Hudson City (part 4 of 6)

ner of No. 4. Range 10, at about 11 o'clock on the Lith of June. I immediately went ubont making a road. getting our stores up from the river, and in endeavoring to get a road into the middle of the town. In the latter attempt a new difficulty was met. I tried at many places and could tind no pass for a road across a swamp which stretched itself from the south line of the town, about three and a half miles. as I afterward found in a northerly direction about one-half mile from the west line. I afterward went across the work on the west side of the swamp, until the land could be so far surveyed as to find some pass for a road. We found it a work of time and difficulty to get a road across the gullies which lie in No. 4, Range 11 (Boston), but, the difficulties of which we are scarcely able Their mode of traveling was to secure firmly upon the backs of the oxen several bags of tlour and pork. together with two blankets and an ax. They waded fordable streams and compelled their cattle to swim those that could not be forded. crossing these streams themselves with their provisions on rafts hastily constructed of sticks. The teams thus happily at hand. rude sleds were constructed and the labor of transporting the

Hudson had decided to begin operations commenced. In the meanwhile a road had been eut out and a bark shelter erected. The cuttle were greatly tormented by the immense swarms of tlies that attacked them at all times. nearly driving them mad. It is said they actually killed one of Mr. Tappan's cattle.

About this time David Kellogg with his wife. applied to be taken into Mir. Hudson's employ. He had come out in the service of Mr. Tappan, but for some reason desired to change his service. Judge Tappan afterward took occasion in the public prints to say that Mr. Hudson enticed him away. which is an entirely mistaken idea. The provisions of the Hudson colony were very low. and he had great fears that those already dependent upon him would suffer for lack of supplies. He. however, granted the request, but Mr. Kellogg never became a permanent settler in this colony, though staying for a year or two.

As soon as the first most pressing duties were accomplished. Mr. Hudson set about making a clearing, aided by his four men. robbing of his boat and the failure of his goods, shipped by wagon, to come on began to give him some uneasiness as to their means of subsistence. He borrowed some pork of a Capt. Stoddard, settled in what is now | Northampton, and taking his boat as soon as unloaded on the 24th of June, proceeded alone | down the river in quest of Lacey. Speaking | Of this trip in his diary, Mr. Hudson says: "I | had the misfortune to lose my fire, and being

_ experienced the most uncomfortable night I ' ever felt. I arrived at Cleveland in twenty- ' eight hours, and, although several boats had . lately arrived, I could not get any information concerning Lacey. I had not heard a word . from him since I left him on the Mohawk River - near Schenectady in April. I was at a great ' loss what to do, but, on the whole, I thought ' best to wait a little longer. In three days an opportunity presented of going down the lake, | and, after a quick and dangerous passage, I had the good fortune to find my boy, Lacey and the boat." It appears that Lacey had got ' as far as Cattaraugus Creek with the boat _ which Mr. Hudson found untit for a voyage ' when he left. and was resting there very much at his ease. He had also quite an addition which Nathaniel Norton had secured to go to the settlement. But of what the settlement needed the most 'they were nearly destitute. "My joy at finding the boat," says Mr. Hudson. "was turned to sorrow on finding that they had but little more flour than enough to Jast through the voyage, excepting three barrels that belonged to Capt. Austin ( Eliphalet Austin. of Austintown). I found myself under the most disagreeable necessity of abandoning my men, who were at work, to their fate. quitting the whole expedition and returning home. or else taking Capt. Austin's flour. After a sleepless night deliberating what was . my duty in the trying case, I determined as the least of two evils to take Austin's flour. to dismiss my hands, saving barely enough to manage the boat. pay Austin what- ' ever his damage might be and prosecute my . business. Having written my situation and _ reasons to Capt. Austin and Esquire Norton, | I proceeded on my voyage. Ina few days, by rowing in the night and crowding our business, _ I got to Cuyahoga, and without meeting any | further disaster we arrived with all our load- _ ing at the landing on No. 4, Range 11, on the 19th of July." It must be remembered that these voyages were made in open boats and were propelled by oars save when a light breeze was taken advantage of to raise a sail rudely constructed out of blankets. The courses of these boats were necessarily near the shore and were completely at the mercy of a brisk wind, and were greatly hindered in their voyages on this account. The present case was a | pressing one, and Mr. Hudson made good | some of the delays during the day by rowing | nights. Among the crew was one Lindley, | who declared that he was hired to work . by the day and refused to work nights. Mr. Hudson therefore excused his rowing in night - voyages, but when forced to lay by in the day- ' time put him at "chopping wood." A day or two of this experience caused him to surrender unconditionally.

The supplies came just in time, and after . getting them into the shelter (which took one | hand and the team several days), three days - were spent in cutting over the land begun for - a wheat-patch. Hitherto the bark shanty which had been hastily erected, on their first arrival, had been their only shelter. Rain had fallen | almost incessantly, and with the recent additions the little colony, swelled to thirteen persons, demanded something better for their | protection. A log house 16x18 feet was at once erected. and within a week's time the . whole party were made comfortable beneath its roof. A day and a half had been spent in the meanwhile in surveving, the only fair weather during the week, but now matters were | in a comfortable shape for the time being, Mr. | Hudson was anxious to get the township ready for settlement. "I now determined," says he, "to crowd the surveying business to the utmost, and if possible to get time to survey our annexation, but. in the last week in July, J. Lindley, - Darrow, Meecham and Blin were all taken | sick, and, in short, there was none save myself . that could be called well. For four weeks our - people who kept about did little else than take | eare of the sick. Rain fell in showers about | every other day, and in those four weeks we © cut three small stacks of poor hay which was | much damaged by the rains, and fired and | burnt the brush on about nine acres - the rain © being such that we could not burn our brush |

"On the 22d day of August, our people having gradually recovered, we resumed surveying and pressed it closely as possible until the 12th of October, when the business and writing was completed." The settlement so far had been confined to the northeast corner of Lot 11, but on the lst of September Mr. Hudson brought his men to the center of the township and began to eut brush and timber on Here he designed to

| to dig a well." While this work was progressing the surveying party were finishing their work, while another party connected the two clearings with a road: cut out another to the boat landing in "No. 4, Range 11." now called Boston. About the middle of this month very low. Supplies were expected every day from Nathaniel Norton, but at this point Mr. Hudson realized something must be done to avert possible distress. to Cleveland and purchased of Lorenzo Carter a small field of corn and potatoes for $50, turning in a yoke of oxen as the larger part of the payment. In case of necessity he thought the corn might be pounded up in

Having completed their surveying on the 11th of October, and got affairs well under way to make comfortable his family. and such colonists as he might bring back with him, he started on the following day with his son Ira, Meacham and Darrow for Connecticut. They went down the river in the old Harmon boat, intending to transfer to the strong boat which Lacey had bronght when he came. but on arriving at the month of the river he found the boat borrowed without leave and gone to Detroit. It was late in the vear and any the year when such navigation was impossible or extremely hazardous. and they proceeded on their way in the old wreck. There was no tar at hand with which to " pitch" the seams. and it proved so leaky that it required one hand most of the time to bail out the water. and so weak that it bent considerably in crossing the waves. During their passage the weather was generally cold and boisterous: three different times they narrowly escaped drowning by reason of the darkness of the night or violence of the wind. Referring to one of these narrow escapes from both the wind and darkness, Mr. Hudson writes in his diary: "This salvation has determined me never in future to put Lying windbound at Chataqua for several days, they eked should come. He hastened back to his station, but having previously heard that Ebenezer Sheldon had made a road through the wilderness to Aurora, and that there was a bridlepath thence to Cleveland, he thought it probable that he might obtain pork for present necessity from that quarter. He accordingly set out on foot and alone, and regulated his course by the range of his shadow, making allowance for change in the time of day. He was to be their new home. No time was spent in idling, however. and by the lst day of January, 1800, he had made his arrangements to leave with his family, his native State with all the eventful year of 1799, filled with many troubles, out of all of which hath the Lord hath delivered me." His stay at his old home had been a busy time for him. He had settled accounts with the Norton brothers; had sought among his old friends and acquaintances for colonists: and had his own affairs in his old home to settle as well as to provide supplies for the one to which he was about to move his family. His accounts for the first year are interesting to read over and vividly illustrate the character of the man and the enterprise. Among the items of expenditures are the following: April, 1799." paid $3 for an excellent | which he gave his note, which note I lost with all my minutes and observations on the Cuyahoga in wading the stream:" "paid Mr. Holly for twelve bushels seed wheat. 818;"° October. "Gave Mr. Kellogg as a present tosupport him-

- neaut. he and his family beingsick and in distress, $1:" November 16, " Rettwned to Goshen. expended in returning $9.75." The whole account reaches some 3300, which does not include the unpaid balance of wages due his help. and possession of the proprietors to the amount of $350.90: surveying instruments, 733: "nine acres of wheat on the ground calculated at 520 per acre. $180: sundry other articles not here enumerated, #36.91:" making a grand total of | : $600 worth of property for little more than an - Tn raising recruits for the | new colony. his efforts had been marked with .

excellent success. It is said that he offered a bounty of forty acres to the first one to volunteer. and Ruth Gaylord, whom Rev. John Seward calls "an ancient maiden" received the land, which afterward she gave to her niece, the daughter of Elijah Nobles. Among the party that were prepared to return with Mr. Hudson and his family, were Samuel Bishop with his four sons, David, Reuben, Luman and Joseph, Joel Gaylord. Heman Oviatt, Dr. Moses Thompson, Allen Gaylord, Stephen

McKinley and three men from Vermont by the | | names of Derrick, Williams and Shefford. | | The women in the company were the wives of . | Messrs. Hudson, Bishop and Nobles, with - ; Miss Ruth Gaylord and Ruth Bishop. The . | six children of Mr. Hudson completed the |

| and Heman Oviatt went out to view the land , with the intention of taking their families thither if the situation proved favorable. : alone hazarded everything on the single cast | of the die. The three men from Vermont were evidently acquaintances of Lacey, through _ whom thev had probably learned of this settle- , ment, and was desirous of trying their fortune. _ They probably did not stay long as no mention is made of them in any of the old papers : of Mr. Hndson. ! In January, 1800, Mr. Hudson started, with 'his family, on sleighs. from Goshen for

Here he occupied an empty cabin of Eber Nor- 'ton's during the winter. employing his time in preparing for his journey by the lakes. ! He procured four boats, in addition to the Harmon boat, which he thoroughiy repaired, and loaded them with supples, including window-glass for his cabin put up the preceding fall, a large quantity of woolen and linen cloth, tional tools, and a supply of groceries intended to last his family for a full vear - the whole reaching a cost of some $2,000. The balance of the party secured three boats for their transportation. and all was completed 'on the 29th of April. "The next night," said | Mr. Hudson. "while my dear wife and six ' children, with all my men, lay soundly sleep- /ing around me, I could not close my eyes. ' The reflection that those men and women, / with most all that I held dear in life, were | now to embark in an expedition in which so | many chances appeared against me; and, the Cuyahoga River. The wind on this day was rather high, and Mr. Hudson, in attempting to enter with his boat, missed the channel and stuck fast upon the bar. In this perilous situation, the boat shipped considerable water, and the occupants must have inevitably all been drowned had not a mountain wave struck the boat with such power as to tloat it clear of the obstruction. On reaching a point within

' two miles of their destination, darkness coming on. they were obliged to stop for the night a little north of Northfield, at a place called the Pinery. They encamped on the banks. which were somewhat low. During the night, a tremendous rain set in, which had so raised a bull and a horse, which, with a yoke of oxen belonging to Mr. Bishop, were intrusted to the care of Elijah Nobles to bring through the wilderness by the route by which the cathighly probable that we must fall before the

| tomahawk and scalping-knife. that time, no ccnsiderable settlement had been | made but what was established in blood, and | | take his horse to the landing after his family tle had been brought the preceding year. These arrived about the time the. boats were unloaded, but Mr. Hudson, busy in arranging for the large accession to the colony, did not ney hitherto, was now very much discouraged. A change to more cheerful surroundings. and a fairly comfortable house, wrought a great change in her feelings, and she nobly seconded the efforts of her husband. The work of transporting the goods from the boats to the settlement on wooden sleds, over eight miles of hilly woods-road, was no slight undertaking. and it was several days before it was accomplished. After all the persons belonging to the settlement had collected, Ma. Hudson led them in rendering thanksgiving to the God of mercy, who had brought them safely to their desired haven. Public worship on the Sabbath, which had been discontinued in his absence. was resumed. In relating the fact. Mr. Hudson said: "I felt. in some measwre. the responsibility resting on first settlers, and their obligations to commence in that fear of God which is the beginning of wisdom, and to establish those moral and religious habits on which the temporal and eternal happiness of a people essentially depends." Once settled in their new quarters, the Llittle community was at once a scene of bustling

640 acres lying in a square piece on the southwest corner of the public square; Dr. Moses | Thompson, who had been promised by Mr. | Hudson 350, in medicine, if he concluded to | property; a large elm tree standing on the road line to the farm now owned by Philander Ellsworth, which sprang from a ridingwhip which Mr. Oviatt brought on one of his | ground there, marks the erected his cabin in this year. Dr. Thompson | made some clearings and planted a crop on , three lots, and all found plenty of work to do. Darrow bought in the southern tier of lots, near the central road, ard in July, Ebenezer | Stone, of Boughton, Ontario Co., N. Y., came out and bought Lot 70. Notwithstanding the frequent rains, the season on the whole was very favorable for the crops, and there

On the 28th of October of this year, occured the first native accession to the settlement. On this date, a daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Hudson, and, notwithstanding the lack of professional aid, with the attend. ance of the women of the settlement, mother and child prospered tinely. The heroine of this occasion. and the eldest born of the connty, was Anna Maria Hudson, later the wife of Harvey Baldwin, who now lives in a vigorous old age. to rejoice in the results of her parents' pioneer labors. Two weeks later, another event oeeurred which served to vividly impress upon these people the stern reality of frontier life. Milo and William, two sons of Mr. Hudson. were sent to drive the hogs out where they could tind plenty of nuts to feed upon. The path they followed was very rough. and Milo, who was barefooted, experienced a good deal of pain in trying to travel in it. His brother. finding that he did not need his assistance, sent him back and proceeded on alone with his charge. In re turning, Milo left the path to walk upon the leaves in the wooded part to avoid the " hubs." and inadvertently strayed too far and became lost. A slight snow had fallen, and it was a chilly autumn day. He looked about him for some clew to his whereabouts, and, seeing a clearing at some distance, ran toward it only to find that it marked the site of a swamp. The return of William and the absence of his brother at once excited alarm, and the men railied out with horns, guns and bells to find the lost boy. He heard the signals of those in search, but, deluded by the appearances of a clearing made by the various swamp lands, he only got farther away, until, night coming on, worn out with the anxiety and exertion of father's anxiety, offered a reward of $40 to stimulate a search in which the keenest interest was already enlisted. The search was continued without avail until 11 o'clock the following day, when the boy was found still asleep, his hair fringed with frost and his toes slightly frosted, but otherwise unharmed. It was some years before .the danger of being lost in woods was overcome by the number of settlements. As late as 1809, a little | girl of Eben Pease, eight or nine years old, was lost. She was sent on an errand to Ben- Jamin Oviatt's, about two miles north of the center. She got there safely, but on her return, mistaking a cow-path for the trail. she wandered off and was lost. Not returning | by dark, her parents became alarmed, and, | going to Oviatt's, learned she had left there | early and was probably lost. The neighbor- | hood was rallied out in search. Guns and | horns were brought into requisition, but it was 10 o'clock the next day before she was found | by Richard Croy. She was found asleep on | a log, with her feet wrapped in some aprons | which she had taken to bring home. The following spring brought the families of Joel Gaylord and Heman Oviatt, who came | in wagons by the overland route, bringi with them Benjamin Oviatt, John Bridge and | James Newton. Their wagons were the first | that ever penetrated the wilderness in this part of the Reserve, and these pioneers were | obliged to chop their way through the woods for miles. A little later in this year came | Eliada Lindley, John Oviatt, William Bough- | ton, Aaron Norton, Ezra Wyatt, James Walker, | Deacon Stephen Thompson with his sons, sons-in-law, George Pease and Bradford Kellogg. In the same company came George Kilbourne and William Leach. Dr. Moses | Thompson had expended his patrimony in proposed to give him a lot of land if he would investigate the Hudson settlement and, if favorably impressed, move the family out to it. After coming out with Mr. Hudson and selecting the land, he returned on foot to Goshen, carrying his provisions in a pack at his back.

Penn., and the first apples from this seed. | were the admiration of the little folks. who _ had never seen an apple before. His land was situated northwest of the - village. on what is known as the Northampton . road. where he lived until the day of his death. He was the earliest doctor in the township. ~ and had a practice that took him over a territory a hundred miles in extent. He retired from his practice in 1815. to engage in busi- _ ness. Christian Cackler came here in the _ spring of 180+. together with his father and - eldest brother, settling on a part of Lot 10. in the southeast corner of the township. Thev _ came from Pennsylvania. bringing a horse , and a yoke of oxen. and such supplies as ' could be packed on a horse. Coming to Ravenna. they found a few residents, and a | road marked out and partly underbrushed to Hudson. Here they came. selected their land, ' and, going to the site, put up a temporary | shelter. ground, and upon them were laid poles. upon | which a covering of bark was laid. The same material supplied the floor and the sides of this hastily constructed tabernacle. Beds made of leaves and covered with blankets sow some wheat. procure, and were obtained by working for their neighbors. In his published reminiscences, Mr. Cackler says: " In September, my | father and brother went back after the family, and left me in care of the shanty until they should return. I was then only twelve years bread, an old rifle that carried an.ounce ball and some powder and bullets, that I might kill squirrels for meat. would be back in three weeks. It was a trying time for me. through the day, but when night came, I was lonesome indeed. I would build a big fire and roll myself up in my blankets so that I could not hear anything, and there remain until morning. I managed so about two weeks. My loaf began to get very small, and I had to make my allowance still smaller to make it hold out. Three weeks expired and nobody came. The fomth passed: my bread was gone and squirrels furnished my only food. The fifth passed. and found me without bread or bullets. I managed to kill some squirrels with gravel-stones. but the most of those I shot at escaped without serious injury. I stayed there until the sixth week began to drag its slow length along, when one afternoon in the cabin. to avoid a heavy thunder shower, I fell asleep, and awoke to find it growing dark. The tire had gone ont, and everything was so saturated with the rain that I could not relight. While tinkering with the fire. I was startled by the howl of the wolves in the near vicinity. I seized my gun loaded with stone. and. wrapping my blankets about me, sat down to defend myself against the wolves. I sat there until morning without a visit from the wolves, and then I left the shanty to care for itself, and went over to where Harry O'Brien lived, about three miles distant, and remained until ow family came back, which was not long." Others came from time to time to gladden the hearts and share the burdens of the little frontiercommunity. It is not possible, at this time, to learn all the particulars of their coming, or even of their names. Among

| calf, 1812; Augustus Baldwin, 1812; Frederick Baldwin, 1512; Dudley Humphrey, 1812; Ariel Cobb, 1813; Gideon Mills, 1814; Chauncey Case, 1814; Harvey Baldwin. 1814: Rev. John Seward, 1814. Most of these persons came from Litchtield County, Connec-

York. The larger proportion were married, and some brought into the country large families, that intermarried, so that few of the earliest families remained unrelated in this way. "David Hudson brought in a family of six children - Samuel, Ira, William, Timothy, Milo and Abigail. Ira Hudson married Huldah Oviatt: William married Phoebe Hutchinson; Milo married Hannah Rogers; Abigail married Birdseye Oviatt. Samuel Bishop had a family of five sons and four daughters: Timothy married Rebecca Craig; David married Miss Kennedy; Luman married Rachel Gaylord; Reuben died single; Joseph married

| Miss Hollenbeck: one of the girls married | Stephen Perkins; one, Elijah Nobles; one, ' Samuel Vaile; and one, Gad Hollenbeck. Joel | Gaylord brought with him three sons and four : daughters: John. Daniel, Harvey, Sally, Olive in the vast expanse of wilderness that stretched, with interminable proportions, from the frontiers of Western New York along the lakes to the great West. By the treaty 1785 with the savages, the Cuyahoga River was made a part of the dividing line between the territories of Eight miles to the eastof this national boundary, separated from the civilized world by hundreds of miles of wearisome, hazardous journey on land or sea, were a little handful of resolute men, with their wives and children, while on its western bank clustered the strongholds of the merciless savage, whose barbarous warfare had written the history of the Northwest in letters of fire and blood. None felt the seriousness of the situation, and the crushing weight of responsibility which it brought, more keenly than the heroic founder of this colony. He knew the jealous watchfulness with which the natives marked the coming of each accession to the white colony; the sentiment of reckless indifference to the rights of others which possessed that class of hunters and trappers which hang about the outskirts of advanced settlements, and, to prevent the contact of these antagonistic elements, and to smooth the natural, inevitable asperities of the situation, was his constant care from the beginning. He was constantly engaged in Indian conferences, entertaining them | with the natives. The Seneca, Chippewa and Ottawa tribes had villages in the vicinity of the Hudson colony, and were frequently found among the whites on trading or begging expeditions. Stigwanish, the chief of the Seneca vil- | lage, was on intimate terms with his new neigh- | bors, and was a frequent and welcome visitor at Mr. Hudson's cabin. He was a large, muscular man, standing straight as an arrow. nearly six feet in height, with a stern expres- | sion of countenance and a keen black eye. He is represented, by all who knew him here, as well disposed toward his white neighbors, and upright in his dealings, strongly discountenancing anything in his followers which was likely to provoke trouble. His people had corn-fields on the river bottoms near where the village of Cuyahoga Falls now stands, which they cultivated for years. On one occasion, having reason to fear an attack from another | tribe, he requested his white friends to build ' him a fort near the falls of the river. which | they did, thongh, happily, it was never needed | for the purpose of defense. Heman Oviatt. / with a shrewd eye to business. early estab- | lished a trading-point at his cabin, about a mile south of the site of the village. This was a place of great attraction to the Indians. who gathered here in considerable numbers. exchanging the furs they secured by trapping and hunting for trinkets of various kinds. powder, lead and whisky. The latter was in the greatest demand, and a scale of prices. according to Christian Cackler's account. was established, as follows: Coon-skins, a half-pint of whisky: buck-skins, one pint: bear-skins' , four quarts. Mrs. Oviatt soon acquired their _ language' and gained quite an ascendancy over their "untutored minds." Before giving them any considerable amount of whisky, she was in the habit of demanding their guns, tomahawks and knives, which they surrendered _ to her until they got sober, as they i invariably got "kok kusi." One of these orgies, as described by Cackler, was as follows: " They were of the Ottawa tribe, and there were about fifteen or eighteen of them. They were provided with a deer-skin suit, like a little boy's suit, all whole, but open before, and supplied | with openings for legs and arms. When put ' on, it was tied in front. It was ornamented _ around the arms and legs with fringe some _ three inches three inches in length, to which was attached a variety of animal claws, such | as those of the turkey, coon, deer, bear, etc. | One would put on this suit, and jump, hop, and kick about in asort of Indian 'Highland | fling,' while two others furnished the inspira- | tion by patting and humming. The success of the performer seemed to depend upon his ability to get the greatest possible amount of

When tired, he would doff the garment, take _ a drink of the whisky provided, and give place to another Terpsichor ean artist. In this way, each one would :try his agility, and gradually get beastly intoxicated. This they kept up two days. Before the proceedings began. however, they placed all their weapons in the hands of their squaws, who were quiet spectators of the scene. At the end of two days. all save two of the squaws who were assigned to the charge of the papooses. got diunk. and exhibited all the worst phases of this degra:ling revel." It was hardly to be expected that the free use of whisky in this way shoul always result so harmlessly to the genera! interests of the community at large. The women and children could never learn to look upon the savages with any degree of equanim ity. and the natives were not slow to perceive this. Occasionally. an ill-disposed fellow, inflamed by whisky. would frighten a woman if he found her unprotected in an isolated eabin. On one occasion. a party of Indians came to the cabin of Marmaduke Deacon. situated where his son now resides. and. finding his wife alone with her children, approached her in a threatening manuer. making some demand in their own language. Not able to understand their utterances. she provided them with a generous supply of provisions. They still main tained their menacing attitude. when she secured and gave them every cent of money there was in the cabin. and. finding them still unsatistied. she left her children and proceeded. through the snow. to the cabin of O'Brien. who lived some distance away, for more to satisfy their demands. She reached her destination, but the fright, added to the expostu'e, was too much for her feeble strength. and she never left alive. dving of quick consumption in a few weeks. This circumstance aroused the revengeful disposition of a certain class of the whites, who, known as " Indian haters," became Luuian slavers whenever oce:- sion offered the chance of escaping the penalty of their acts. Jonathan Williams, who came ' in with Christian Cackler, Sr., in 1804, was | one of this class. "George Wilson," a son of | Stigwanish. was a quarrelsome fellow when | under the influence of liquor, and had several | serious misunderstandings with the whites. One time, when feeling particularly surly, he happened at the cabin of "Old Mother Newwas alone, took the precaution to bar the door. admittance to the cabin, which had but one door, he put his gun-barrel through the opening between the logs, and satistied his ugly son, John Amur, his sons-in-law, Nickshaw and Wobmung, and others of their family, in Deerfield. During their stay, Nickshaw traded his pony with a settler by the name of John Diver.

trail with his gun on his shoulder, as usual. ' She called him, and related the circumstances. | Williams waited only to hear the story, and | encounter. Williams gained upon him slowly but surely, and, when in vicinity of a piece of "honey-comb swamp," taking advantage of a moment when the Indian was off his guard, he shot and killed him. Drawing his body into this piece of swamp, he thrust it out of sight. sending, also, the Indian's rifle down with him. The mysterious disappearance of Wilson created a great commotion among the Senecas. and great effort was made to discover the whereabouts of his remains and the cause of his tinal takingoff. The Indians suspected what the whites did not learn until years afterward, and Williams was obliged ever afterward to be constantly on his guard against surprise. It is said, on another occasion while hunting while there was a light coating of snow on the found himself following his own track in a circle. He observed, in comifag upon his own trail, the track also of a moccasined foot. and, with a hunter's instinct, recognizing his pursuer, he took to a tree and shot him as he

Mohawk, to shoot Diver. Until this horse trade, there had been the kindliest relations existing between the parties, and no fears were entertained that the disagreement would | cause a rupture. The young men called at | Daniel Diver's cabin soon afterward, and Sought to get his brother within their grasp . by strategem, but failed. A little later in the | same evening, Daniel, in going out to placate | the Indians, was shot so as to blind him - a | wound which did not prove mortal - and fled, supposing he had killed the one with whom | they had had the difficulty. A party of set- | tlers at once started in pursuit. Their camp, | some three miles distant, was found deserted, | but, following their trail along the great | Indian road from the Ohio River to Sandusky, | they crossed the Cuyahoga River, where Kent | now stands, and the center road of Hudson, | about a mile south of the village, thence across - the Cuyahoga again near the site of Peninsula, about 1 o'clock in the morning. It was a clear, cold night in the latter part of Decem- ; ber of 1806: the moon was shining with peculiar brightness upon the earth, lightly covered

Cackler. Sr., his oldest son and Jonathan Will- . iams, to accompany him in continuing the | pursuit. "They went to Hudson, got a new . recruit, and followed on to near the west part | of Richfield. Here the Indians had stopped, | fire, they scattered and surrounded the Indians, some of whom were in a doze, and some asleep. As they were closing up, Nickshaw and Mohawk sprang up and ran off bare footed. They closed in on the rest, and, it beginning to be light, Rogers wanted somebody to go after Nickshaw, and George Darrow, of Hudson, and Jonathan Williams, volunteered to go. The Indians' feet began to bleed before they got a mile, when they sat down on a log, tied pieces of blanket on their feet, and then separated. Darrow and Williams followed one of them, who proved to be Nickshaw, and whom they overtook in about three miles. He looked back, and, seeing them, gave a whoop and increased his speed, and they after him like hounds after a fox. In about a mile they overtook him, and asked him to come back, but he would not. Darrows said he thought he would clinch him: but, when he made the attempt, Nickshaw though he had a knife. Darrow thought he would get a club and knock him down, but Mr. Indian could get a club and use it too. They got out cf patience, and Williams fired his gun over Nickshaw's head, to let him know what was coming if he did not yield. This did not make the desired impression, and Williams loaded his gun and killed him by a second shot. They placed him under a log, cov- with Bigson and his two sons, who were committed, by the Justice of Deerfield, to the jail at Warren. A squaw belonging to them was allowed to escape, and, it is said, perished in lame conclusion, and finally ended in a "hoedown," where whisky was plenty, and a collection of 35 for Williams as a reward for the deed. Bigson was finally set at liberty, and remained near the settlements for years.

although it occasioned considerable uneasiness amongst the settlers fora time. The Indians either acquiescing in the judgment of the whites, or realizing their inability to successfully cope with the settlers, made a virtue of | respects, to both the whites and Indians. A full eclipse of the sun occurred on 17th of June, much to the terror of the untutored savage, and greatly to the injury of the crops of the whites. The Indians were greatly fright- some cases foretold by some of the squaws (how they learned of the fact has never been ascertained), it was not believed, and the women were executed as witches. When the event occurred, therefore. they were greatly frightened, and. forming in a circle, and marching around in regular order, each one fired at the evil spirit that was threatening the destruction of the world. Happily for one "brave," he discharged his gun just as the shadow began to move off. and he was created a chief on the spot for his bravery and the great service he had performed for the natives. The whites, though less affected by the phe nomenon, were hardly less seriously affected by its effects, if the reminiscences of Mr. Cackler are to be relied upon. He says: "The day of the great eclipse was a beautiful. warm day; we were hoeing corn the second time, with only shirts and pants on, but. after the eclipse was off, the weather was so much colder that we had to put on our vests and coats to work in. There were frosts every month that summer; no corn got ripe. and the next spring we had to send to the Ohio River for seed-corn to plant. The next summer was the hardest time I ever saw. There was no grain My father and Adam Nighman went to Georgetown, on the Ohio River.

A good rifle was a valuable piece of property to the first settlers. Next to his ax and plow, he depended upon it for support in subduing the wild land in which he reared his The vast forests abounded with game, which at first was his principal dependence for sustenance, and later his greatest annoyance and damage. Elk, the common deer, bears, wolves, panthers, with otters, beavers and raccoons infested the country and preyedon the crops and stock of the early community with comparative impunity. Bears came right into the settlement, and, seizing a hog, carried it, struggling and squealing, to the woods, and destroyed it before the aroused settlers could prevent. Wolves attacked stock, killing calves and yearlings, and frequently assailed travel- ing the hunt, Cackler, who was an old hunter, says: " When the ring closed up, there was the greatest sight I ever saw. There were over a hundred deer, and a large number of bears and wolves. As they ran around the ring, the guns cracked like a battle. The deer came in great herds, forming a splendid sight with their large antlers, and, as they came toward the ranks, the hunters made wide gaps and let them out, closing in again to keep the bears and wolves. When we thought all dead, a wounded wolf came limping along a few rods from the line, calling out a perfect shower of bullets. A Hudson man, with another of the band, standing near each other, fired at the wolf when he fell dead. Both claimed the scalp, which then was worth $7, not a small sum for that time, and began a struggle for it that ended in a bout of fisticuffs. When finally the Hudson man was conquered, the wolf's scalp was gone. The proceeds of this hunt, when brought together, comprised over sixty deer, seven bears and five wolves. A | Jarge number of the wolves escaped, and many of the slaughtered animals were picked up and carried off by those who had not joined in the | hunt, but enjoyed the game. The larger game | grew rapidly scarce after this. The hunters of | Hudson frequently went to the region of Sandusky Bay, the swamps of the Huron and Portage Rivers, and secured furs and plenty of game, but the lawlessness of the people who | congregated at these points, and the dangers | of lake travel, made it a hazardous undertaking, that scarcely remunerated the hunter for his risks and hardships.

Chapter Founding Of Church And School

"© Non ignura nali, miseris succurrere discs." HE early community of Hudson was patriarchal in its characteristics. It originated in the self-sacrificing devotion of its founder ; and in its maturer years it bears his name and the impress of his character. It is difficult to imagine the early prosperity of this settlement without the material and moral support of Mr. Hudson. He is the central figure in all its early history. and remained so until his death. Coming with ample resources for the prosecution of his enterprise, he allowed no desire for private ends to swerve him from his chosen course. He sought to establish a center of civilizing influence: his was the mission of a public benefactor, and the records of that time The sick and unfortunate found in him a helpful friend ; public enterprises were placed beyond the danger of failure by his efforts: struggling merit never failed for lack of material aid when solicited of him, while his old account books, bearing the names of every member of the settlement in those early days. tell many a tale of his devotion to his people. In the building-up

| thought or action in the sale of his land. | support of church and school was voluntary | on the part of each one, but his personal in- | fluence - not an unimportant factor in the issue

- he put without reserve in favor of these institutions, and in the end he wrought success, where more exacting methods reaped failure. here were two elements here from the first, antagonistic to each other in both politics and religion, but Mr. Hudson, commanding the respect of his cotemporaries in years, and the reverence of the young, on the principle of the resolution of forces, though his influence united them in carrying forward the general principles upon which the settlement was founded. There was in all this, however. no spirit of asceticism. The New England pleasures of the huskingbee and apple-paring were added to the Western logging-bees and spinning matches. When toil remitting lent its turn to play.

Dancing was a common form of amusement. There were plenty of violins and many a hard day's work in the field and cabin was supplemented by a night's scarcely less vigorous exercise in dancing. The first ball in Cleveland was attended from all the surrounding settlements. and among the rest Hudson sent her complement. The occasion was the 4th of July. 1801. and R. H. Blinn, of Hudson. was one of the - managers." An old chronicle says: » Notwithstanding the dancers had a rough puncheon floor. and no better beverage to enliven their spirits than whisky sweetened with maple sugar, yet it is doubtful if the anniversary of American independence was ever celebrated in Cleveland by a more joyful and harmonious company than those who danced the scamper-down double-shutfle, Western swing. and half-moon forty-six [eighty] years ago in the log cabin of Maj. Carter." The only record we have of the observance of this day in Hudson was on July 4+. 1800. There were then just forty-two souls in the settlement. the most of whom had come in the preceding month. These all sat down at a table of elm bark, in the woods on what is now a part of the public square. a few rods north of the actual center of the township. and a very little west of the north-and-south road. Their fare may be imagined; their guests were David Hudson. his wife Anna Hudson. their children, Samuel. Ira, William N., Milo L., Timothy and Abigail L. Hudson; Thaddeus Lacey. his wife Rosanna Lacey, their children, Isaac H.. Ann and Susan Lacey ;

David Kellogg, his wife Mrs. Kellogg, their children, Eleanor, Hiram and an infant ; Samuel Bishop, his wife, Mrs. Bishop, their children, Ruth, David, Luman. Reuben. Joseph. Phoebe, and a maiden sister of Mrs. Bishop. Ruth Gaylord; Elijah Noble. his wife. Anna Noble and child, Ira Noble. Those not having families at that time, or whose families were still in the East, were Joel Gaylord. Heman Oviatt. Dr. Moses Thompson. Stephen Perkins, William Leach, Reuben Parker, George Darrow, Joseph Darrow, Gordon Crandall and John Wood.

The property of the early community was very evenly distributed. and there were none who could be termed wealthy. even by the standard of that day. A few would be. perhaps, accurately placed by that New England term of * fore-handed farmers." The accumulations of a well-advanced life-time invested in the cheap lands of the Reserve made a somewhat imposing show. but all were blessed with large families. among whom the parents sooner or later divided their property. so that there was but little difference in the size of their farms. All fared on the same food. The woods furnished freely to all an abundance of game. berries. honey- and nuts. while none were so poor after a few vears residlence that he could not raise his own pork and supply his own table with milk. butter. cheese and flour. The most marked difference perhaps was in the superior comfort of some of the dwellings. and the fact that some wore shoes the year round. But even this difference brought with it the compensating burden of responsibility and risk to its possessor. The first. and perhaps the most pretentious house in the village was the hewed-log cabin built by Mr. Hudson. on Baldwin street. This was supplied with glass windows. and was in its appointments a fitting residence for the principal man of the town. In 1802. his growing family and his duties of hospitality demanded a larger cabin. and he set about putting it up. choosing a site a few feet This he had completed and had moved a few beds and other things into it, and being in the middle of ~ moving ~ the family slept in their new home, the children leaving their clothing in the old one. An arbitration had been held in the old house until closing the business and Mr. Hudson had retired to bed in the new building, he was aroused by the flames showing in the chamber of the old cabin. The old " cat-and-clay" chimney had proved recreant to its trust, and the chamber loft had been set on fire. Mr. Hudson saved his valuable a large stock of supplies intended to provide for his family and such of the settlers as would need them for a full year, and even his children's shoes. His loss was estimated at a $1,000, and was the more serious from the fact that the nearest market was Pittsburgh. which could only be reached by traversing miles of trackless woods. There were others. like Christian Cackler, Jr., who found consolation in that traditional old lady's philosophy, " blessed he nothing." ~ our furniture," says he, 'proved no inconvenience ; my wife hada bed. I had an ax. I | added to this by purchase of Zenas Kent three white cups and saucers costing 75 cents. three knives and forks and a wooden pail. The woman who lived with us gave three wooden plates, and a kettle to cook our victuals in. My wife's father also gave us a table which completed our 'set out." (In 1870, his property was estimated at 330,000). Such a distinetion was obviously too slender a foundation upon which to build a spirit of caste. the whole fabric of society rested upon an aristocracy of labor, and none were so high or so low that he did not minister to his necessities with his own hands. The fathers of the community wrought in the fields with their sons.

In 1802. Mr. Hudson was called to Goshen on business pertaining to the land which he held in company with Mr. Norton. He started out on horseback and alone. carrying his provisions with him. It was in July. and after going some fifty miles he found his horse jaded by the journey and used up by the flies which

428 HISTORY OF current was dangerously rapid, but taking an old half-rotten sled that chanced to be near, he launched out for the other shore. Unfortunately he had miscalculated the force of the current | f ; Knitting occupied the evenings of the grandand he found himself borne rapidly toward the open lake. To proceed far in this way meant the current he leaped from his raft upon a shifting sandbank which the current was piling up near the bank and atter severe effort secured firm ground on the same side of the stream from which he had started, a wet but wiser Going some distance up the stream, he

Bloomfield, in New York. where he bought a horse and completed his journey and back to This was the exploit of a man over forty years of age.

and are no less a marvel to the women of these degenerate days." «Carpets, or even painted floors. were not then found even in the houses of comparatively well-to-do families. but the floors were kept scoured to a snowy whiteness, and in the best rooms were neatly sanded and then marked into fantastic tigures. Crockery, or queensware. as it was then called. was too expensive for the tables of the yeomanry. and the dresser was supplied with pewter platters. which must be kept polished to asilvery whiteness. The thrifty housewife kept her deal tables and benches and unpainted doors washed to immaculate cleanness. The towels. tablelinen, bed-linen, and most of the summer clothing of the family were the products of home industry. The mothers and daughters hatcheled the flax, at a small wheel spun the thread, and afterward their hands threw the shuttle that formed the durable fabrics, the remains of which are held as heir-looms by the descendants of the old families, and proudly shown as proofs of the handiwork of hands long since laid to rest. Spinning, knitting and weaving linen. and braiding straw hats and bonnets, were a large part of the regular work of the winter. Bleaching, cutting, making and fashioning these ready for use was spring work. Then came cleansing, picking and carding the wool into bats ready for spinning on the large wheel. The yarn was woven into blankets for bedding. Some was made into checked flannel for aprons and dresses for the women.

mother and daughters in the family of the olden time, and she was considered a poor knitter who could not show a well-shaped sock or a double mitten as the result of a winter evenings work. Summer gloves or mitts were made of linen thread with a hook similar to the modern crochet needle. Nor were these branches of home industry confined to the families of farmers. No woman was held of much account whose hands laid not hold of the spindle and distatf, and who looked not well to | the ways of her household. or could even be . suspected of eating the bread of idleness. | The strength of these women was equal to .

their day, and their work did not hurry them so that they could not occasionally make and receive visits of half a day with neighbors and friends. They were able to attend two long services in church on the Sabbath. stand through the longest prayer that was ever ottered.'*

The fathers of the colony were not men of learning or of courtly demeanor. With tastes formed by the experiences ot New England tarm life, and the echoes of that controversial conflict which was characterized more by the

"sound common sense" com plishments. an earnest appreciation of and desire for educational advantages. which attracted those like-minded, and early cast over the community here an air of culture that was to be found nowhere else on the Reserve.

Mrs. Metealf came to Hudson in 1814. first ten years of her married life were spent in a house of hewed logs. its four rooms neatly hung with newspapers ; an article only procured of her ministerial friends and her legal friend, Judge Parkman. Its windows were of glass _ instead of oiled paper. which ranked the appointments of the house as decidedly superior, nor was it wanting in a certain air of refinement, which could not be absent from a house of which she was mistress. The house stood near the woods. a mile from the nearest neighbor. Wild animals from the forest often ventured near, and Indians frequently called to light the pipe and beg a mug of cider. Her husband's ride in the practice of medicine was over several contiguous counties. * a At such times the wife. left alone with her small children, had no diversion from intense solicitude except in reading; and. in the scarcity of books and papers of general interest, she resorted to her husband's medical library In the long nights, when anxiety forbade sleep to the defenseless wife and mother. these medical works were read and re-read. until. without aiming at such acquisition. she had gained a very creditable Enowledge of medicine. which became of great value to her. both in rearing her own family. and in kindly offices for the sick in other families. when her services were ever esteemed above price." Mrs. Met-

Here her fine mental powers. stimulated by that unquenchable thirst for knowledge which characterized her whole life. ranked her high in every department of study. Especially and, after a period of nearly sixty years (1870), she leaves as heirlooms several paintings and pieces of finest ornamental needle-work. executed by herself at that time."*

Dr. Jonathan Metcalf came to Hudson in 1812. After a long tour of inspection on horseback, he came to Aurora. and was about to leave for Pittsburgh. when he was met by David Hudson, who persuaded him to visit the Hudson settlement. The place pleased him, and he took up his abode with Mr. Hudson on the 6th of June. Two weeks later. the little community was startled by the intelligence that war had been declared with Great Britain. The militia which had been formed a few years previous were ordered out. -\ company formed frem Hudson and the several adjoining townships, had its headquarters here, and was under the command of Amos Lusk as Captain.' good deal of uneasiness prevailed in this frontier settlement, although there seemed uo | necessity for any public measure of safety save | to remain constantly on the alert. Late one Saturday evening in August, a messenger from - Newburg entered Mr. Hudson's house, bringing . the news of Hull's surrender, and the further rumor that the British and Indians in great | numbers were making their way down the lake in flatboats. The whole community was thrown at once | into a fever of excitement. Preparations | were made for placing the women and chil- : dren in a place of safety, and the company - of militia was summoned to their place of : rendezvous. On the Sabbath morning follow- | ing, Capt. Lusk paraded his company on the | green, prepared to act upon the first informa- - tion or order, when a messenger from the Com- ° mittee of Public Safety at Cleveland announced . that the forces approaching were the paroled troops of Gen. Hull. At this juncture, Capt. Lusk called for a volunteer to carry the news to Warren, to which Dr. Metcalf responded, as he was provided with a good riding horse. "There was then only a bridle path by marked trees to Warren, and no bridges across the streams. and he was an entire stranger to the country. He left Hudson about 11 o'clock with a letter of introduction from Capt. Lusk to Col. Edwards. of Warren. and rode forty miles on a sultry August day, swimming the Mahoning River two or three times, the water coming nearly to the seat of the saddle. He reached Warren about dark, found Col. Kdwards at the house of Gen. Perkins. delivered his communication, and was invited to stay all night at the house of the former. In the morning he found an Eastern acquaintance who was

Col. Cotgrave. who was then encamped with his regiment on the common. under marching orders, had raised a great excitement the preceding night. It was alleged that Metcalf was a British officer in disguise. and had brought the message to delay the marching of the regiment and gain time for the British. It was intimated, moreover. that if he had not enjoyed the protection of Col. Edwards, his life would | probably have been sacrificed by the excited | solliers."* Fortunately, the excitement was allayed by morning, and Mr. Metcalf returned to Hudson in safety. Capt. Lusk's company was ordered a little later to old Portage under Gen. Wadsworth's command. afd afterward to Huron and Sandusky, being out some three months, but saw no active service. While in the service. Dr. Metcalf accompanied them as Surgeon in charge. These troops were armed with such weapons as each man owned. and something of their etfectiveness may be learned trom an incident that oecurred at old Portage. . company of some twenty men practicing in firing by platoons found only one gun that did not miss fire at the first shot. The peace establishment after the war was entered into with enthusiasin by the Hudson people. A company of "light infantry ~ was organized. which was the pride of the colony and the env i of the regular militia at general musters in Ravenna,

The political organization of Hudson was very early. The settlement here was. at that time. the largest on the Reserve. and the townships of Stow. Boston, Twinsburg. \urora and Mantua were attached to it for township purposes. It has been agreed among the original proprietors that the oe should be named atter its tounder. and. in 1802. the Commissioners of Trambuil Gate sitting at Warren. the county seit. organized this territory with the name of Hudson. On the Sth of April following. twenty electors gathered at the cabin of David Hudson. and elected Thaddeus Lacey. Township Clerk: Heman Oviatt. Ebenezer Sheldon and \braham Thompson, Trustees: Elias Harmon and Samuel Bishop. Poormasters ; Aaron Norten, John Oviatt and Jotham Atwater, Fence Viewers ; Joel (raylord and Elias Harmon. Appraisers of Houses; George Kilbourne. Moses Pond and Moses Thompson. Supervisors of Highways; Ebenezer Lister. Anron Norton and Autus Edwards, Constables. Of the election. Mr. Hudson was Chairman, and the voters were D. Hudson, J. Darrow. G. Darrow. Dr. Thompson. T. Lacey, William McKinley. A. Norton, H. Oviatt. KE. Sheldon (of Aurora), E. Nobles, S. Bishop, J. Gaylord, A. Thompson. Deacon 8. Thompson. Robert Walker (of Stow). Harmon (of Mantua). Jotham Atwater, Moses Pond. Rufus Kdwards and George Kilbourne. In 1801. Gov. $

Justice of the Peace. and his first official act bears date of March 24, 120}; with the following entry on his docket: ~ Issued a writ of arrest in favor of Thaddeus Lacey against Thomas and Daniel Judd. to balance book accounts: said Lacey having made oath that, in his opinion, he is in danger of losing the debt due him from said Judds." It is probable, that in his opinion he was mistaken. for there is no further entries upon that subject. or, in fact, in that year. His ofticial services were called into requisition, however. during the latter part of that year. but hardly in a way to call for a docket entry. 'This was on the occasion of the marriage of (reorge Darrow to Miss Olive Gaylord. which be legalized on the 11th of October, 1801. On the Sth of November following. he performed the same functions for Stephen Perkins and Miss Ruth Bishop. all of Hudson. These marriages were before provision had been made to record such events, and they are found noted upon the fly-leat of an old land record book in the Recorder's ottice at Warren. In the first ease. Mr. Hudson is said to have been considerably embarrassed, and was obliged to correct himself repeatedly before he could satisfy himseif that he had discharged his duty in the premises. The lady in the case did not exhibit so much trepidation, and showed her housewifely care, by dropping the hand of the groom at a critieal point. and proceeding across the room removed a "thief" that was ~ guttering" the candle. On resuming her position. the ceremonies went on. The story is told of her. that a little later. when the first census taker valled on her with bis usual bundle of interrogations, her only response was. «George and I live here." and with this the enumerator was forced to satisfy himself. The year previous. a log schoolhouse had been erected. and this served for vears in the threefold capacity of meeting, town and school house. The early records are in an excellent state of preservation, but they generation. There was very little parade made by the governing powers. and. save the recording of * ear-marks." and noting the proceedings | of each annual meeting," there was no call | for records. The April election was an impor-

' square form, taken equally from the converg- ' ing corners of Lots Nos. 45, 55, 56 and 46. , There was, then, according to the record, "laid _ out to the proprietors of said town of Hudson,

_ No. 54; north on the remaining part of David _ Hudson's Lot No. 55 ; east on the public green ; - said lots taken off 5.00 wide from the south side of said Hudson's Lot, No. 55. Also seven mechanic lots laid off from the south side of Lot No. 56 ; bounded west on the public green ; north on the remaining part of said Hudson's Lot No. 56; east on Lot No. 57 ; south on east and west center line; each lot containing two and one-half acres. being 5.00 square. Also seven mechanic lots taken trom the north side of Lot No. 46; bounded west on the public green ; north on the east-and-west center line ; east on Lot No. 47; south the remaining part of Lot No. 46 ; the above said mechanic lots divided by posts and lines at 5.00 distance. Thaddeus Lacey. surveyor: David Hudson. agent for proprietors.' The earliest road which opened this settlement to the outside world was that one leading to the boat landing in Boston on the Cuyahoga. This was the only outlet, and was used for several years. In 1802. Edward Payne laid out what is known under the various titles of Aurora road. Payne road or Old State road. trom Painesville to Chillicothe, then the capital of the State. This passed through Kirtland, Chester. Bainbridge, Aurora, It entered the latter township where the Aurora road does, and followed its course until it struck the village. when it changed its course and followed the center road south, about a mile from the village, where it branched off to the southwest. touching a little later Cuyahoga Falls and then on to old Portage. About the same time. or perhaps a little earlier, the road from Cleveland to Canton passed through Hudson on the north-and-south center road,

_ River. ' nine volunteers - S. Bishop, E. Lindley, W. Mc- ' Kinley, A. Thompson, H. Oviatt, M. Parker, G. | Darrow, W. Leach and T. Lacey, to accompany - him to construct a bridge across the "' Narrows," the Commissioners in February, and it was the last of December before he was ready to build a bridge where the road crossed the Cuyahoga On the 31st of December, he secured near the scene of Brady's leap. This was no slight undertaking, poorly provided as they were with tools and machinery. A tree standing on the bank near at hand was first felled across the stream, and with this start, aided by three yoke of cattle and some volunteers from Ravenna, the structure was completed in two days, and was the first bridge constructed in this vicinity. The men took their provisions with | them, camping out until their work was accomplished, and though each one thought he was contributing his labor, Mr. Hudson secured them pay at 50 cents per day. The general line of this road is still marked by Ravennastreet and its ex- | tension. Some years afterward, the east-andwest center road was extended to Warren. The town thus early made accessible, took on a vigorous growth. The road thus laid out brought considerable through travel to Hudson, which could not fail to build up its business in- | terests. A stage route was established from Cleveland to Pittsburgh as early as 1825. passing through Hudson. Jabez Gilbert was the earliest of a long line of stage-drivers who are remembered by the older residents of the place. He drove at first a two-horse vehicle, which with the increase of business was exchanged for one drawn by the regular four-in-hand, with frequently a half-dozen 'extras " following it. | The great drawback to this enterprise here as elsewhere, was the almost impassible condition of the roads during the inclement seasons. These were often in places too muddy to travel at all, and it was a common occurrence for teams passing on the Aurora road to make a detour on the high ground that is found to the north of it.

The first mill in this part of the country was at Newburg, which was erected by W. W. Williams in 1800. The Hudson colonists brought considerable flour with them, and were forced occasionally to go to considerable distances to | renew the supply before they secured a harvest, | town on the Ohio River. a distance of eighty miles. The first harvest was derived from the nine acres which Mr. Hudson had sown in 1799. The yield was 183 bushels. one-fourth of which Lacey got for harvesting and threshing. The balance was apportioned among the proprietors as follows: 'Birdseye Norton. one-half and one-half a quarter, 85.25 bushels ; Hudson, onequarter, 34.10 bushels; Oviatt, Parmele and Baldwin, one-eight, 17.5 bushels." The wheat was all used in the colony, however. and what was not lost was ground at the Newburg mill. "To go to mill" was a three days task: two consumed on the journey of twenty miles and return, and one in waiting for the grist. The first load of wheat was taken to mill by Samuel Bishop, in February. 1801, under a bargain of He was obliged to set out shortly after a rain. and arriving at Tinkers Creek he found the stream considerably swollen by the rainfall. He ventured to cross, however, but found the current

They had three yoke of oxen anda cart. The river was high and the current strong, but they urged their team across. The lead cattle soon began to swim. then the second yoke, and soon the third yoke and cart. For- their footing and enabled the others to successively come to the shallower water. But the cart swinging down stream with the current, and not being a seaworthy craft. lost its load of wheat, and barely carried the drivers through in safety. The Doctor was not thus brought to the end of his resources. He bought some wheat for which he gave his note, got it ground. and returned with his flour to find the stream It was not possible for all to go to this expense for flour. Corn was substituted for wheat and smashed in wooden mortars, i. e., a stump with a hole burned in it with a long wooden pestle attached to a springpole. More of it was prepared on what was called "blood mills,' a tin grater made by

| punching holes in a piece of old tin, then giving it a curve and nailing it to a piece of board. | The community was placed under such disad- |

Dr. Thompson going at one time to Georgevantages but a short time. In preparing for the settlement, Mr. Hudson had not forgotten this important feature of frontier life. and in his first bills of articles, mill-stones were prowinent items. But who put up the first mill in Hudson is as variously claimed as the killing of « Cock Robin." In 1801, Ezra Wyatt and Aaron Norton commenced building mills on Tinker's Creek, in the northeast part of this township. From evidence gathered from the account-books of Mr. Hudson. though not clear. it is made probable that Mr. Wyatt began this undertaking alone. encouraged and assisted by Mr. Hudson. An entry without date is as follows: « Have been at the expense of furnishing all Wyatt's provisions and laborers. and all things necessary to build one-half of the mills. and to take my payment in boards one, two. three and four years hence, without interest. Also I have engaged to make him a free gift of 100 acres of land to encourage him to go on with the mills after the discovery of quicksand." Notwithstanding this liberal subsidy, Mr. Wyatt became tired of his undertaking. and Mr. Norton took his place. the former going to Cleveland. The saw-mill was completed for business that fall,and the grist-mill so that it would grind, but not bolt, in the spring of 1802. not far from the 18th of April. A distillery was started in connection with the mills soon afterward. and the whole business run in the name of Hudson & Norton. It stood but a year or two. when the whole establishment was destroyed by fire in the latter part of 1803. Norton, in 1806, built mills on Mud Brook in Northampton, and two years later built others in Middlebury. Deacon Thompson built a sawmill immediately after the destruction of the Norton mill. on the site of the present Holmes mill. This stood until it rotted down, and was then replaced by Augustus Baldwin, and subsequently two others were built upon the same site. Joel Gaylord also erected a mill not far from the same time that Deacon Thompson put up his, which was replaced by George Leach, who at different times built.two other mills ~~ Breakneck Creek. The coming of Owen Brown in 1805. introduced another industry that was second only to the mills in its usefulness to the new settlement. He was a tanner by trade, and at once set about preparing to ply his trade here. He sank his vats a little west of the village, and made a good market for such skins as the settlers derived from the game. A few years afterward, he and his son John, known better to fame in later years through his aggressive opposition to the slave-power, started another northwest of the village near where Morris Johnson now lives. George Kilbourne essayed the same business about a mile and a . half south of the town on the Center road. It was

The social customs of the time. and the only avenue of foreign trade. made the distilling of | liquor an carly and profitable business. Oviatt. , as 1801. found whisky not only a legal tender for whatever he cared to buy. but a commodity in very lively demand by the natives. He built a distillery on the stream near Sherman Thompson's residence. but probably not until the Hudson & Norton distillery had burned down. This le continued for some years. but the sale of it to the Indians was forbidden by the Government, and he finally abandoned it. ; though it had proved very profitable to him. | George Darrow erected another about 1810. | where the Eagle Cheese Factory now stands, - and manufactured rye and corn whisky for | the early society, and none were " Puritanic"' enough in their sentiments to object to its use. At the stores the customer found it "on tap," to use free of expense ; every social gathering was enlivened by its presence and use; and even preachers and people drew nearer each other ina fused at house-raisings, perhaps, as early as 1820 or 1825, to the no small opposition of a considerable portion of the community. these temperance raisings, it is said, the two elements of society met, and the opposition refused to let the building go up. They held on to the frame-work, until, by the redoubled efforts of the temperance men. who were in a majority, they were lifted off the ground and the | In 1828 or 1830, the barn | without opposition, the opposition staying away entirely. An incident is related of Rev. Randolph Stone which illustrates how strongly the habitual use of liquor had become fixed in the social intercourse of the time. Mr. Stone had taken a very pronounced position in favor of temperance. going to the extent of advising pecuniary remuneration as with it. But as the town grew in proportion and the through lines of travel were established through the place, there was a demand for an inn. Heman Oviatt about 1825 - Augustus Baldwin opened a hotel in the house where Mrs. Buss at present resides, and another was kept by George Darrow at the present residence of William Darrow. The *Mansion House," the oniy survivor of this race of public benefactors, was built in 1830, for Samuel Edgerly. It was afterward put into a lottery by Mr. Hertzell and disposed of, but who the fortunate possessor of the ticket was is not revealed. A long line of hosts have entertained the public here, among whose names appear those of Edgerly, Hertzell, Shields, Wadham and Bouton, the present host. In the palmy days of the stage business. the Mansion House was a place of consequence. and attracted a large crowd of patrons of the stage and idle lookers-on, which of late years has been transferred to the railway station. Business beginnings found: their start with Heman Oviatt a mile south of the center of the township. His trade was at first confined chiefly to the Indians. who, so long as they remained. were his most valuable customers. When he had accumulated skins enough to make two good-sized bales, he would load them on a horse across a pack-saddle. and take them to Pittsburgh, which was his nearest market. His return load was made up of shawls. blankets, powder, lead and whisky. The latter he soon made himself and avoided transportation, and gradually worked into the sale ot commodities to the settlers. About 1806, he came to the in later years. He was a keen business man, : requiring the last cent in a bargain, but just as | ready to pay it when he agreed to do so. A | story is told of him which illustrates the former characteristic of his dealings. In the course of some dealing with a member of the settlement he had taken a note for 31.01, which was nothing unusual in those days of fractional cents and petty dealings. A short time afterward, the drawer of the note handed Oviatt 31 which he accepted with some hesitation, and, after some cogitation, said, "I suppose you want this indorsed on your note. don't you, John?" He was always on the alert for a safe business venture, and, in the fall of 1815, he put in $1,000 into a partnership with Zenas in Middlebury. He retired from business about 1825, and is remembered as a close bargainer, strictly honest and successful in business. In 1812, the business circle of Hudson received a valuable accession in the Baldwin brothers. Pomeroy Baldwin. after the death of his father, came to Hudson in 1811. to look after the property the family owned here. He remained but tion. business in dry goods, and all the goods were shipped trom Butfalo, whither they had brought them with two teams. Seventeen days were consumed in reaching Butfalo from Goshen. The distance trom the former place to Cattaraugus Creek, thirty-two miles, was accomplished in a single day, which was considered a remarkable event. Their store was built near the site of C. H. Buss present store, and, in 1827, they put up that building. The character of the early trade may be imagined ; cotton cloth, three-quarters of a yard wide, sold for 50 cents ; 75 cents for the yvard-wide cloth. At that rate, it took three days' work to buy a shirt. The Baldwins built Mechanics' Hall about 1830. This was aframe building, placed in the rear of where Buss' store now stands, and, in accordance wi.a the original plan of the founders of the town, was occupied by the me- Here was the shop of the shoe-maker, the tailor and cabinet-maker, " to their majesties,' the popular sovereigns of Hudson. This formal arrangement did not last long, and each workman was soon found where shoes and such harness as he needed. Among the early blacksmiths were Treat (who afterward went to Aurora), Ruggles, Perley Mansur, and Hinsdale who came here in 1814. The Baldwin brothers changed the members of the firm several times. one brotker and another retiring until they were succeeded by J. H. Crawford & Co.. who gave way to Hillis & James, whom Mr. Buss followed in occupying the store. Mr. Augustus Baldwin went to Franklin Mills in 1836, to engage in the banking business, and his brother Frederick to farming in Hudson. In 1830, A. A. Brewster came from Ravenna und opened a store in a building which has since been enlarged and used by Mr. Farwell as a blacksmith-shop. Soon afterward he moved into a building on the corner of Main and Auvora streets. where the present brick building was erected. Mr. Brewster first began business here in partnership with Zenas Kent. of Ravenna, the latter being represented solely by his capital. Mr. Kent came to Hudson in the spring of 1814. and settled on Darrow street. He came. it is said. with his wife,in a onehorse peddling wagon. bringing in some goods. He worked the first summer at the carpenter's trade. and in the winter taught school. In the following fall he went to Ravenna and opened up business with Oviatt. where he amassed considerable property. buying out his partner and conducting the business alone for years. In 1333, he reciprocated the interest of Oviatt, and induced Mr. Brewster to come to Hudson under a similar arrangement. The latter purchased Mr. Kent's interest, and, in 1855, admitted D. D. Beebe as partner, who eventually succeeded to full control and still conducts the business, About the same time with the coming of Kent & Brewster came Hamlin & Dawes, which changed later to firm name of Hamlin & Ellsworth, and then to Ellsworth & Buss, and, finally, to John Buss alone. Mr. Buss came to Hudson in 1833, to attend college, but. his health failing. he went South. Returning, he entered

Buss bought the store where his son, C. H. Buss, succeeded him in the business, which he still continues. The only attempt at banking in Hudson was by Mr. Brewster, who furnished facilities for collection and discount of commercial paper in connection with his dry goods business. He continued it only a few years.

Up to 1851, Hudson's only means of communication with the outside world was such as the dirt roads afforded, and these for a large part of the year were nearly impassable for light vehicles, not to mention heavy-ladened wagons. Yet, in spite of these disadvantages incident to an inland town, the village gradually increased in size and importance. and the projected railroad from Cleveland to Pittsburgh, which was agitated some time previous to 1851, did much to increase its prosperity. The first charter granted for this road expired by limitation, because it was not used; but, in 1846, it was renewed. The people of Hudson took a great interest in this movement, and subscriptions were made to the extent of the people's ability, Judge Sylvester H. Thompson being one of the commissioners appointed on behalf of the State. In 1850, the road was finished to this place, and the people and the members of the Legislature received the first train in Hudson with great | rejoicings in 1850. The business men and citizens of all classes became enthusiastic over the future prospects of the village, and an enter- | prise was at once put on foot to construct another line of railroad, one that should connect New York with Omaha direct. The plan was to combine a number of separate lines through New York and Pennsylvania to the Obio line. From this point, it was proposed to build the | Clinton Air Line along the line surveyed years before for the Clinton Canal, to Hudson. The plan further proposed an * extension" west from this village to Toledo, and one to Omaha. During this movement, the * Akron Branch" of the Pittsburgh road was completed to Akron, and Hudson seemed right in the direct line of preferment. The Clinton Air Line was particularly a Hudson enterprise, and some 3200,- 000 were subscribed in stock, and some of the citizens prominent on the Board of Directors. The work was pushed with vigor, and some 318,000 expended on the road-bed in this township. -

This activity lated business circles in the little village into a perfect frenzy of speculation. Henry N. Day, who came to Hudson as a Professor in the college, and who had some capital. went into business, and put up the Pentagon at a cost of $18,000, in 1849-50. It was occupied by Sawyer, Ingersoll & Co.. Mr. Day constituting the "company." This firm launched into the publishing business on the broadest scale. The town was known as an intellectual center. and a paper of considerable influence had been published here for years, and the firm proposed to | build up a large publishing house. All branches of the business were undertaken. and proved successful so long as they confined their attention to jobbing. Ambitious. however. to gain a | reputation as publishers. they began to publish on their own account. and soon found their capital locked up in unprofitable books. The firm then changed hands, and D. Marshall & Co. took the business. The change brought no increase of capital to the concern. and it soon changed to the Hudson Book Company. which finally made an assignment. In the west part of the building. J. W. Smith & Co. opened a

Day and Jeremiah Day. of New York City, forming the company. This firm. possessed by the same spirit of peculation. expanded their operations to the fullest extent. trusting to the realizations of the future to justify their risks. In the meanwhile. large accessions to the population of the village were attracted, and every house was crowded. Rents and property were high. and the demand was for more houses. At this juncture, a planing mill and lumber company was formed to cater to this demand for more buildings. Smith was the prime mover in this enterprise, and the business was planned on a large scale.

on easy terms, and the village bid fair to become a city on the strength of railroad promises. this business activity exacted a large expenditure of money, and far in excess of what the persons engaged in the operations possessed. But they had friends who were easily convinced

All this activity and expenditure was crowded into the space of some five or six years, | and. before that time had elapsed, the suspicion |

' began to be entertained that neither the present nor future of the village warranted this } extravagant outlay of capital. Publie faith in | to waver, the terrible strain upon the authors of this artificial business activity began to he » observed, and the whole commercial fabric of the village. like a great wall tottering to its fall. seemed about to end in acrash. The end soon came. as it might have been foreseen. perhaps, from the beginning. There was one assignment after another, until not only was all of the overestimated business wiped out, but all business received such a shock as to require several years to rally. The lumber company suspended with 355.000 liabilities. and J. W. Smith. who was active in all these enterprises. retired with =100.000 liabilities and 280.000 nominal assets. On the heels of all this came the realization of the worst forebodings of the Clinton Railroad. involving not , only a loss of all subscriptions. but a liability for an equal amount in addition. Fortunately. by the misplacement of some records. the Hudson subscribers escaped from the full penalty of their enterprise in this matter. or the whole business community would have been financially annihilated. Belonging to this period. though in no way connected with the movers in other enterprises. were J. C. Snyder and I. C. Dowd, produce merchants. who. attracted by the business activity of the village. linked their fortunes with the place. The latter built a warehouse near the depot. and both did con- , in the end. they only | served to swell the general disaster. Tallmadge & Jaynes grist-mill. built on the Brandywine Creek. where the Cleveland & | Pittsburgh road crosses the stream, was built in 1852 or 1853. Though suffering in the ~eneral clepression, it did not cease altogether. | it changed into the hands of a Mr. Wilson, and | into the hands of Osborne, Dunham & Co., who fitted it up and manufactured the Buckeye Land Roller, and, later, with Benjamin Wheelock, manufactured chairs. The business did not prove successful, and the property came into the hands of Mr. Wheelock alone, and, in the fall of 1873, Jacob Miner put in two run of stone, and fitted it up for milling purposes, taking a share in the whole property. Through Wheelock's business embarrassment, the property once more fell into the hands of the law and the Sheriff. It has finally become the property of A. R. Hurd. It has since been improved by the addition of two new run of stone and otherwise improved to the capacity of fifty barrels per day. It is rented by the Hudson Mill Company, and. does a large custom business, filling any spare time on a light jobbing trade which they have fallen into rather than built up.

On the ruins of the old Pentagon enterprises is now established the flourishing factory business of 8. Straight & Son. The senior partner of this firm was, at the time of the Hudson depression, a member of the firm of Straight. Demming & Co., commission merchants of Cincinnati, and had done considerable business with the produce dealers here. the Hudson dealers becoming involved. secured the Cincinnati firm on a part of this property here. which, in the end. was bid in for the Cincinnati house. Subsequently. when Mr. Straight retired from active relations with the Cincinnati business. this property attracted his factory. He secured the Pentagon building and fitted it up with shelving for 15.000 cheeses for his business, at a cost of about $7,000; later, admitted his son to the business. and has enlarged the business from year to engine and boilers, steam elevators, three large exhaust fans, and shelving for 12,000 cheeses. | The basement has storage capacity for 250,000

An ice-house, with a storage capacity of 450 tons of ice, is provided with a series of pipes through which the air is drawn by the exhaust fans for the cooling of the curing-house. In addition to the large amount of cheese manufactured by this firm, they buy immense quantities in Illinois and elsewhere, shipping it East or storing it in their buildings in Hudson until the market will warrant its shipment. The firm employs sixtyfive hands, and buys all the milk of the farmers, each factory working up the milk of from two hundred and fifty to six hundred cows. The capital invested in fixtures is estimated at $100,000, and the business of the firm is rated among the few large Western firms in this business.

Closely connected, historically, with these enterprises is the Hudson Butter-Tub and Cheese-Box Company. In 1870, Mr. E. A. Osborne, in connection with E. Croy, built a small building and started this business. These gentlemen had had a connection with the enterprises that preceded the grist-mill and withdrew to supply the demand which the cheese trade of S. Straight & Son began to make. The business rapidly developed, and seven or eight hands were constantly employed in the manufacture of cheese-boxes. In 1873, the machinery for the manufacture of butter-tubs was added. and the business prosecuted together . until 1878. when the partnership was dissolved. | The firm is now E. A. Osborne & Sons. They | turn out in the busy season about one hundred | tubs and two hundred cheese-boxes per day. , boxes and tubs are worked up into staves. ° heading and spokes. The business demands an outlay of about 3500 per month. Their boxes are sold principally to 8. Straight & Son; : the tubs are sold in Chicago, Cleveland and | Pittsburgh. Closely adjoining is the saw-mill , and cheese-box works of E. Croy, who estab- | lished an independent business on the dissolumanufacturing business of the village at present, save the Oviatt Manufacturing Company. ' proposed to build up a manufacturing enterprise of considerable extent. The company was composed of eight members, principally mechanics. on the co-operative plan. In a short time, four of the company bought the stock of the other four, but a lack of the necessary capital has greatly restricted the enter- , prise thus far. Their products have met with | abuhdant encouragement wherever placed upon | the market, and the expectation is that at no | distant day the necessary capital will be se- | eured and the business dev eloped.

| Meanwhile. the "internal improvements" of ' the de facto village had kept pace with its busi- ' ness enterprise. The earliest frame building was the barn of Mr. Hudson, built almost entirely of black-walnut lumber. sawed at Norton's mill. This was followed. in 1806. by the house which Mrs. Baldwin now owns and occupies as a residence. were soon followed by others as there was