Guilford Township

Guilford Township

The township of Guilford is called No. 1, in the 14th range of the Western Reserve, and was owned by four original purchasers. Roger Newbury, of Windham, Connecticut, owned the south-east quarter, Justin Eley, of Springfield, Masschusetts, owned the south-west quarter, Enoch Perkins, of Hartford, Connecticut,owned the north-east quarter ; and Elijah White, of Hudson, Connecticut, owned the north-west quarter.

The first settlement in the township was made in the year 1817, by Henry Hosmer, Chester Hosmer, Mary T. Hosmer, Shubal Porter, Abigal Porter, Lyman Munson and Moses Noble, who came from Southwick and Westfield in Massachusetts. All are now living in, or uear tho same place where they severally settled, except Moses Noble, who died in 1831. In 1816 John Wilson and his brother David commenced chopping and making the first opening in the north-east quarter of the township. In the same year William Moore commenced making an opening in the north-west quarter about one mile east from Chippewa Creek and within the limits of the Jarm now occupied by Jesse Smith. John Wilson and David yet live on, and own the land where they first commenced. William Moore now resides in Westfield township and owns a farm there.

In February, 1817, Henry and Chester Hosmer, Shubal Porter and Lyman Munson built a log house on the south bank of Hubbard Creek, and they with Mary T. Hosmer and Abigail Porter moved their household goods into it, on the first day of March, 1817.

That house was within four rods of the honse now known as Dowd's Hotel. In those days the now flourishing village of Seville was un-origina'ted. The Indians at that time had a village there where they tarried when on hunting excursions, containing about ten wigwams. In that year, along the lowlands of Chippewa and Hubbard creeks, elk, deer, bears and wolves were numerous.

The two streams were filled with excellent fish. In the same year William Hosmer left Southwick in Massachusetts, and traveled alone, and after a tedious journey of forty-nine days on foot came to the cabin' of his relatives in Guilford, and settled with them. During this year, 1818, the accession of inhabitants to this settlement was few. Philo French came a*hd settled near Wilsons. Timothy Phelps made an opening near Wm. Moore, and the family of William Wolcott settled in the township. This year the county of Medina was created. Prior to this year all of this county, part of Lorain and a small part of Ashland county belonged to Portage. A road was opened from the county seat, south through Montville and Guilford, in the direction of Wooster, and log bridges made oyer the two creeks, within the present corporate limits of Seville. A road was laid out on the east line of the township, north and south. The first couple married were David Wilson and Abigail Porter being two of the first settlers. The first child born was William Walcott in 1819 who died at the age of five years.

In 1819 Jonas Stiles and William H. Bell became residents. Bell made his first opening east of the present residence of Moses Shaw. In this year James and John Crawford settled in the north-west quarter of the township, where now reside many of their descendants. During this year Henry Hosmer erected a hewed log house, two stories high, near where he now resides. In its day, and in that neighborhood it was considered a model edifice, and contrasted wonderfully with the wigwams of the Indians, or even the first cabins that had been built three years prior. Chester Hosmer built a hewed log house into which he moved his father and himself. The same land is now owned by Eben Brigham. In that house Cyrus Chapman was married to Jerusha Hosraer. After marriage they settled in Harrisville township. Guilford township was organized this year with only voters sufficient to make the organization legal. Wm. H. Bell, Lyman Munson and John Wilson were the first Trustees, and Jonas Stiles, the first township clerk. The first ground plowed in the township was by Shubal Porter near the flowering mills, south of Seville. The first frame building was erected by Henry Hosmer, on the grounds now covered by " Dowd's Plotel." The first death in the township was a child of Lyman and Nancy Munson. On May 20, 1820 an election was held for a justice of the peace. Nine votes were polled and upon counting the ballots it was announced that John Crawford had one vote, Timothy Phelps had two votes and John Smith had six votes, and was declared elected. The following are the names of the voters at that election ; John Smith, W. H. Bel!, Timothy Phelps, Samuel Owen, John Crawford, William Wolcott, Jonas Stiles, Lyman Munson and John Wilson. In the same year, at the October election, thirteen votes were cast, which was the entire poll of the township. .During this year a State Road was laid out from Wooster to Cleveland, which was laid on the same ground with the same road that had been cut out the previous year. It was afterwards known as and called the "Pike."

The first school-house erected in the township was west of the State Road and opposite Moses Shaw's present residence. It was built cabin fashion, a chimney of clay and sticks at one end, the roof of clapboards kept on by weigh poles, a puncheon floor, no loft, a rickety door made of clapboards swung an creaking wood hinges, two small windows with greased paper for panes instead of glass. Miss Adaline Dothee taught the first summer school and John Bell taught the winter school of 1821 and 1822. In this first Guilford Seminary, James A. Bell (thereafter State Representative,) Josiah, William and James Crawford, Levi Nye, Jacob Bell, Amer aud Jacob Moore were students. In 1822 that school house was burned down, and in 1823 a second quite similar in model and convenience was erected on the ground where the store of Caughey, Leland & Co., now stands. Intellectual light was poured out in that house by Emeline Forbs during the summer, and by Nathaneal Bell during the winter.

This year a death occurred that spread a gloom over those who then resided along Chippewa and Hubbard creeks. In the month of Novvember, Elijah Porter started from the residence of his son, Shubal Porter, to the County Seat on necessary business relative to a go to pension he was then receiving from the United States. He went on foot to Daniel Wilson's, where he borrowed a horse and started for Medina. Late at night the horse came home alone. Mr. Wilson and others soo-n were on their way, in the night, in the direction of Medina, searching for Mr. Porter. They found him about one and a half miles south of Medina setting at the root of a beach tree, so chilied that he could not speak. They attempted to carry him to the nearest house, which was at Medina, but before they got him there he died. His remains are interred in a graveyard west from David Wilson's residence, and it may be recorded that he was the first white man buried in Guilford township.

In the same year a Militia Company was organized, and to accomplish that object the whole of Harrisville, Westfield and half of Guilford townships had t^be included in order that the necessary number of oincers and soldiers could be got.

In 1824 the present burrying ground east of Seville was surveyed, and made by deed the property of the township for burial purposes. The first adult buried in that cemetery was Mrs. Harriet Wilson, wife of Robert Wilson. The same year Mrs. Margaret Wilson, wife of John Wilson, died and was buried west of David Wilson's, being the second person interred in that burying ground. During this year a school house was built at Wilson's Corners, being the third school house built in the township.

In 1825 a Mail Route was established between New Hampshire, in Huron county, and New Portage, in Portage county, and William Hosmer was the first appointed Post Master at Guilford Post Office.

Prior to the above date a Methodist society had been organized at Wilson's Corners, and David Wilson was the first class leader. Another Methodist society was, in 1826, started at the center of the townshib and Reuben Case was class leader. Circuit preachers came to those two places twice monthly and in course of a few years gathered together a number who are now exemplary christians of that denomination. This year (1826) a saw mill was erected and put in operation by Henry Hosmer and Nathaniel Bell.

to celebrate the 4th of July. An oration was delivered by Puifus Freeman, and a dinner of roast pigs, turkeys and chickens was prepared by David Clute.

In 1817, Guilford had made many advances in improvements and began to put forth united efforts to make' use of the many natural advantages they discovered. The opening of roads from settlement to settlemejri converging at the Hosmer opening seemed to indicate that a town should be commenced, and in '28 Henry Hosmer, as proprietor, calling to his aid Nathaniel Bell, then county surveyor, surveyed and plotted a town to which was given the name of Seville, At that period Guilford could boast of two regular mail routs, an excellent tavern kept by Dr. Eastman, a school house, store, blacksmith shop, saw mill and a large number of industrious and experienced farmers, busily employed in cutting off the wilderness and opening for cultivation, beautiful and fertile farms. Not one boasted of being rich, but every one, under the guidance of a beneficent Providence, could say, " I have a competence and something to bestow."

Narrative By David Wilson

Myself and brother John first visited what is now called Guilford township in 1815, in April, and went west to Harrisville township. After tarrying there a short time we returned to Trumbull county. In the following December we came a second time, made a more thorough exploration, and returned unsatisfied. In 1819 we returned, purchased the north-east part of the township from Simon Perkins, then at Warren, and commenced making an improvement. Our house was built of bass-wood logs, measured 6 by 10 feet, roofed with the same kind of timber and chinked with moss. We chopped about two acres around our cabin and felt truly happy when seeing the noon-day sun shining through the openings on our dwellings. We often hunted and killed many deer. The choice pieces were salted down in a trough that we had scooped out ; and after being in brine for some time were hung up and dried. Iutending to go home to Warren a short time, we had hunted, killed, drefsed and salted down a full trough of choice deer meat, intended for our use when we returned. In two months we came back, and upon examination found that the wild-cats had made openings into our house, carried off and devoured all of our salted deer meat. Nothing else was disturbed. Our j^eds were deer skins stretched between two poles, and the fat part of an arm was our pillow. Our table was one end of a broad puncheon, that was run through an opening between the logs of our mansion. Our food was bear-meet, venison, wild turkey, potatoes, wild honey and tea made of spice wood. We had to go five miles through thick wood to get our pone bread baked, and we have often carried a bushel of potatoes that distance and complained not of the weight. Snakes were very numerous, but we did not dread them. My brother and I came among a den of rattlesnakes once when out hunting, and in a very short time we killed eighty, and could, if inclined, have killed more.

Guilford Statistics Personal Property

If the value of oats, grass seeds, potatoes, wool and orchard products be computed and added to the above it will make the yearly value of the personal property and products of the township and village to exceed $315,000. In 1822, there were eighty-four cattle and ten horses listed by John Bell, valued at $1,072. To compare the list of property for taxation in 1819, with those of 1861, for the same purpose, shows an increase that few of former times ever expected to see or realize. The Wilsons, Hosmers and Porters can look back with pleasure upon the advances made since their first settlement in Guilford.

Organization

The township was organized in February, 1820. A military company was raised and organized in 1819. John Burt was elected Captain, John Burt, Lieutenant and N. A. Goodwin, Ensign. 'At this date there were forty families in the township, amounting to about two hundred and sixty persons. The first township election was held at the house of Seth Paul, on the first Monday in April, 1820. The first township trustees were N. A. Goodwin, S. Paul and Festus Ganyard. John Codding was the first township clerk, Burt^Codding was the first justice of the peace. For some time the people were without an elected, constable. In January. 1822, the trustees met and appointed Ira In graham constable. The first money paid into the township treasury was twenty-five cents, being a fine imposed for swearing. Of that money, one half was paid out for paper on which to record township proceedings ; the other half of the township fund was paid to William Paul for bringing the Laws and Journals from the county seat.

The Congregational Church was organized by Rev. W. Hanford and Caleb Pitkins in November 14, 1819, with the following church members : Elizar Hills, Abigail Hills, James Ganyard and Phebe Ganyard, Friend Ingrahani and Lydia Ingraham, John Turner and Dolly

The first Methodist Episcopal Class was formed in the autumn of 1820, by Elder Nunn, with the following members : Bela Spencer and Lydia Spencer, Alexander Spencer, Deborah Goodwin, Samuel Griffin, James £rriflin, Jehial Porter and Hannah M'Cloud.

The first Baptist Church was formed in 1826, with the following members, by Elder Henry Hudson: Jesse H. Smith, Samuel Crosby and wife, David Holmes, Allen Smith