where the jury hung for six or seven hours, when the obdurate one relaxed, and an agreement was reached at the hour stated.

On Monday, February 23, Messrs. Kohler and Sadler filed a motion to set aside the verdict, for the following reasons: Ist accident and surprise which ordinary prudence could not guard against; 2d that the verdict is not sustained by the evidence, and is contrary to law; 3rd newly discovered evidence material for the defendant, which he could not with reasonable diligence have discovered and provided for; 4th error of law in the sustaining by the court of the State's demurrer to the defendant's plea in abatement of indictment; 5th errors of law occurring at the trial.

"ROBERT MCLISTER, you may stand up. Have you anything further to: say why the sentence of the law should not be pronounced?" The prisoner making noreply, Judge Green continued: "You were indicted by the Grand Jury oF this county, said indictment charging you with having purposely, of deliberate and premeditated malice, murdered Joseph Welsh, by shooting. Upon being arraigned, you entered a plea of not guilty, and you were put upon trial before an intelligent and impartial jury. Your defense was conducted by able counsel. The jury listened with great patience and unyielding attention to everything offered in evidence, and to the arguments of your counsel, and, under the charge of the Court, to which your counsel took no exceptions, retired to deliberate, and after mature deliberation returned a verdict finding you guilty of murderin the second degree - an offense for which our law affixes the penalty of imprisonment for life. This verdict of the jury, under the evidence given, we are satisfied, under their oaths, they were compelled to return. It now becomes my painful duty to pronounce the judgment the law prescribes for your crime. It is that you be taken hence to the common jail of the county, and that you there be safely kept,. and within thirty days you be taken from thence to the penitentiary of this State, and that there you be imprisoned during life."

The prisoner received his-sentence without apparent emotion, and, without being hand-cuffed, accompanied the officer quietly back to the jail, where, with conduct every way becoming the gentleman that he naturally is, he remained until the 11th day of March, 1885, when he was removed to the penitentiary at Columbus, by Sheriff William B. Gamble.

Thus, through evil associations and habits, in the very bloom of youthful manhood, one human life was entirely blotted out, and another shrouded under a dark pall of ignominy, to be forever debarred the society of kindred and friends, unless executive clemency should mercifully intervene to open the gloomy portals of his prison-house, as, afteran incarceration of nearly five years, it finally did, young McLister being pardoned by Gov. J. B. Foralér, January 10, 1890, since his release and return home, so far as the

Population, Officers, Etc

Norton's PopuLatTion. - The census of 1840 gave to Norton township, including the villages within her borders, 1,497 inhabitants, while those of 1880 gave her 2,066 a gain of 569, a fair show- ' ing indeed, considering the tendency of the times to concentrate business and manufacturing operations in the larger towns and railroad centers of the country, though the census of 1890 gives her but 1,973, a falling off in the last decade of 98, though in the present (1891) growth of the new city of Barberton, within her borders, she has much more than regained her lost ground since the enumeration was made.

NorTon's PRESENT OFFICIAL STatTus. - Trustees, John-B- Betz, Jackson Hall, Oliver Harter; clerk, Samuel J. Burgess; treasurer, Joseph Hartzell; justices of the peace, John McNamara, William A. Morton; constables, Charles O. Helmick, John Kelly; Postmasters, New Portage, George A. Shaw; Barberton, A. A. Moore; Johnson's Corners, Amos Miller; Norton Center, Louis M. Shook; Loyal Oak, Alfred Schneider; Western Star, O. A. Wallace; Sherman, Mrs. Mathews.

Chapter Xliv Million Dollars Already Invested In Its Promotion--Wonderful

THE MAGIC CITY OF BARBERTON - RAPID GROWTH AND UNPARALLELED PROS - PERITY - PUSH AND PERSEVERANCE OF ITS PLUCKY PROJECTORS - OVER A MILLION DOLLARS ALREADY INVESTED IN ITS PROMOTION--WONDERFUL INDUSTRIAL REVELATION - A SHORT BUT INTERESTING CHAPTER.

The New City Of Barberton

INCE the compilation of this history was begun, and the publication of the foregoing chapters on Coventry and Norton, in serial form, the vicinity of New Portage, on the Norton side of the line, has been invested with a new and truly wonderful importance. In January, 1890, Messrs. Ohio C. Barber, Charles Baird, Albert T. Paige and John K. Robinson, realizing the beauty and business possibilities of the locality, purchased a number of contiguous farms, adjacent to the already considerable village of New Portage, on the west, aggregating 640 acres of land, with the view of founding thereon a new manufacturing city, the fee of the entire purchase being at first vested in Mr. Albert T. Paige, and subsequently transferred to the attorney of the syndicate, Charles Baird, Esq.

These lands were carefully and scientifically laid out into business and residence lots, streets, avenues, parks, etc., and graded on the most approved system of drainage and sewerage the beautiful sheet. of water thereon, formerly called "Way's Lake," and later known as "Davis' Lake," being re-christened "Lake Anna," in honor of Miss Anna Barber, only daughter of the chief promoter of the enterprise, Mr. Ohio C. Barber, after whom the new city itself was very properly named - Bar i beautiful little lake is made ie enter of Bal ee face nicely graduated and ornamented grounds, with several delightfully shady groves upon its margin, which, though not so formally named, may properly be designated as "Recreation Park,"

(__) Having thus quietly perfected their plans, liberal inducements were extended to manufacturers, and other business men, to avail themselves of the extraordinary advantages and facilities claimed for the new city, the members of the syndicate manifesting their faith in its success by taking large blocks of stock in the several important enterprises locating there, as will be seen in the enumeration of those establishments, and the names of the gentlemen connected therewith, as directors, officers, etc.

In October, 1890, the original syndicate sold'a one-half interest in the enterprise to Hon. George W. Crouse, of Akron, and Mr. M. J. Alexander, of Greensburg, Pennsylvania, and their associates of Pittsburg. The plat of the new city was duly entered for record in the records of Summit county, by Mr. Baird, on March 24, 1891.

May 23, 1891, the syndicate, as enlarged, entered into a partnership contract, also duly recorded, under the name and style of "The Barberton Land and Improvement Company," with a capital of $240,000, with Mr. Ohio C. Barber as president and trustee, all the lands thus acquired and held, being on that date transferred by deed executed by Charles Baird and wife, Lucy V. Baird, to Ohio C. Barber as such trustee, who was, by the terms of the partnership contract, authorized to mortgage such portion of said lands to The Union Trust Company, of New York, as might be necessary to secure the payment of bonds to an amount not exceeding $200,000, issued to raise money to carry forward contemplated improvements, the entire amount invested in lands, improvements and business, by the company, and manufacturing corporations, in the new city, to the present time (November, 1891), being about $1,300,000. Mr. M. J. Alexander has the management of the sale _of the company's lands, over $200,000 worth of business and residence lots having already been sold.

Company, and the pep thee of $100 shares of the $240,000 capital stock held by each, is as follows: Ohio C. Barber, 300; Charles Baird, 300; Albert T. Paige, 300; John K. Robinson, 300; George Ww. Crouse, 170; M. J. Alexander, 185; J. W. Moore, 165; William 2; Hartupee, 170; Ida H. Chandler, 170; A. M. Sloan, 100; Julien Kennedy, 100; James S. McKean, 100; Neri Newcomb, 40 - total 2,400. : With the Ohio canal, the Cleveland, Akron & Columbus, and the Baltimore & Ohio railways upon the east, and the New York, Pennsylvania & Ohio railway upon the west and a fully equipped, standard guage Belt Line traversing its entire circumference (over four miles of track being already laid), the transportation facilities of the new city are simply perfect.

Barberton Inn

As illustrative of what cash and courage, push and pluck, and energy and enterprise can accomplish, and as indicative of what the coming nine years of the last decade of the nineteenth century may accomplish for the new city, we note its present business status as follows:

BRANCH OF AMERICAN STRAWBOARD Comrany. - Capital $6,000,000, with Ohio C. Barber, as its president, occupies 40 acres of ground with four brick buildings, 70x300 feet each; one 30x100 feet; two 20x80 feet each; with a straw-lumber, or lignistra, department 50x350 feet, and employing from 150 to 200 men. William R. Brown, manager of Barberton works.

THE NATIONAL SEWER Prrk Company. - Capital $250,000, the largest works of their kind in the world; occupying 26 acres of ground; building four-story brick 80x370 feet; 32 kilns; eight boilers, over 1,200 horse-power of engines; 150 to 200 men; capacity 200 to 300 tons per day. Directors: Ohio C. Barber, president; William McFarlin, vice president and treasurer; Ed. M. Buel, secretary; Henry A. Robinson, general manager; Charles Baird, attorney. This company have an inexhaustible supply of the very best quality of clay contiguous to the lands of the syndicate, in close proximity to their works.

THE CREEDMOOR CARTRIDGE Company. - Capital $500,000, manufacturers of all kinds of military and sporting fixed ammunition; site 34 acres; main building, three-story brick, 60x 150 feet; hands employed 75 to 125. Directors: Ohio C. Barber, 'president; Charles E. Sheldon, vice president; Mark R. Hayne, secretary and treasurer; Charles Baird, William McFarlin, Isaac C. Alden and Clement A. Barnes. Manager, N. P. Leach; Superintendent, E. A. Worthen.

THE StrR"iInc Company. - Manufacturers of water tube safety steam boilers; capital $500,000; site 100 acres; main building, 85x 200 feet; hands employed 60 to 250. Directors: Ohio C. Barber, president; Allan Stirling, secretary and treasurer; John Jardine, Robert C. Alexander and Charles Baird. General Manager, Thomas Deegan; Superintendent, H. S. Pell.

Houses For Workmen

THE BARBERTON WHITEWARE COMPANY. - Capital $300,000, plant to consist of three buildings 103x575 feet each; hands to be employed, 750. Directors: Ohio C. Barber, president; George W. Crouse, vice president; William McFarlin, treasurer; Charles Baird, attorney, and Henry A. Robinson, general manager. Secretary, Park T. Robinson.

THE KirkuM ArT TILE AND PoTrERY ComMPpANy. - Capital $300,- 000; incorporated May 7, 1891, by Joseph Kirkum, Ohio C. Barber, president; George W. Crouse, vice president; Charles Baird, secretary and treasurer; Meshech Frost, Frank Bloom and Frank M. Atterholt, directors; site seven acres; buildings 240 feet square, with ten kilns and will employ from 400 to 500 hands.

Unrirep SALT Company. - Main works at Cleveland and Newburg; capital $1,000,000. Directors: William Chisholm; IR 18% Squire, president; Herman Frasch, secretary; L. H. Severance, treasurer; David R. Paige, Frank Rockefeller, Ohio C. Barber and Charles Baird. Barberton branch occupy seven and a half acres

BARBERTON BELT LINE RAILROAD ComMpaNny. - Capital, $50,000. ° Directors: Ohio C. Barber, president; Albert T. Paige, vice-president; William McFarlin, secretary; Charles Baird, treasurer; Henry A. Robinson, general manager. Four miles of road built and in successful operation.

THE BARBERTON SAVINGS BANK Company. - Capital, $100,000. Directors: Ohio C. Barber, president; William McFarlin, vice-president; Charles Baird, secretary; John B. Woods, Thomas W. Cornell, George W. Brewster, Houston Kepler, George W. Crouse and Henry A. Robinson. Vacancy caused by death of Joy H. Pendleton, yet to be filled. Ed. M. Buel, treasurer and ex-officio cashier. Fine run of business already assured.

BARBERTON Brick AND TILE CoMPANY. - Simeon Dickerman, president; Wellington Miller, secretary and treasurer; Theodore Stauffer, superintendent.

Besides the elegant and capacious National Hotel, erected by the National Sewer Pipe Company, near their works, a large number of handsome residences and business blocks have already been erected, and others, including Barberton Inn, a fine bank building, railway stations, etc., are now in process of construction, or soon to be built, the style and quality of which are indicated by the accompanying engravings, and in addition to the various works designated, Barberton is also liberally supplied with local tradesmen, professional men, police, etc., so that now (November, 1891), though but little more than one year old, with a population of nearly 2,000 souls, it gives promise of speedily becoming one of the

THE TOWNSHIP OF RICHFIELD - EARLY SETTLERS - PIONEER INCIDENTS - RESOURCES - RIVALRIES, ETC. - PURLIC SPIRIT - MILITARY OPERATIONS, ETC. - SPLENDID CIVIL RECORD - THE BIG SLEIGH RIDE OF 1856 - RICHFIELD'S. GREAT RE-UNION OF 1880 - CRIMINAL MATTERS - A SINGULAR CASE OF LUNACY - HUNTER-GARGETT TRAGEDY, ETC.

conveyed by the Indians to the United States, by the treaty of Fort Industry, on the Maumee river, during that year. Being a part of the Western Reserve, it soon afterwards was transferred to the Connecticut Land Company. The entire area of territory thus held by the Company, embraced nearly 4,000,000 acres, which was disposed of by a sort of lottery arrangement, each party interested "drawing" a proportionate amount of land to the money paid in. In this way, some became proprietors of entire townships, while others drew but fractions thereof.

The original proprietors, thus acquiring title to Richfield township, were Colonel Benjamin Tallmadge, Captain John Smith, Uriel Holmes, J. Wilcox and two others named Edwards and Green, all of Connecticut, none of whom, it is believed, ever settled upon, or even visited their possessions, except, possibly, Mr. Wilcox, having invested for speculative purposes, only. In 1811, Captain Heman Oviatt, then a resident of Hudson, purchased Colonel Tallmadge's interest, the northwest quarter of the township, embracing 4,000 acres, for the sum of $5,000, or at the rate of $1.25 per acre, Tallmadge fearing that the impending war between the United States and England might despoil him of his property.

ToroGRAPHY, ORGANIZATION, Erc. - Though not bordering on the river, the eastern portion of the township is badly cut up into hills and gullies, but the central and western portion is more level and abounds in fertile and nicely cultivated farms, being especially adapted to the raising of fine stock and the growing of choice fruits.

At first, Richfield was attached to Boston and several other townships in electoral and official matters, but was organized as a distinct township in April, 1816, by authority of the Commissioners of Portage county (Medina county to which the township properly belonged, not being organized until 1818). The first officers elected were: Nathaniel Oviatt, William Jourdan and Daniel Keys, trustees; John Bigelow, clerk; Isaac Welton, treasurer; Jared Barnes and John Farnum, overseers of the poor; John Bigelow and Isaac Hopkins, constables; John Farnum, Jason Phillips, Isaac Welton, Elijah Hale and John Holmes, supervisors. As in the case of Boston, an examination of this roster will disclose the fact that at least three persons were elected to two offices each. Up to this time the justices of the peace elected in Boston township, of which Mr. Lehman Farnum was one, had jurisdiction over

Nie cr NORRIS HUMPHREY, - bornin Canton, Hartford county, Connecticut, August 14, 1806; emigrated with parents to Trumbull county, Ohio, in 1816; educated in district schools; learned blacksmithing trade with father; moved to Richfield in 1829; worked at trade two years; February 10, 1831, married to Miss Julia Case, of Trumbull county; after marriage moved upon farm, two miles east of center of Richfield, where he has since continuously resided - over sixty years; helped to organize first militia company of the township, becoming its captain, in 1834, soon afterwards being promoted to major of first battalion, light infantry. An ardent Republican, though never an office-seeker, Mr. Humphrey has filled many minor offices of trust - constable, assessor, trustee, director of Academy, etc., with the strictest fidelity, lacking a few votes only of receiving the nomi- nation for State Representative, in 1869. Mrs. Humphrey died January 26, 1871, having borne him seven children, as follows: Austin, Norris, Cora (now Mrs. Ransom C. Ellsworth), Oliver N., Lucian E., Decius (died April 1, 1868, aged 22 years), and Truman, the three sons first named now . being prosperous business men in Lincoln, Nebraska, the two last named remaining in Richfield, Truman (married to Miss Lida Hale, of Bath, July 4, 1875), living on the old homestead, and kindly caring for the venerable patriarch, still, at the age of 85, retaining, in a large degree, both his physical and mental faculties, the following document testifying to the major's earlier military "prowess," above alluded to:

This is to certify that you are appointed Fourth Corporal of the 5th Company, 3d Regiment, Ist Brigade and 4th Division Ohio Militia, and you are entitled to all the privileges and respect due you, and are accountable for any misdemeanor in you as Corporal.

Launcelot Mays (General Bierce says Robert Mays), in 1809; the first marriage, William Carter to Betsey Mays, in 1812; the same also being noted as the first marriage in Boston; probably growing out of the fact that both townships were then under one jurisdiction. But as Richfield furnished the bride and Boston the groom and officiating magistrate (Alfred Wolcott, Esq.), it is proper to divide the honor between the two townships; though Mr. Carl W. Brown, the great-grandson of the ancient happy couple, informs the writer that the marriage was actually solemnized at the house of Justice Wolcott, in the east part of Boston. The first death of a white person, in Richfield, was that of Polly Payne, in 1812, at the age of 18 years. The first white child born in the township (in

The settlement of the township was not very rapid for several years, owing probably to the war disturbances of the time. After the close of the war, however, settlement was quite rapid, so that by the organization of the township in 1816 there must have been nearly, or quite, forty voters present, a goodly proportion of whom, though youngish men, were undoubtedly heads of families, and nearly all were from Connecticut and Massachusetts. The census of 1840, gave Richfield a population of 1,108, and by that of 1880 the number of inhabitants in the township was 1,253, being an increase of 145 in the forty years ; though midway between the two epochs, in the palmy business days of the two "centers," as hereinafter noted, the population must have been considerably greater than in 1880, since which time there has been a marked decline, the census of 1890 giving to her but 921 souls, a falling off of 332 in the ten years.

R. SECRETARY RAWSON, - was born in Warwick, Massachusetts, October 18, 1796; educated in cominon schools, and four years in New Salem Academy ; read medicine tive years with eminent New England physicians; holds two medical diplomas under laws of Vermont and Ohio; practiced medicine forty-five years ; camic to Ohio in 1823, settling in Richtield in 1824; married to Miss Lucy B. Hancock, June 19, 1824; the fruits of this happy union being three daughters -one dying at%15 years of age, the other two well settled in life --and three grandchildren. In 1825, the doctor organized a public library company in Richfield, soon accumulating quite a large collection of valuable books; aided in subduing the wilderness, erecting the regulation log cabins and afterwards replacing them with the more commodious and comfortable frame structures; helped to construct highways, bridge streams, build school houses, erect churches, and was a warm supporter of Richfield's old- time popular and_ prosperous' with partial restoration, but still a Academy. Dr. Rawson was among continual sufferer from severe nerthe earliest advocates of temperance vous derangement, he has reached

A Richfield correspondent,.in writing of old-time inhabitants and incidents says of "Old Dave Smith," a noted local story-teller, that he once boasted that while himself and others were mowing in a field a deer rushed past them, the mowers chasing him into a snow-drift where they caught him alive. It being suggested to him that hay-making and snow-drifts did not go well together, he said, after a moment's reflection: "That's so, I must have got two stories mixed." 'The old man was so prone to "mix"' things, that the church took him in hand on the charge of lying, when he humbly begged for forgiveness, saying: "I detest lying as bad as any of you, but I have an incurable tendency to exaggerate. It has given me more trouble than anything else in the world, and I have shed barrels and barrels of tears over it, but 1 can't get over the habit."

Bustness RESOURCES, RIVALRIES, Erc. - For some now unexplainable cause, the business interests of Richfield became divided at an early day, a rival village to the original and geographical center, three-fourths of a mile west, and called the " West Center," coming into existence. At the East Center, there was a church, one or two stores, a hotel, postoffice, and the usual complement of mechanics, with comfortable family residences extending a short distance out on the four roads centering there, but the spirit of push and spread-out-a-tive-ness, seemed to be lacking.

Bes JEREMIAH CULLEN WILCOX, - born in Hartland, Hartford county, Connecticut, December 6, 1790; at 16, removed with parents to Vernon, Trumbull county, Ohio, nearly losing his life, en route, in crossing the Ohio river; graduated from Jefferson (Pennsylvania) College, in 1813; studied medicine and commenced practice in Hartford, Trumbull county, where he resided fifteen years; in 1816, married to Miss Lorena Bushnell, who died in 1831, leaving five children - Harriet N., who married Rev. Daniel Emerson, dying in 1870; Amelia, died at 19; Maria, married to R. C. Clark, of Kentucky, afterwards of Sacramento, California, died in 1870; Jeremiah B., of Butte City, Montana, and Jerusha, married to General S. D. Sturgis, and now living at West Point, New York. Owing to impaired health, Dr. Wilcox discontinued the practice of medicine, and to secure better educational facilities, removed to Hudson, and in 1839, located on the large farm in Richfield, which he successfully cultivated until his death, from paralysis, five of whom are now living - Amelia A., wife of Mr. George B. Clarke, now of Akron; Henry Chauncey, of Akron; Newell O., died in infancy; William Cullen, now missionary in East Africa; Francis A., real estate agent

January 26, 1873, at the age of 82 years, 1 month and 20 days. In 1839, Dr. Wilcox married Mrs. Julia A. (Wilder) Pettee, formerly of Rochester, New York, who bore him eight children, in Akron, and Stella H. Of sterling integrity and indomitable energy, Dr. Wilcox was among the most highly respected of Richfield's many honored citizens.

At the rival "Center," however, it was different. Hotels were established, a number of stores were erected and filled with merchandise, a postoffice was secured, churches instituted, manufactures inaugurated, etc., until at one time, in the early forties, Richfield was one of the very snappiest inland points in Northern Ohio, not only stimulating the general prosperity of the township itself, but attracting a large amount of business from adjoining, and even more remote, localities - the east center, of course, to a considerable extent, sharing the general prosperity.

A flourishing Masonic lodge (Meridian Sun Lodge, No. 266), has also been maintained in the township for more than sixty years, and, for the most of the time for the past forty years, a fine band of music has been liberally supported, while a good deal more than usual attention has been given to church and educational matters in both villages, and throughout the township.

Besides the usual complement of well-attended district schools, Richfield, in 1836, established a well-equipped academy, in acommodious building erected for that purpose between the two villages, which was liberally patronized, not only by the people of the township, but many pupils from abroad were here educated, many of whom, without any additional scholastic advantages, have become eminent in business, statecraft, professional life, etc. Modern educational methods, however, have displaced the original Richfield academy, by the establishment of a commodious central or high school building for each village, that at the east village, unfortunately destroyed by fire, in 1887, having been replaced by a handsome and still more commodious structure.

Udge Noah M. Humphrey

born in Goshen, Connecticut, June 18, 1810; educated as farmer's boy during minority; in September, 1833, came to Ohio, entering law office of Humphrey & Hall, in Hudson, studying three years, teaching school winters ; adinitted to bar, in Medina, September 5, 1836; began practice with Van R. Humphrey and Harvey Whedon, under firm name of Humphrey, Humphrey &Whedon, changed a year later (on appointment of Van R. Humphrey to president judgeship), to Humphrey & Whedon. September 24, 1840, was married to Miss Velina Hannum, of Brecksville, settling in Richfield, in addition to legal work, teaching, farming, dealing in stock, etc.; in 1852, '53, represented Summit county in State Legislature ; in 1854 elected probate judge, removying to Akron in Spring of 1855; re-elected in 1857, serving six years. Mrs. Humphrey dying September 24, 1855, on January 12, 1859, Judge Hum- both from the people and the governphrey was again married, to Mrs. Elizabeth Young, daughter of the late David Allen, of Akron; in Fall of 1862, removed to Taylor's Falls, Chisago county, Minnesota, where he ment, being now postinaster of that city. Of the two children of Judge Humphrey, Laura M., born January 31, 1842, is now Mrs. D. A. Caneday, and Marcus F. C., born August 23,

RICHFIELD's RELIGIOUS STATUS.- - Originally settled by Puritanic stock, Richfield has, from the first, been duly observant of religious worship, and the means for its proper exercise and maintenance. The first church organization (May 15, 1818), to accommedate the various shades of religious belief, was called the "Church of Christ." but that element largely predominating, afterwards known asthe "First Congregational Church, of Richfield," acomfortable house of worship being erected at the east center, in 1822, which remained substantially as originally constructed until 1886, when it was destroyed by fire. A much handsomer and more costly structure has been erected upon the same site, by the liberal contributions of all the people of the township, aided by generous donations from former residents living elsewhere, among the latter being Governor Russell A. Alger, of Michigan; and Edwin J. Howlett, of Philadelphia; who each contributed some $500 to the building and furnishing funds. The society has been fairly prosperous throughout, maintaining nearly continuous preaching to the present time, the pastorate of the late Rev. J. A. McKinstry, commencing in August, 1864, and continuing nearly a quarter of a century, the present pastor, ordained September 6, 1889, being Rev. W. E. Wheeler. ,

The Methodists erected a modest house at an early day (about 1832), which remained only partly finished until 1852, when it was burned. Its successor, near the west center, was a more commodious structure, and has recently been considerably enlarged and improved, and the society is now healthy and prosperous.

The Baptists, also, have a prosperous society, with a commodious house of worship at the west center, erected in 1888, which has also been remodeled and enlarged, within a few years, while the United Brethren have a flourishing society and a handsome church edifice, called the 'Centennial Church," in the southeast portion of the township. This, with the four religious institutions alluded to, liberally supported by her citizens, with perhaps, quite a large contingent of independent religious faith and practice, Richfield's "calling and election" may be regarded as tolerably sure.

It is believed that among her early settlers there were several ex-Revolutionary soldiers, though only the name of John Farnam, who died May 21, 1833, has been handed down. Nor is there any record of her having furnished any soldiers for either the War of 1812, or the Mexican War, though nine residents of the town afterwards received pensions for services rendered in the former war, before removing thither.

In the War of the Rebellion, however, Richfield did her whole duty, furnishing, in all, 150 men for the Union army. Of these, five were killed in battle, and twenty-two died from diseases contracted in the service, while thirteen shared the " hospitalities" and the horrors of the various prison-pens of the late C. S. A.; six more carrying in and upon their persons indubitable evidences of their having "been there."

Richfield'S Roli, Of Honor

Tne Patriotic Spirir STi, CULTIVATED. - To preserve and properly cultivate the fraternal feeling naturally existing between the surviving soldiers of the late war, as well as for general social and beneficial purposes, the A. N. Goldwood Post, No. 104, Grand Army of the Republic, with a healthy membership of the veterans of Richfield and vicinity is maintained, with stated meetings on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month, and such special meetings, entertainments, etc., as are from time to time deemed advisable. :

Country, Sraris AND Narion. - In the civil affairs of both the county, state and nation, Richfield holds a most exalted position, asa perusal of the following summary will most clearly demonstrate:

James W. WELD, Eso., of Richfield, was elected county commissioner in 1844, and successively twice re-elected, ably filling that important position for nine consecutive years. Mr. Weld also previously held the office of treasurer of Medina county for two

- Hon. Noan M. Humpurey, in October, 1854, was again called to the front, by being elected probate judge for three years, and re-elected in 1857, most ably discharging the intricate duties of that office for six full years.

Epwarpb Oviatt, Esg., though born in Hudson, and since 1844, a resident of Akron, having spent almost his entire youth in Richfield, and acquired his most excellent education in her old-time highly popular academy, may properly be considered a_ Richfield " boy,' and we will therefore give hercredit of furnishing Summit county, inthe person of Mr. Oviatt, with a most efficient prosecuting attorney from 1864 to 1868.

AVID BAKER ALGER, - fourth son of John and Sarah (Baker) Alger, natives of Connecticut, was born in Bethany, Genessee county, New York, April 5, 1816. The father dying three years later, in 1822, the mother, with her six children, came by ox-team to Ohio, and settled upon a farm, previously bought by the father, in Richfield. Here the boy David grew to manhood, with such educational advantages only, as the schools of the township afforded. January 16, 1838, he was married in Hinckley, to Miss Margaret Richard- yy son, of Eden, Erie county, New York, who bore him four children - two sons and two daughters. He fol- managed old Richfield farm, he and S fae \\\\ 3) his good wife not only made a pleasant home for their own family, but also for the orphaned children of two of his brothers. A warm friend of education, Mr. Alger was ever actively identified with the school interests of Richfield, and being strictly temperate himself, was first and foremost in all temperance and

Orson M. Ovtart, for two consecutive terms, from 1868 to 1874, filled the office of county commissioner, both creditably to himself and highly satisfactorily to his constituents. .

SCHUYLER R. OviarT, was elected county treasurer in 1870, for two years, and re-elected in 1872, not only discharging the duties of the office with his customary fidelity, but so improving the methods of performing the routine work of the office, as to at once greatly facilitate the transaction of the the public business, and lessen the liability to mistakes.