Homer Township

Homer Township

Many of the incidents narrated relative to the first settlements in Harrisville, embrace a portion of territory and some of the characters that are now in Homer township. For many years prior to township organizations the interests of the two were partially indentified.

The first opening within the present limits of the township, was made by Mr. Parks, who is still a resident. In 1831, the whole township was unsettled, with only here and there a few rude structures that had been erected by the migrating hunters for a temporary occupancy.

The original papers relative to the first township organization are lost, and the early history is given by a few old settlers from recollection.

The first child born in the township was Harriet Parks. The first school was kept by Mr. James Parks, numbering fourteen scholars, very few of whom are now residents of the township. It was not then considered too far to send children of ten years old, two miles, by a circuitous path, to the school, without shoes, and not unfrequently without bonnets.

The first township Trustees were Messrs. Tanner, Park and Wing. Asa Beard was the first Justice of the Peace. The first marriage was Charles Atkins to Elizabeth Campbell. The first acre of wheat reared and harvested within the township was cut by Mr.

Duncan Williams, who is now the owner of large farm within the township. The settlements were rapid and the openings and improvements now seen, give evidence of untiring industry ; and should the same perseverance be exercised for the next twenty years. Homer township will vie with any of the older settled townships, in agricultural products. There is also a marked advance seen in the erection of dwellings and other buildings, in the planting and cultivation of orchards and ornamental shrubbery, and in the selection of live stock. Not unfrequentl'y the cattle from Homer, exhibited at our Fair, have taken tlje premium.

In future time the commercial advantages that the agriculturtsts of Homer will realize, must consequently add to their wealth. Proximity to railroad conveyances south and west, afford encouragement to the farmers of Homer and Spencer townships, that their surplus trade can readily and speedily be freighted to market whenever the price will justify. The soil, the locality, and the industrial habits of those who owTn the land in the township, indicate that before many years Homer township will compare, in proportion to age, with any other portion of Medina county in agriculture.

Many of the farmers are of German descent, and are of that class who strive to make their fields a little more productive, by manuring the ground they cultivate. The soil is well adapted to the growth of wheat, corn and grass ; and the rapid increase of cattle, hogs and slice}), give evidence that the owners of the lands know what kind of stock is best calculated to enrich the owners.

When the township was first organized there were only nineteen voters. When the lister traveled over the township to get a list of the personal property for taxation he returned seven horses and forty-two cattle.

Let the present owners of lands, now in the townshp, read the following statistical table, returned by the assessor in 1861, and compare it with the above return and learn the commendable advances they have made.

It is due to the citizens of Homer to say that there are fewer mortgages upon the real estate in that township that upon many of the older settled townships in the county.

and potatoes, orchards and gardens, they would yearly amount to $35,000 - making the yearly value of the products of the township to be about one hundred and fifty thousand dollars.