Hinckley Township

Hinckley Township

From the following narratives it appears that prior to 1818, very little was known of the township but what had been noticed and told by hunters, who when traveling had paid more attention to game, than to land, timber or natural advantages.

To those in search of level unbroken surface it did not seem very inviting. The many rugged jutting hills between which deep ravines intervene ; and the long, high and narrow ridges of land made by the sudden circuitous windings of the Rocky River, from north to south, and then from south north-westerly, are calculated to give the hasty explorer unfavorable impressions.

But after industry and perseverance came and sheared off the forest, and permitted the sun to shine upon the earth's surface, it was discovered that the fertility of the soil was not inferior to that of lands south and west, and that the many springs of pure water that gushed from the hill sides at all seasons in the year gave strong proof of its being a healthy township.

Not a few, who preferred health to a level surface, made choice of the township of Hinckley as their residence, and the homes of their families for which they toiled. Since the first organization up to the present time (18G1) the advances m.ide in cultivation of soil, planting orchards, erecting residences and encouraging industrial establishments will make it compare favorably with other townships of the same age in the county.

The following narratives, compiled by Doctor O. Wilcox, Mr. Cogswell and Riley the Rover, comprise many historical facts worthy of being read and preserved by the descendants of the first pioneers.

Narrative By 0. Wilcox

In the distribution of the lards of the Western Reserve, among the original land speculators who bought it of the State of Connecticut, the township of Hinckley fell to the lot of Judge Samuel Hinckley, of Northampton, Massachusetts. When or where he was born, T do not know, but he was educated for a lawyer and as I understand began life rather poor. He amassed considerable property and died about twenty years ago, in Northampton, esteemed and respected by his neighbors for his many virtues. He had a strong penchant for trading in lands and it almost seems that Heaven would be no Heaven to him unless he could trade in land there, as is illustrated by the following anecdote which is related of him.

Governor Strong, of Massachusetts, was a brotherin-law of Hinckley, and also owner of lands on the Reserve. One day they were discussing the propriety of putting their lands into market. Strong thought it best, as the saving in taxes and interest would more than equal the rise in value. Hinckley dissented. *- Why," said he "the time will come when those lands will sell for ten dollars per acre." "Yes," replied Strong, " but before that time comes, you and I will be in Heaven." "Ah! that's the Devil of it," said the .Tndj-e.

The Judge was owner of several townships and parts of townships besides Hinckley, and as this was a rough, broken township, he seemed to think less of it than he did of his others, consequently he had them surveyed and brought into market first. Hence all the adjoining townships were partially settled before Hinckley. The wild animals, disturbed by the cYash of falling trees, the barking of dogs, the loud shouts of merry children (the children were noisy in -those days,) and the crack of the settler's rifle, fled from the noise and confusion to the silent shades and deep recesses of Hinckley, where they were comparatively safe from disturbance. Of course Hinckley abounded in wild game and this led to the getting up of a grand hunt. The great Hinckley hunt was the first incident in its history worth relating and as this has been so often and ably described by others ; I will not write it, but leave the description to Cogswell and Riley the Rover, who are more conversant with its incidents than I am.

The hunt took place in 1818. The next year the township was surveyed by Abraham Freeze, Esq., of Brunswick, for the Judge." He made one hundred lots of it, each containing one hundred and sixty acres.

Lot No. One was in the north-west corner of the township, the next lot east was No. Two, and so on back and forth to the south-west corner of the township which was lot One Hundred. On lot Sixty-nine, Freeze found a squatter named Walton, who was the first settler in the township, and the only one at the time of its survey in 1819. Where Walton came from or where he moved to I never could learn. He was* an industrious man and had made considerable improvement on what is considered the best lot in the township. Freeze paid Walton for his improvements and bought the lot of Hinckley, and afterwards sold it, about 1835, to

The same or next year, Frederick Deming, of Brunswick, bought lot Fifty-two and a part of lot Forty-nine and built in the south-east corner of lot Forty-nine. Here he lived almost alone for a few years. A Mr. Stillman "bought the remainder of lot Forty-nine, and built nearly opposite Deming's, where Joseph Gouch now lives. A Mr. Beaumont, who was an acquaintance or relative of Stillman's, came with him and bought on lot Thirteen, where N. L. Usher now lives, and made some improvements. Stillman soon died - what year I cannot ascertain. Deming selected a knoll a little west of his residence for his burial. Here the Bidge burying ground is now located. The death of Stillman so discouraged his family that they moved back to the State of New York, whence they came, accompanied by Beaumont. Settlers gradually came in, among whom were Dorman Buck, Jared Thayer, J. Fisk, I. Loonrfe, A. Freeze, Ingersol Porter, D. M. Conant, Chester Conant, Easton, Piper, Stow and others ; so that they thought it best to have the township organized and named.

The first frame barn put up in town was for A. Freeze; it was a large barn thirty-five by forty-five feet on the ground, and for all the work, which was done by con-' tract Freeze paid only seventy-five dollars ! At present prices of labor it would cost nearly double. At the raising of this barn, which was in the spring or early summer of 1824, and which required the help of all the able-bodied men in the township, as well as many from Bich field, the question of organizing and naming the township was discussed. Freeze stated to the people that Judge Hinckley had. promised him that if the citizens would name it Hinckley in his honor he would deed them a lot of one hundred and sixty acres for school purposes, or any use they choose to put it to. They therefore voted to name it Hinckley. The next year when the Judge made his annual visit to collect his dues, Freeze reminded him of his promise. The Judge hemmed and hawed, said he had been very unfortunate the past year, had met with heavy losses, had had much sickness in his family, and really did not feel able to make so large a gift; but he would donate two and one-half acres at the center for a public square, and two burying grounds, each containing one and onefourth acres, which was the best he could do: these he accordingly deeded to the township. The first township election was held at the log school house built on A. Freeze's land, the site of the present school house in District No. One, September 25, 1825. Thomas N. Easton, Jared Thayer and D. M. Conant acted as Judges of e'ection and Eeuben Inverse-! and A. Freeze, Clerks. They elected Jared Thayer Clerk ; It. Ingersol, T. N. Easton and Josiah Piper, Trustees ; Joab Loomis and Samuel Porter, Overseers of Poor ; Curtis Bullard and Richard Swift Fence Viewers; D. M. Cenantand Jonathan Fisk. Listers and Appraisers of property; Fred. Doming, Treasurer ; Thomas Stow and P. Babcock, Con' tables ; John C Lane, Chester Conant, Abra - ham Freeze, David Babcock, Supervisors.

Of all the above named officers, Easton, Piper, Swift and Babcock only live in Hinckley now. Stow and Porter died in Hinckley. The rest moved away and have died or are living elsewhere.

Curtis Bullard was the first Justice of the Peace elected, and the first couple he married, and the first couple married in the township ; were a Mr. Carr and Miss Harriet Wallace. Wallace livrd on the farm now owned by Andrew M'Creery. Among the guests pres- ent were Mr. Piper and wife; Billiard and wife, IL Bangs, E. Bangs, and others, and they had a right jolly time. Among other amusing performances they sang " Scotland is burning, run boys run, Scotland is burning, fire, fire, fire, Pour on water, pour on water," &c. They were excellent singers and carried all the patte to perfection. The time and occasion and spirit in which it was sung rendered it ludicrous and laughable in the extreme.

The first child born in Hinckley was a daughter to Mrs. F. Deming. I can't ascertain whether that child is living now or not, but the impression of the neighbors is that she died when young, in Hinckley. The first school taught was in the log school house already mentioned, by Miss Julia Curtis, of Rich field. The house was built by Freeze and neighbors in 1824. To her went the young of the neighborhood, but of all that went and all that sent to that school ,uot one now lives in Hinckley. Miss Curtis married Erastu* Oviatt, of Richfield. After Oviatt's death, she niarrisd Dr. Hiram Wheeler.

The Congregational Church was organized in Hinckley, May 5, 1828, with the following members : James Porter and Mary his wife; Cornelius Northrop and Mary his wife ; John Jones and Myra his wife ; Mrs. B. Thayer, wife of Jacob Thayer ; Mrs. Temperance Easton, wife of Thomas Easton ; Harriet Carr, wife of John Carr ; Curtis Bullard, and Sarah his wife ; Zilpah Loomis, wife of Jacob Loomis ; Mary Fisk, wife of Jonathan Fisk ; Thomas W. Easton and Samantha Loomis. Rev. Simeon Woodruff and Israel Shaler conducted the exercises at the organization.

The oldest person who died was Mrs. Damon, mother of the late Caleb Damon. She died at the advanced age of one hundred and three years. The next oldest was Mr. Brown, father of Mrs. Salmon King; his age was eighty-nine years. Of the deaths, some were accidental and violent. T. N. Ferris was killed by the fall of a tree ; Richard Swift, Jr., was killed by the accidental discharge of a rifle in his own hands ; J. B. Dake was killed by the kick of a horse ; Caleb Damon was shot by A. Shear, while hunting turkeys-,, Damon had secreted himself behind a log, and was imitating the call of a turkey. This called up Shear, who was hunting, and who saw Damon's head move just above the log. Mistaking it for the turkey, Shear took aim, and on going to find the turkey he found his friend and neighbor in the agonies of death. S. P. Woodruff was killed by lightning, and some children have been so badly burned as to cause their death : so that Hinckley on

(he whole may be called a healt|iy township. Tlic deaths scarcely averaging one per cent. If time permitted I might record some anecdotes, hunting stories and i'un. but the above must suffice. The history of Hinckley does not abound with stirring incidents of Meld and flood. Such as occurred to my mind I have hastily written as above. I believe them to be generally correct. If I have made mistakes it is through misinformation and treacherous memory. After a lapse of thirty or forty years it is very difficult to get at the exact truth of things. I have enquired of more than a dozen who were present at the great hunt as to the day of the month it took place on, and but one pretended to know. He said it occurred on the 24th of December, for die recollects the next day was Christmas. Should a, second edition be called for I may perhaps enlarge and improve - till then this must suffice.

Game being numerous in this section, in 1818: especially bears and wolves, which were a great annoyance to the settlers, a big hunt was resolved on, and appointed to come off on the 24th of December, by a proclamation to the following towns: Cleveland and Newhurg, who were to form on the north line of Hinckley ; Brecksville and Richfield, on the east line ; Bath and Granger on the south line ; and Medina and Brunswick on the west line, and thus complete the square. It was the intention to sweep the whole township of Hinckley, and orders were given to be on the ground about sunrise. Uncle Gates and myself started from his residence, on the Cuyahoga river, the day previous to the hunt, with the intention of taking a little look for game through the woods as we went, and in order to be on the.gnfbilnd the next morning. When we were near the north line-of Bath we separated with the understanding that we would meet at another certain point. I had not gone far. when I "discovered where a coon had come off of a large oak tree, and had turned hack and went up the tree again. I knew if there was an Indian there he would contrive some wa}T to get the game without the trouble of cutting the tree. I looked about to see how this could be accomplished. There was a large limb on the oak, about sixty feet from the ground, and not far from the tree was a small hickory, which if fell would lodge on the limb. I chopped the hickory, it lodged, and made as I supposed, a safe bridge by which I could reach Mr. coon. But I was mistaken, for when within ten or twelve feet of the limb, I discovered that there was a very little of the top of the hickory that was above the limb, and that it was sliding down further every move that I made. This was a perilous situation indeed, and I saw that something decisive must be' done. I first thought of retreating, but I soon found that this would be as bad as proceeding, as every move I made brought the hickory further off the limb. I therefore resolved to reach the tree if possible, and with several desperate grabs, I did so. I now thought I would make things safe, and I took the few remaining twigs that still sustained the hickory and withed them around the limb of the oak. I soon discovered the retreat of my coon, and chopping in I pulled him out and threw him down to my dog. I descended safely, and by the time T had reached the ground my uncle Gates came up. I showed him what I had done, and he declared that he would not have undertaken it. for all the land on the Tuva- hoga river, from Old Portage to Cleveland. T did not undertake it for the value of the coon, but because I thought I would not be outdone by the Indians. We stayed over night at Mr. Rial Bray's, near the cast line of Hinckley. The next morning we were on the line by sunrise. We waited some time before they were all to their places, and then the word " all ready" was passed from mouth to mouth. The word was forty seconds going round the twenty miles, the first telegraph known. Then came the sound of the horns, which was the signal for a start. The managers had made a circle, half a mile in diameter, in the center of the town by blazing trees, and when we came to that circle we were ordered to halt. It soon became evident the ring was too large as the game had a good chance to secrete themselves. The managers now came to me and said they wished I would select some good man, and go into the ring and shoot some of the large game, which would drive the rest toward the outside. I selected my uncle Gates, and we proceeded toward the center. I soon came in contact with plenty of wolves and bears, and had shot several when I saw near the center a monstrous bear, I think the largest I ever saw of that species. I wounded him twice so that he dropped each time, when he retreated toward the south line, and I followed in close pursuit. About this time the south line advanced about forty rods, which brought them within a short distance of myself and the bear. My dog seeing me after the bear broke away from the young man who had him in charge, and came running to my assistance, and met the bear just as he was crossing a little creek on the ice. I ran up to the bank, within twenty-five or thirty feet of the bear, and stood several feet above him. About this time the men in the south line commenced shooting at the bear, apparently regardless of me or my dog. There were probably one hundred guns fired within a very short space of time, and the bullets sounded to me very much like a hail storm. As soon as the old fellow got his head still enough so that I dare shoot, I laid him out. While they were firing so many guns, a great many persons hallooed to me to come out or I would be shot, but as it happened neither myself nor dog were hurt, and even the. bear was not hit by their random shots, for when he was dressed there were but three ball holes found in his hide, .and those I made. I now returned to the center alone, as my uncle Gates had got frightened out,and finished the bears and wolves, then commenced on the deer. I killed twenty-five or thirty so fast that I did not pretend to keep count. I stood 'by one tree and killed eight as fast as I could load and shoot. The last animal that I killed was a wounded wolf that had secreted herself in the top of a fallen tree. We were then ordered to go down where the big bear was, discharge our guns, and stack them, and proceed to draw in the game. It was found, when the men were all together, that there were four hundred and fifty-four, and it was estimated that there were about five hundred on the lines in the morning. The amount of game killed was, about three hundred deer, twenty-one bears, and seventeen wolves, that were killed in the ring, and it was estimated that about one hundred deer werej killed while marching to the center. The night was spent merrily in singing songs, roasting meat, &c. In the morning we tried to hit on some plan to organize, and divide the game, but it seemed impossible to get any plan to work. About this time Major Henry Coyt came from Liverpool, and I went and asked him to assist us in bringing about an organization, lie did so and succeeded in eettins: a com- mittee appointed, consisting of himself, Cap.t. John Bigelow, of Richfield, and myself. We proceeded to divide the men into four divisions, as follows : first divisien, Cleveland, Royalton and Newburg; second division, Brecksville and Richfield ; third division, Bath and Granger ; fourth division, Medina, Brunswick and Liverpool ; and then we divided the game as well as we could in proportion. This was probably the greatest hunt that ever has been, or ever will be in the United States ; and strange to say, but one accident happened. Captain Lothrop Seymour received a buck shot in his shoulder and one in his leg. I frequently heard bullets whistle near me, and saw one bush cut off by a ball not more than a rod from me. Many of the proceedings through the night, I have not written in detail, as it will probably be graphically given by Riley the Rover, and perhaps some others.

It is a wild and thrilling sight, To see the baffled herd's affright, To see the eye-balls of the deer, Out-straining from his head appear : To hear old bruin's sullen growl ; To hark the wolfs despairing howl; To sec the hunter in. his place, Snatch up his rifle to his face, The flash and dust and fire let fl}', With rattling echo's quick reply; To see game stricken in their bound, Fall noisless, lifeless to the ground ; Or if they 'scape, as many did, To see-how quickly they were hid. Without a pause to bid adieu, As from the carnage scenes they flew.

[f to the foregoing amount was added the sum that yearly accrues from the production of clover-seed, grass-seed^ oats, potatoes, orchards and gardens, the products might safely be set down at one hundred and fifty-two thousand dollars.

Let those who resided in the township in 1819, when there were listed for taxation nine horses and fifty-two cattle, contrast then and now and they must acknowledge that the advances have been onward.