Jefferson Township (part 1 of 2)

Jefferson Township

The surface of the township is but slightly undulating, and its soil is better adapted to the interests of the dairy than to agriculture. Its timber consists chiefly of beech and maple, although there is a considerable quantity of chestnut, whitewood, and ash, and some cherry and black walnut. Mill creek is the principal stream, enters the township about one mile from the southeast corner, and flows northwestwardly until it reaches the extension of Market street, at a point about one-half mile south of the northern boundary of the township, where it changes its course and flows in a southwestwardly direction until it passes into Austinburg, at about one and three-fourths miles from the southwest corner of the township. It received its name from Sterling Mills, who settled upon its banks at an early day, in Austinburg. The stream has several tributaries, the chief one being Mill creek, which rises in the southern portion of the township and flows northwestwardly until it reaches the main current about a mile distant, in a westwardly direction from the northwest corner of the town-site of Jefferson. It derived its name from the fact that the first grist-mill in the township was erected upon its banks. Wolf creek obtained its name from the fact that the early settlers built a wolf-pen on the bank of the stream.

Early Events

In 1809, John Shook, assisted by McDaniel, built the first grist-mill in the township, on the bank of Mill creek, about one and one-half miles northwest of the centre of the village. It was a rude affair, but was of immense benefit to the pioneers of Jefferson. Here the first flour made in the township was manufactured. In 1812, the mill having gotten out of repair, the dam being gone, the inhabitants of the township collected in force, rebuilt the dam, and put the mill into operation again. Not only did it do the grinding of the settlers wheat and corn, but grain was brought to it to be ground from Ashtabula, Austinburg, and Morgan. In 1810, Wareham Grant built a saw-mill on the same stream, a short distance southeast of Mr. Shook's grist-mill. This mill sawed the first board that was sawed in the township. In 1812 there was a noteworthy accession to the population of the township in the arrival from Sheffield, Berkshire county,

Residence. Business Block and Mills or Henry Talcott. Jefferson, Ashtabula Co. 0. Breeder of Shtirt Horn Durham Cattle proprietor or Talcotts Flouring Mills. Dealer in Hardware. Stoves. Tinware sl Agricultural Implements also Proprietor oeTalcott's Deposit Bank

Massachusetts, of Durlin Hickok and his entire family, numbering in all sixteen persons. Mr. Hickok selected for his residence the land then known as the Granger farm, where Eldrad Smith had made the first improvement in the township, in 1804. There were sixteen families living within the limits of the township when Mr. Hickok arrived; five of these families were Websters. From E. W. Hickok's interesting and well-written communication, made as a contribution to the historical collection of the Ashtabula historical society in 1850, we make the following extract :

" It was exceedingly gloomy when we moved into Jefferson. Not a bushel of grain could be had in the township. A few bushels of potatoes were all that could be purchased. In the winter of 1812-13 my father went to Vernon, Hartford, and Brookfield to buy provisions and other necessaries. The first inhabitants suffered severely for the lack of food and clothing ; sheep would die, and it seemed useless to try to raise them. Entire flocks would run out in three years. Wolves took off many, but the greatest destruction it is supposed was occasioned by their drinking muddy water from deer-licks. The early settlers suffered not a little from apprehensions of another sort. They feared the aggressions of the British, and even in 1813 they supposed if Perry should be conquered the frontier would be left to the mercy of the enemy. However, when he proved conqueror, as the Yankees always do, there was a general time of rejoicing among us. Then we could pass the winter quite comfortably in linen pants, which many of us were glad to wear in lieu of something warmer." In 1823, Mr. Hickok erected their saw-mill, and in 1838 their grist-mill.

Early Roads. - The first route along which the Jefferson settlers traveled was the bridle-path of Eldrad Smith, made in 1804, and formed into a wagon-road in the following year. In 1810. T. R. Hawley surveyed the road from Jefferson to Ashtabula. This was a county road, and followed with little variation the course of the present road as far north as to Plum creek, where it bore to the east of this road so as to pass between the two little marshes, along a natural elevation, then across the big marsh, and onward to Ashtabula. A traveled road, which had been in use before this county road was surveyed, took a northeastward direction at Plum creek, crossing a narrow neck of the little marsh, and so on through Plymouth to Ashtabula. It was a wretched road. A causeway formed by laying the trunks of small trees across the route extended over the worst portion of the road, and it came to be the dread of travelers ; and soon there were strewn along this causeway broken vehicles almost without number.

A portion of the county road was cleared of trees and brush soon after it was surveyed, but was not used as a wagon-road until 1817, when it became a State road. In the month of August, Q. F. Atkins and a Mr. Webster took the contract to make the road across the large marsh passable for wagons and travelers ; but this was not successfully accomplished until 1827-28, when the people turned out in numbers and placed the floating crossing of timbers in order once again, covering it with a considerable thickness of brush, and covering the brush with a coating of gravel.

In the following summer, the county commissioners having appropriated four hundred dollars to the building of a permanent road across the marsh, and an additional subscription having been made by residents of Jefferson and Ashtabula of five hundred dollars, and Colonel Matthew Hubbard, acting under instructions of his brother, Nehemiah Hubbard, having made a large contribution in aid of the work, to be paid in lands, the road was put in a traversable condition. In 1850 a plank-road was built over the causeway.

In 1822, Lynds Jones, Esq., living in Jefferson, and desirous of making a visit to friends in Wayne township, had to travel a distance of eighty miles to consummate the journey, when in a direct line his friends lived but eighteen miles from Jefferson.

Illustrative of the amusements of these early days, we give the following account of a sleighing-party, which the participants, at that time all young people, enjoyed in the early spring of 1807 : Jonathan Warner and his intended wife, a young lady by the name of Miss Nancy Friethy, both mounted on one horse, early one cold, frosty morning in March might have been seen pursuing their way through the forests along Eldrad Smith's bridle-path towards Judge Austin's residence in Austinburg. Here they were joined by Mr. Austin's two daughters and son, and the whole company with great merriment passed through the groves to the tavern stand of Gideon Leet, in Ashtabula. Here they were joined by other young people, and there being snow on the ground, and the ice of Ashtabula creek and of the lake being in excellent condition for a sleighride, the young men found a rude lumber-sled, and, attaching to it two of their horses, soon had it in condition for a ride upon the ice. To the mouth of Ashtabula creek the merry party sped, then out upon the broad, smooth surface of the lake they emerged, when it was resolved to go as far as to the cabin of James Montgomery, at the mouth of Conneaiit creek. It was rather a dangerous undertaking, for the weather had grown warmer, and the strength of the ice might not be perfect. However, the party arrived at Montgomery's without any mishap. The day was now far spent and night was rapidly approaching, and the stay at Mr. Montgomery's was very short, when the young men, upon going out to put their sleigh in trim for the return trip, found that it was raining, and, worse yet, that the ice had suddenly disappeared, having embarked on a voyage to the Canada side ; and where but a few moments before the happy sleighing party had glided over the smooth ice with a feeling of perfect security, now appeared the blue, turbulent waters of the sea.

To return through the woods in a drenching rain, the snow rapidly disappearing, and the road not intended for vehicles such as theirs, being filled with the stumps of small trees that projected so high above the ground as to every now and then apply the brake to the progress of their sleigh, - all this was something different from the ride upon the glazing ice of the lake. This was sleigh-riding under difficulties, but they undoubtedly enjoyed it all the same, and arriving home had an interesting chapter in the history of their lives, which, if they had not gone, they could not have secured.

In relation to the organization of the township of Jefferson we find on the " Record" in the office of the township clerk the following: " Be it remembered that the records of Jefferson township, prior to 1812, were destroyed by fire ; and on the 17th day of August, a.d. 1850, part of the records of this township with various bonds and papers of the township (the record books from 1812 to March 30, 1839, and various bonds and papers to 1848 and 1849), were consumed by fire at the burning of the court-house in said township." The first record extant shows that on the 1st day of April, 1839, the following persons were elected: Ezra W. Hickok, Ebenezer Wood, and James Norris, trustees; Thomas Oliver, clerk; James Whitmore, treasurer; Jonathan Warner and Lynds Jones, overseers of the poor ; Elnathan G. Luce and Uriah Loomis, fence-viewers ; Horatio D. Hoskins and Austin Goodall, supervisors of highways.

School-houses, 8 ; valuation, 84000; amount paid teachers, 81221.88; number of scholars, 265. Valuation of school property in Jefferson village, 814,400 ; amount paid teachers, 82977 ; number of scholars, 347.

The following are some of the early settlers of Jefferson township, with dates of their settlement: Frederick Udell and Jonathan Loomis, 1823 ; James Hoyt, James Merrifield, Merritt Jerome, 1825; Silas Williams and Thomas Oliver, 1827 ; Ansell Udell, 1828 ; Erastus Goodall and Oliver Atwell, 1832 ; Eben Wood, 1835; R. D. Burgess, 1836; Harry Brown, 1838; Anson Alger, 1839; H. R. Green, 1843; Joseph Stevens, 1844; D. H. Prentice, 1848. For the above names and dates we are iudebted to Cornelius Udell, who settled in Jefferson village in 1818.

Biographical Sketch Henry Talcott

was born in Nelson, Portage county, Ohio, December 28, 1832. His father, Nelson Talcott, was an extensive chair-manufacturer, and Henry was placed in the paint department, at the age of eleven, to learn to do ornamental chair-painting. Winters he attended the high school in Garrettsville, Ohio, but at the age of seventeen his health failed him, and he had to abandon the painter's trade and learn another.

The following spring he commenced to learn the tinner's trade in Burton, Geauga county, Ohio, and serving two years' time there, at thirty-five dollars and forty-five dollars per year, he then went to Ravenna, Portage county, Ohio, and worked one year more under instruction, at one hundred dollars. Out of these sums he clothed himself entirely and saved fifty-four dollars to commence business with. And the 1st of August before he was twenty-one years old, he came to Jefferson, Ohio, and purchased a small tin-shop and stove-store of James Norris, - consideration seven hundred and thirty-six dollars, - rolled up his sleeves, and went to work. He never received any aid or assistance from any quarter, except a loan of two hundred dollars from his father, for six months, when he first commenced business. This was on August 1 , 1852. The business interests of Jefferson were very small at that time, and for that matter were the same all over the county.

Talcott's hardware-store was the first one, exclusively in this branch of trade, started in the county, but the following spring Geo. C. Hubbard commenced one in Ashtabula, and has always kept even pace with him, while at the present time there are at least a dozen good hardware-stores, situated in different parts of the county, every one of them selling more hardware thau was sold in the whole county, prior to 1850, each year. The first year's sales amounted to only two thousand eight hundred dollars, but steadily increased until, 1864, it reached forty thousand dollars and more, and requiring a stock of from fifteen to twenty thousand dollars. After adding the sale of Buckeye mowing-machines, wagons, and agricultural implements, he was compelled to build a large brick block fifty-two by seventy-five feet, three stories high, to accommodate this greatly increased business, and in addition to this, he has an extensive wareroom thirty-two by sixtyfive feet, two stories high. This business has all been built up in the past twenty-five years. In 1863, always having had a passion for a farm life, he purchased the old Michael Webster farm, one mile west of the court-house, one hundred and ninety-six acres, moved on to it, and commenced farming in addition to his hardware business. Still later he purchased the old Jonathan W arner farm, adjoining his other purchase and also the borough line of Jefferson, and built him a fiue brick residence adjacent to it, but inside the borough, and is now doing an extensive business breeding thoroughbred short-horn Durham cattle for sale, and has some very choice animals in his herd, bred from Clarendon, - five twenty, - Duke of Clark (2d), and Royal Britain.

In 1864 he was quite instrumental in starting the First National bank of Jefferson, and was a director in it until 1869. When, February 16, 1869, W. H. Burgess, James Norris, E. C. Wade, Henry Talcott, Lorin French, and Albert Warren organized the Jefferson Savings and Loan association bank, capital stock, fifty thousand dollars, under a corporation law of the State of Ohio, Henry Talcott was elected president of the association, and continued in office until 1872, when it was reorganized and the capital increased to one hundred thousand dollars, and became the Second National bank of Jefferson. He still continued president of this bank until 1874, when Hon. Abner Kellogg was chosen his successor.

In May, 1874, he started a private banking-house, known as Talcott's Deposit bank, which has thus far done a very successful business, - more than meeting his most sanguine expectations.

In 1870, feeling the necessity of better schools in Jefferson, he was very active, with a few of his neighbors, in getting a tax of twenty thousand dollars voted to build the Jefferson Educational institute, which is now one of the very best institutes of learning in the State, and is the just pride of our citizens. He has been an active member of the board of directors since its commencement, and for several years past president of the board.

December 6, 1876, he purchased the flouring-mills, known as the Griffis mills, two and a half miles west of Jefferson, on the Austinburg road, and at present writing is prosecuting quite successfully the business of merchandising, farming, banking, and milling; and is eager to push these several enterprises to their fullest extent. He pays, and has paid for several years, the largest amount of taxes of any person in Ashtabula County. His career shows what industry, economy, and a natural taste for business can accomplish.

Borough

Ashtabula County is the northeast corner county of the State of Ohio, and Conneaut is the northeast corner township of Ashtabula County. It is bounded on the north by Lake Erie, on the south by the township of Monroe, on the east by a portion of the State of Pennsylvania, and on the west by the township of Kingsville and the lake. It is composed of township No. 13 of the first range (except an area of two miles in width from the southern portion thereof, which strip was cut off and annexed to the township of Monroe), and of No. 14 of the first range, being Conneaut gore. The township contains a surface of about twenty-five square miles. Its extreme northernmost point lies about sixty-eight statute miles from the base line of the Reserve on the south, and about two miles from the parallel of latitude 42° 2', the Reserve's northern boundary line, the width of New Connecticut being sixty-two geographical miles, or a trifle more than seventy-one statute miles.

The face of the land in this township is somewhat diversified, and the soil is well adapted to the growing of cereals, although a portion of it produces excellent grass. Conneaut creek and its tributaries, with numerous springs, furnish an excellent system of drainage.

The Connecticut land company set aside Conneaut gore, designated by tracts one, two, and three, in township 14 of range 1, and containing five thousand seven hundred and ninety-two acres, as one of the equalizing tracts, and cut up into parcels and attached to inferior townships of land other gores for the purpose of making each of these latter equal to an average township. No. 13 of the first range was itself selected as one of these average townships, the whole number thus selected being eight. Uriel Holmes, Jr., Benjamin Talmage, Frederick Walcott, and Roger Skinner, became the proprietors of 13 - 1, when the land company made partition in 1798, and Ezra Wadsworth and Lemuel Storrs of the greater portion of the gore.

The name Conneaut, it is said, was given to the beautiful stream that bears its name by a tribe of Seneca Indians, and signifies " river of many fish." The banks of this river had long been the favorite resort of not only the red man of the forest but of a prehistoric people, who, without doubt, dwelt here in the remote past. The number and character of the mounds and burying-places, the exhumation of bodies from their ancient cemeteries, disclosiug the fact that their bones belonged to a race of larger size than any known Indian tribe, are proofs of the fact that here in this delightful locality there lived, in the unknown past, a numerous people, and different from any Indian tribes of which the white man possesses any knowledge. There is no other spot in the county, and probably but few others anywhere, that abounds in such striking proofs of the existence of a powerful and populous people. Its inviting character, the advantages which it possesses in many ways, were known to those rude children of the forest ; and here along the banks of the " river of many fish" did they delight to live, and who can tell what happiness was theirs ? In the woodlands was plenty of game ; in the stream an abundance of fish ; the rich alluvium of the lands in the valley yielded generously to their efforts of cultivation ; the birds in the forests sang for them as sweetly as birds can sing to-day ; the sun shone down upon them as warmly then as now ; the clouds opened with as delightful showers ; and the bosom of the peaceful lake was as gentle in the summer of those remote years as it is in these warm, quiet summer days of 1878.

The ancient people disappeared, leaving no written record which might serve to enlighten us as to who they were, whence they came, and whither they have gone. Nevertheless they have left abundant proof in their burial-place, situated a little west of the site of the old brick church, and in the character of " Fort Hill" as it is called, located on the southeastern bank of the creek and opposite to the present village cemetery, that they did once exist, and that they were a numerous and powerful people. The ancient burying-grounds occupy an area of about four acres, and appeared to have been accurately surveyed into lots running from north to south, and when first seen presented the appearance of neat and orderly arrangement. When first discovered the spot " was covered with trees not distinguishable from the surrounding forest, except an opening near the centre, containing a single butternut. The graves were distinguished by slight depressions in the surface of the earth, disposed in straight rows, which, with intervening spaces or valleys, covered the entire area. The number of these graves has been estimated to be between two and three thousand. Aaron Wright, Esq., in 1800, made a careful examination of these depressions, and found them invariably to contain human bones blackened with time, which upon exposure to the air soon crumbled to dust. * Some of these bones were of unusual size, and evidently belonged to a race allied to giants. Skulls were taken from these mounds, the cavities of which were of sufficient capacity to admit the head of an ordinary man, and jaw-bones that might, be fitted over the face with equal facility. The bones of the upper and lower extremities were of corresponding size."

The imagination is pained in endeavoring to penetrate the mystery in which the history of this people is shrouded. That the multitude whose mortal remains people these receptacles of the dead once existed, that they were members of the human family, that they died and were buried, is incontrovertible ; but what was their origin, what their language, what their habits, their religion, and their moral, political, and social condition, - all this remains an insoluble mystery.

Indians Of Conneaut

These ancient people were succeeded by various tribes of Indians. The first of these known to the white settlers were those inhabiting this region at the time of the arrival of white immigration in 1796-97, said to be a remnant of the Massasavga tribe, dwelling on the present town site of the village of Conneaut, under a chief by the name of Macqua Medah , or " Bear's Oil." This warrior's village consisted, at that time, of some thirty or forty cabins, inhabited by as many separate families. They were a feeble people, unable to offer successful resistance to the encroachments of the whites, and very soon retired from their pleasant hunting-grounds on the banks of the Conneaut. Their cabins were rude structures, about twelve or fifteen feet in height, formed of logs, with bark for roofs, but presented an appearance of neatness and comfort seldom observed among the Indians. Here was their council-house, and here their king's palace, which the settlers, with little respect for the dignity and sanctity with which they were undoubtedly associated in the minds of these red children of the woods, converted the one into a barn and the other into a poultry-house. When the Indians were about to abandon the country, their chieftain, in a very threatening manner, warned the whites against ever trespassing upon a certain spot of ground, declaring that if they did not respect his wishes he would return and scalp the inhabitants " as far as he could pole a canoe up the creek." This spot, so sacred to the Indian king and his people, contained the grave of his mother, and was designated by a square post some eight or ten feet high, painted red, and sunk into the ground, and stood on the margin of the creek, near where the present iron bridge now crosses the stream, east of the village. The lands between the post and the mouth of the creek were the " consecrated spot." The settlers paid little or no attention to this demand.

The immediate cause of the expulsion of " Bear's Oil" and his tribe from Conneaut was a murder committed by one of his party of a white man whose name was Williams. This individual, about the year 1797-98, in traveling from Detroit to Presque Isle, or Erie, had sold an Indian a rifle, for which he agreed to trust him for a specified time, and receive his pay in peltries. After the delivery of the rifle, Bear's Oil, either from motives of friendship or from a desire to involve Williams in difficulty, told him that the Indian was bad, and that he would not get his pay. Thereupon Williams went to the Indian, demanded the return of his rifle, and compelled him to give it up. Incensed at this procedure, on Williams leaving the village, the Indian waylaid his path as he was passing down the beach and shot him, a few miles below the mouth of the Conneaut, and again possessed himself of the rifle. As soon as the circumstance was known to the commanding officer of the military post at Presque Isle, he sent to Bear's Oil, demanding the murderer. Bear's Oil, after some hesitation, agreed that if an officer and a suitable number as guard were sent forward to take charge of the prisoner, he would give him up. On the arrival of the guard, they were invited by Bear's Oil to remain until morning. The invitation was accepted, and when morning came they were gravely informed by the chief that they had deliberated upon the matter, and had decided not to yield up the murderer ; at the same time making a show of his force, which consisted of thirty or forty braves, armed and painted in a warlike manner. The guard, unable to contend with so large a force, retired to their bateau, which had been left at the head of the dead water, and descended the creek, not, however, without apprehension of a salute from the Indians' rifles as they passed some of the close thickets which covered the shore. No interruption of the kind, however, occurred, and they returned with all possible expedition to Presque Isle.

Upon the receipt of the intelligence the troops at the garrison, with as many volunteers as could be suddenly collected, were embarked in boats, with orders to proceed to Conneaut, secure the murderer, and to inflict such chastisement upon the whole party as the nature of the case demanded. But arrived at the anticipated scene of action they found the village deserted. The enemy had fled and left them nothing upon which to expend their valor. No war-cry greeted their ears. Old Macqua Medah understood the nature of the call that was likely to be made upon him, and had launched his canoes and paddled them up the lake as far as Sandusky.

The ruins of a more ancient village, said to have belonged to a remnant of a tribe of Seneca Indians, were yet remaining at the time the first settlers arrived. This village was located on the east bank of the creek, near the Harmon farm. There were evidences of the ground having been cultivated, and an apple-tree was found here in a thrifty condition. They probably lived here as late as the time of the treaty of Greenville, in 1794. They had been engaged in the Indian war, so disastrous to the white settlers, when General Harmon, in 1790, and Governor St. Clair, in 1791, led the armies of the Ohio settlers against the red men and were sorely defeated. At St. Clair's defeat on the Miami, November 4, 1791, two young men were taken prisoners by this band of Indians and were brought to this locality. They were without doubt the first white men that looked upon this region, and were captives for a number of years. The name of one of these individuals was Edmund Fitz Jeralds, but that of the other cannot be ascertained. They were among the number that survived the slaughter on the Miami, when the Americans were defeated by the savages with the loss of more than six hundred of the militia. They were at first a part of a large company of prisoners, but as the different tribes marched homeward and began to separate, each clan, as its share of booty, took a number of the prisoners, and Fitz Jeralds and his companion became the spoil of this Seneca tribe, and thus were brought to the banks of the Conneaut. Their arrival was celebrated by the customary practices adopted by the Indians upon like occasions. The prisoners were made to run the gauntlet, to receive the requisite number of kicks and blows, and to listen to the taunts and jeers of their captors. The moment of supreme solicitude, however, arrived when the braves assembled in solemn council to decide what should be done with the prisoners. Would the sentence be death ? and if so, would it be death from the tomahawk, or death from the rifle, or death at the stake ? It was a moment of fearful suspense. Soon the decision was announced. One was to die, the other to be spared. Fitz Jeralds was the fortunate one. His companion was doomed to die. The youthful Indian warriors must needs be taught the art of torturing an enemy. They must be instructed in the character of that fierce cruelty necessary to be employed in dealing with a foe whom they hated. Fitz Jerald's companion was sentenced to be burned. A red-oak tree was selected, and certain significant signs rudely carved upon it, so that ever afterwards it should be a living witness to the young warriors of the scene of cruelty about to be enacted. There appeared upon the bark of the tree the figure of a tomahawk, and that of a scalp. To this tree the young man was firmly bound. A large quantity of hickory bark was collected, tied up in fagots, and placed around him. The young man's distress was beyond all expression ; that of Fitz Jeralds was from sympathy nearly as great, and yet he dared not speak or he too might become a victim to their cruelty. Would nothing happen to release the young man from the fate awaiting him? Would no one plead for him, or even beseech them to shoot him instead of burning him to death? Yes. There appears upon the scene a young maiden squaw whose heart was stricken with sympathy and grief, and, like Pocahontas, she earnestly plead for the life of the young victim. Her entreaties were heeded, and Fitz Jeralds' companion was rescued from a frightful death.

The young man became a favorite with the Indians, and soon was intrusted with important matters of business, and was employed as their agent in trafficking with the whites. In the course of a few years he was sent to Detroit with a quantity of furs to be exchanged for needed supplies, and improved the opportunity to make good his escape. He returned to Conneaut in the year 1800, and himself related the circumstances herein given, and pointed out the very tree to which he had been bound, whereon were plainly to be seen the significant signs the Indians had cut upon it.

Fitz Jeralds remained in captivity. He assisted in cultivating the soil with a wooden hoe, and in guarding the fields of maize from destruction by animals. How long he remained with the Indians is not known ; but after the whites arrived he became a citizen of this county and resided here many years.

The First Resident A Hermit

An individual by the name of Halsted was found residing here at the time the surveyors arrived in 1796, and from his own statement had then lived here upwards of three or four years. He therefore came here shortly after the arrival of the two Indian captives, Fitz Jeralds and his companion. He was discovered by the surveying party who, in running the meridian lines from the base of the Western Reserve to the lake-shore, were guided to his retreat by the sound of his axe. His cabin was situated in East Conneaut, on the farm known as the Baldwin farm, about one-fourth mile from the State line, and one mile to the south of the Ridge road. A strange life did this man lead, and some strange influence had brought him hither. He showed little inclination to be interrogated, and but little information could be obtained from him. He stated that he was a native of the Old Bay State, and had lived here a number of years, subsisting by hunting and fishing, and by cultivating a few vegetables on a patch he had cleared around his hut. But of the particulars of his own history, and of the motives that had induced him to undergo this voluntary banishment from home, kindred, and friends, and to make the deep forest, infested with wild animals and wandering bands of Indians, his chosen abode, he refused to furnish any account. Perhaps he had become disgusted with the inconstancy of human friendship ; perhaps he was a criminal who had escaped from the legal consequences of his sruilt ; perhaps it was " unrequited love such were the explanations which conjecture could furnish, hut the lips of the man himself refused to open. He manifested evident displeasure at the presence of the surveyors, whom he recognized as the advance-guard of a multitude of followers who were destined to people the land. He had supposed he had found a retreat secure from the approach of the white man, and fully intended, without doubt, to spend here the remainder of his days solitary and alone. He had girdled or deadened the timber on a few acres adjoining his cabin with the evident design of making a permanent improvement ; but now he abandoned the undertaking, and quitting his cabin he disappeared from the country to seek for some more congenial locality.

The Arrival Of The Surveyors

The next event of importance in the history of the township is the arrival of the partv of surveyors on the banks of the Conneaut, July 4, 1796. An account of this occurrence will be found in another department of this work, and hence we make but a casual allusion to it here.

At Buffalo the party halted for the purpose of holding a conference with the Indians, remnants of tribes belonging to the once great and powerful Iroquois nation, who, notwithstanding the treaty of Greenville, by which the western bands had surrendered all claim to the territory, still maintained that this tract of right belonged to them. An interview for the purpose, if possible, of conciliating them was therefore held, the leader of the expedition, who acted as agent for the party, being dressed in scarlet broadcloth, for the purpose of enhancing his consequence and producing on the minds of the Indians an imposing effect. Brant, an Indian warrior and chief of one of the tribes, insisted that he and his people had claims upon the land in question, and that it would be unsafe to enter upon them until those claims had been satisfied, insisting that the western tribes had no right to sign away the inheritance of his people. Fearing to dispute the point, the agent assured him that his claims should have the recognition they deserved , and thus, with the distribution of a few presents, were the Indians conciliated.

When the party arrived at Conneaut they pitched their tents on the east side of the creek in a beautiful grove of young maples and other forest-trees which occupied the space between the high bank and the water's edge, a spot well remembered by the early settlers, hut which has long since disappeared by reason of the encroachments of the lake. Upon this same spot, and on ground since covered by the waters of Lake Erie, they afterwards erected a substantial log building, about thirty-five feet in length by twenty in width, designed as a residence, and as a depository for their stores. It is said to have been fitted up with a reasonable attention to convenience, having a well-shingled roof, and the floors, partitions, doors, etc., made from boards sawed out by a whip-saw. This was the first building, with the exception of the hermit's little cabin, a rude structure, erected by the white man upon the soil of the Western Reserve. The surveyors, after thus arranging for their comfort during their stay in this locality, proceeded to the southern boundary of the Reserve and began their labors.

James Kingsbury, afterwards known as Judge Kingsbury, arrived at the mouth of Conneaut creek shortly after the surveyors had come ; and as the surveyors, in the prosecution of their work, receded farther and farther to the westward, they soon abandoned the building they had erected on Conneaut creek as a place of rendezvous, and removed their stores to the mouth of Cuyahoga river, where they thenceforward made their headquarters. The commodious building thus abandoned became the dwelling-place of Mr. Kingsbury and his family, who continued to occupy it through the severe winter months that followed. As this was in the year 1796-97, it is thought that Mr. Kingsbury's family was the first that passed this winter on the soil of New Connecticut. In relation to the sufferings of this family, we make the following quotation from the well-written narrative of Harvey Nettleton, Esq., to whom we are indebted for many of the facts given in this history :

'' The story of the sufferings of this family during that severe winter has often been told; but by those who are in the midst of plenty, and to whom want has never been known, it is with difficulty appreciated.

make a journey to the State of New York, he left his family in expectation of a speedy return, but in bis absence was prostrated with a severe attack of sickness that confined him to his bed until the setting in of winter. As soon as he was able he began to return, and proceeded as far as to Buffalo, where be obtained an Indian guide to conduct him through the wilderness. At Presque Isle, anticipating the wants of his family, he purchased twenty pounds of flour, and continued his journey. In crossing Elk creek on the ice he disabled his horse, left him in the snow, and placing the flour upon his own back, pursued his way, filled with gloomy forebodings as to the condition of his little family. On his arrival, late in the evening, his worst apprehensions were more than realized in the agonizing scene that met his eyes. Stretched upon the cot lay the partner of his cares, who bad followed him through all the dangers and hardships of the wilderness without repining, pale and emaciated, reduced by fierce famine to the last stages in which life can be sustained, and near the mother, on a little pallet, were the remains of his youngest child, born in bis absence, and who had just expired from the want of that nourishment which the mother, herself deprived of sustenance, could not supply. Shut up by a gloomy wilderness, far distant from the aid and sympathy of friends, filled with anxiety for an absent husband, suffering with want, destitute of necessary assistance, she was compelled to behold two children expire around her, powerless to help them. Such is the picture presented, truthful in every respect, for the contemplation of the wives and daughters of to-day, who have no adequate conception of the hardships endured by the pioneers of this beautiful country of ours.

" It appears that Judge Kingsbury, in order to supply the wants of his family, was under the necessity of transporting his provisions from the mouth of the Cuyahoga on a hand-sled, and that he and his hired man drew a barrel of beef the whole distance at a single load."

Mr. Kingsbury became prominently connected with the history of the Reserve, and was honored with several important judicial and legislative trusts. He soon removed from Conneaut, and finally settled in Newburg.

The First Permanent Settlers

The year 1798 marks the date of the first permanent settlement in the township. The names of these pioneers were Thomas Montgomery, with his family, and Aaron Wright. They removed in this year from Harpersfield, in the State of New York, intending to settle in Harpersfield township, where some of their friends had taken up their abode the previous year ; but arriving at Conneaut, they were so delighted with the country, and the facilities it afforded for getting in crops, that they decided to make this township their home. They found the house in which the surveying party and Judge Kingsbury bad lived, and another which the latter erected before be left this locality, unoccupied, and immediately took up their residence in them. These buildings were a blessing to hem, saving them the necessity and expense of erecting new ones. But these were not the only source of joy to the new-comers. The Indians had cultivated fields of corn, and these were easily put into condition to yield them a plentiful supply for their wants the following winter.

Thus they fared much better than if they had gone to Harpersfield, where they would have been obliged to clear the forests before any planting could be done, and besides would have had to build for themselves cabins in which to dwell. The only other settlement within the limits of what is now Ashtabula Count}' was at Harpersfield, where the Harpers had settled the previous year. The distance from one settlement to the other was about twenty-five miles, and consequently these pioneer fathers could not be very neighborly with each other. The hardships which they were compelled to undergo were, indeed, many ; while the advantages, if so they can be considered, were those which arise from the absence of all social and legal restraint, they being a law unto themselves. The next year (1799) Robert, Levi, and John Montgomery, Samuel Bemus, and Nathan and John King arrived from the State of New York, and began settlements along the creek. The first house built by these first settlers was the one erected by Nathan King, on the north bank of Conneaut creek, a short distance south of John Brown's residence, in 1799. The next was built by Aaron Wright, on the then Ridge road, what is now Liberty street, in the village, on the present site of Geo. W. Cummings' residence. Mr. Wright says, "I once lived sixteen days without seeing a human face, except my own in a pail of water, which I used for a looking-glass when compelled to shave, and this was the only facility I had for making my toilet for a long time. After my sixteen days' seclusion, a friend called upon me, and of course I was anxious to receive him hospitably and entertain him in good style. My larder was wanting in one very important article, viz., meat, the bones of my last porcupine having already been picked. While in this dilemma two other friends called, one of them fortunately having killed a fine turkey. I set him to stripping the feathers, while I prepared my kettle and some dough wherewith to make a pot-pie, by simply putting flour and water together.

J. Smith

I soon had supper in readiness; and my friend has often informed me that it was the best meal of victuals to which he ever sat down, made up of my pot-pie, bread, pepper, and salt. When it was time to retire I spread my straw bed upon the floor as usual, and by lying crosswise four of us enjoyed a comfortable night's rest."

The year 1800 notes the arrival of Seth Harrington, Jas. Harper, and Jas. Montgomery, with their families, and Daniel Baldwin and James and Nathaniel Laughlin. The Montgomery families and 31 r. Harper settled at first on the east side of the creek, near the lake. Mr. Baldwin and the Laughlins first settled on the west.side of the creek, near the Harbor, but soon removed to the east part of the township, on lands now owned and occupied by Hugh and Wm. Laughlin. It has been impossible to obtain the exact dates of the arrival of some of the early settlers of this township. Dr. Neliemiah King, the first physician who settled in Couneaut, is among this class ; also, Peter King, Jr., Elisha and Amos King, Peter King, Sr., Hananiah Brooks, Caleb Thompson, William Perrin, David Gould, Zebadiah Thompson, among the early settlers. They were from New Hampshire. Peter King, Jr., settled on the present William Storey farm, at the junction of the Gore and Ridge roads. Elisha King settled on the south side of Conneaut creek, near the centre of the township, on the farm now owned and occupied by 0. L. Houston, and Peter King, Sr., settled on the north side of the creek, near the present residence of C. R. Goddard, Esq. Hananiah Brooks first settled on the present Gilbert farm, on the east side of the creek, opposite the Harbor. Caleb Thompson's residence was on the site of the old fair grounds at Conneaut Centre, and that of Seth and Zebadiah Thompson was in the south portion of the township, on the present L. L. Skinner farm. Joseph Tubbs settled on the present Wilder farm, near Amboy, Daniel Sawtelle near the present residence of D. Cummings, at Conneaut Centre, and the Pitney family near the Harbor.

In 1807, Ezekiel and Thomas Olds settled in the township. Ezekiel Olds settled on what is known as the Ralph Wright farm, on south ridge, but afterwards, in 1814, removed to the eastern portion of the township, settling on the farm now owned by John Dean. Josiah Brown, Sr., from Stanstead, Lower Canada, settled in the township near the present site of the residences of Joseph and Josiah Brown, in the year 1807.

In 1809, David, Joseph, James, and Stephen Hicks, brothers, arrived in Conneaut, and settled in the western portion of the township, near the present site of the Amboy cheese-factory. They also came from Canada, though natives of Vermont. In 1810, Henry Lake and Dr. Nahum Howard and family settled in Conneaut. Dr. Howard was from Kennebec county, Maine. He settled near the site of the present residence of P. 31. Darling, on Harbor street. 3Ir. Lake was a native of Vermont. He started the first furnace in Conneaut, on the flats of the creek, a short distance above the paper-mills. He was afterwards landlord of the old 3Iansion House. Charles De 3Iarranville and sons Lewis and Jabe settled in the south part of the township, on the south ridge, in 1811, on the farm now occupied by descendants of the family. This same year, Earl Pierce, from New Hampshire, settled on the lake-shore, near the present Kelsey farm.

Accessions to the settlement were now becoming quite frequent, and in various pa^ts of the township began to appear the pioneer's cabin ; the dense forests began to disappear in many localities, and in their stead could be seen fields of wheat, corn, and other grain.

Aaron' Wright erected the first grist-mill in the township in 180G-8, on the present site of Mr. llathbone's mill. Prior to this time the settlers were compelled to carry their grain sixteen miles in order to get it ground, the nearest mill being this distance from Conneaut, at Elk Creek, Pennsylvania. 3Ir. Wright says, " I have often carried a bushel and a half of wheat on my back to this mill, and if on my return my provisions failed, I struck a fire, dropped some water in the mouth of my bag with my hands, and mixed my bread, and then spread it on a basswood bark, brought for the purpose, and baked it before the fire."

The first roads were Indian trails. The main line of travel was at first along the beach, the fording of the streams being accomplished with difficulty. In 1800 the first road was marked out by Seth Harrington, Aaron Wright, and Nathan King, being the present Ridge road, leading to Ashtabula. Nathan King was the first supervisor, and his district extended from the State line to the tenmile stone in Kingsville.

The first death, with the exception of the little child of 3Ir. Kingsbury, was the daughter of Samuel Bemus, in 1799. The coffin was made by Aaron Wright, who says he made it from a white-oak tree, from which he cut and split the boards, obtaining the nails in making the coffin from a boat that had been wrecked and drifted near the mouth of the creek, and was painted by using the ashes from burnt straw.

The Indians, for a number of years following the first settlement in the county, frequented this locality during the hunting season for the purpose of killing game, and seemed to take great pleasure in revisiting their old hunting-grounds, where lay buried the dust of their ancestors, and where from time immemorial roamed their fathers in chase of the bear and elk.

They realized a considerable profit from the sale of the furs of wild animals, and their canoes annually descended the Conneaut richly laden with the product of the winter's hunt. Oftentimes traders would visit them on their grounds, and give them, in exchange for their furs, goods and money.

Rufus S. Reed, merchant, at Presque Isle, or Erie, was accustomed to traffic with the Indians, and for a number of years in the early settlement of this township visited frequently this locality for the purpose of trading with those red hunters. He was in the habit of traversing the woods through snows with a pack of goods on his back, or on the back of a French pony that sometimes accompanied him. Engaged in one of these expeditions, he left Conneaut on a severe wintry day with his pony, intending to reach the station of old Philip, a Seneca Indian, well known to the early settlers, encamped at the time referred to somewhere within the limits of the present township of Denmark.

As the pony on this occasion had no other incumbrance than a sack of dollars, which was firmly attached to his saddle, it was supposed that he could occasionally well afford to endure the weight of his master. 3Ir. Reed accordingly mounted on his back, and pursued his way very industriously, following a trail which the Indians had made through the snow, until, becoming chilled, he alighted and continued on foot his journey, driving his pony before him. Whether or not there was in the mind of the intelligent animal some consciousness as to the value of the sack of money fastened to the saddle we canuot tell, but it is certain that when 3Ir. Reed desired to remount, the pony peremptorily refused to let him approach near enough to consummate this purpose. The hitherto docile animal rejected all terms of conciliation, and with provoking cunning perseveringly eluded every attempt to entrap him into submission. In the pursuit the trail was soon lost, and 3Ir. Ileed. after wandering many hours, found his strength nearly exhausted. At this juncture he was so fortunate as to fall in with Seth Harrington, Esq., a resident of Conneaut, and a hunter rarely excelled, who was just returning from a hunting expedition, having just been at Philip's camp. He besought Harrington to catch his pony for him, and if he could not secure him in any other way to shoot him and obtain the money, as he cared more for this than for the pony. Himself tired and cold, took Harrington's track and followed it to the encampment. Harrington soon overtook the pony, and by driving him into a narrow point of land in a bend of Ashtabula creek, succeeded in capturing the animal, and brought him and the money in triumph to the owner.

A False Alarm

General Hull's surrender in 1812 at Detroit, whereby the British obtained possession of that commander's army and of the Territory of 3Iichigan, left the whole northern frontier exposed to the incursions of the English, who also had undisputed control of Lake Erie. The settlements along its shore were, therefore, kept in a continued state of agitation and alarm. ,

The country had been actually devastated as far east as the Huron river, and the inhabitants either murdered or driven from their homes before a sufficient force could be collected to arrest their progress. To repel this invasion the whole effective force of the country had been called into the field, leaving the new settlements in an exposed and defenseless condition. Knowing the wide-spread consternation among the settlers, the British vessels took delight in sailing along the coast, firing cannon, and making other sundry demonstrations of hostility in order to increase the alarm of the inhabitants.

They had in two or three instances effected a landing from their vessels in small parties, killed some cattle, and possessed themselves of some other articles of plunder of more or less value.

Tidings were frequently arriving from the seat of war, and it was not uncommon for the people to be called out of their beds at the dead of night to hear exagger-

It was during this period of feverish excitement that the following occurrence took place, the particular time being the night of August 11, 1812 :

Two British vessels of rather suspicious appearance had been observed off shore during the previous day. A guard had been stationed at the mouth of the creek who watched the movements of the vessels with close attention. A larger number of persons was descried upon board, it was thought, than was consistent with peaceable intentions, and grave suspicions as to the hostile purposes of the vessels were entertained, and it was believed that they were only awaiting the approach of ni'rht. when they would land and execute their warlike designs. About dusk some boats were discovered by the sentinels at a short distance from the shore, steering directly towards the mouth of the creek. One of the guard hailed lustily, fired his musket, threw it upon the beach, mounted his horse, and fled precipitately. As he dashed through the settlements, he cried, in stentorian tones, " Turn out ! Save your lives ! The British and Indians are landing, and will be upon you in fifteen minutes !"

The wildest consternation and direst confusion ensued. Before the fifteen minutes had expired, almost every home in the settlement was deserted, and a large portion of the population had taken refuge in the woods. Such was their haste that in many instances the doors were left standing open, and their lights unextinguished. In one instance a family commenced their flight in so much trepidation that they left one of their children, a little girl of two or three years of age, asleep in the house, and the mistake was not noticed until they had gone some rods from the dwelling.

The inhabitants of the upper settlement fled across the creek, and sought refutre on Fort Hill, where amidst its ancient ruins, then covered with a dense forest, they hoped to find a place of temporary security. Before reaching the spot, however, a variety of disasters, more or less serious, had occurred, principally occasioned by the necessity of fording the Conneaut.

The younger children, and some of the women, were carried over on the shoulders of men. One rather portly lady was being thus transported on the back of her husband, who was a small man. and lost his footing on a slippery rock in the centre of the stream, and he and his precious cargo were submerged in the current ; and as the little man occupied the nether position he was nearly drowned before he could shift his ballast, and get his head above it and the water.

Within the dilapidated walls of the old fort, hid among the bushes, they passed a most uncomfortable and tedious night, momentarily expectiug to hear the yells of the savages, or to witness from the hill the conflagration of their dwellings.

The people of East Conneaut had found shelter from danger of discovery, as they hoped, in a thick hemlock grove on the banks of Smoke Run, a small tributary of the Conneaut, about one-fourth of a mile south from the Ridge road. In the recesses of this grove were collected quite a numerous company, consisting principally of women and children. The locality seemed to promise security, except that its proximity to the main road made it necessary to maintain perfect silence. By the soothing attention which the mother knows so well how to bestow the children were kept reasonably quiet, but the noisy and pugnacious qualities of the canine species caused infinite annoyance and vexation. One little dog, in particular. would not keep quiet. In spite of all they could do to keep him silent, he would yelp, yelp, yelp, "- without any mitigation or remorse of voice." Finding that they could not quiet him, they unanimously passed upon him the sentence of death, and resolved to hang him without benefit of clergy. The elastics of the ladies served as a cord, and soon the little culprit was dangling iu the air, suspended from a sapling that was bent down for that purpose.

Thus did the villagers pass the never-to-be-forgotten night. Soon the cheerful morning light began to appear, and scouts were sent out to reconnoitre. There stood their cottages; no hand had touched them. No enemy could be found. The alarm was a false one, and all eagerly and joyfully returned to their dwellings.

The boats which the heated imagination of the sentry had filled with British and Indians, belonged to a Captain Dobbins, of Erie, who was on his way down the lake, having on board some families bound for Conneaut, whom he was endeavoring to land ; but upon discovering that his vessel was creating alarm, he turned from the shore and continued his voyage.

The Adventure Of Solomon Sweatland

The incident that follows took place in the month of September, 1S17, and created no little sensation at tbe time. As it is prominently connected with the early history of this township, we give a full account of it, substantially as given by Mr. Nettleton :

Sweatland was an active young man. residing with his family on the lakeshore, a short distance below the mouth of Conneaut creek. He was fondly

A favorite method of capturing deer at this time was to chase up a herd of them with hounds, and drive them into the lake, as these animals readily take to the water when hotly pursued. Sweatland kept a canoe for the purpose of going upon the lake iu pursuit of the deer, and one of his neighbors, who acted iu concert with him, kept a number of hounds. The arrangement between the two men was that while Mr. Cozens, the neighbor, should go into the woods, and with the dogs start the deer towards the lake, Sweatland should be prepared to take his canoe, and pursue and capture the deer as soon as it should take to the water.

His canoe was nothing more than a large wliitewood log hollowed out, and formed into the shape of a canoe, about fourteen feet in length, and rather wide for its length.

It was a lovely morning in early autumn. Sweatland had risen early, in anticipation of enjoying a chase upon the blue waters of the lake, and without putting on his coat or waistcoat, listening, as he went toward his canoe, for the approach of the hounds. He soon heard their deep baying, and by the time he reached the boat he found that a large deer had already taken to the water, and was rapidly moving away from the shore. Throwing his hat upon the beach and boarding bis canoe, he was soon engaged in an animated chase. The wind, which had been fresh from the south during the night, began now to gradually increase until it became nearly a gale ; but Sweatlaud, intent upon capturing his prize, paid little or no heed to this. The deer was a vigorous animal, and stoutly breasting the waves, gave proof that in a race with a log canoe, managed with a single paddle, he was not to be easily vanquished. Our hero had attained a considerable distance from the shore before overtaking the animal. The latter, turning and shooting past the canoe, struck out towards the shore. Sweatland, with alarm, now discovered his danger. Heading his frail bark toward the land, he discovered that with the utmost exertion he could make no headway whatever against the terrible gale that was now blowing against him, but, in fact, was every moment being carried farther and farther from the shore.

His outward progress had been observed by Mr. Cozens and others on shore, who now became alarmed for his safety. They saw at once the impossibility of his returning in the face of such a gale, and unless help could be got to him he was doomed to perish at sea. Soon a boat containing Messrs. Gilbert, Cozens, and Belden was launched, with the full determination of making every possible effort for his relief. They soon met the deer returning toward the shore nearly exhausted, but the man himself was nowhere to be seen. They continued their search until they had gone many miles from the shore, when, meeting with a sea iu which they judged it impossible for a canoe to live, they returued, giving Sweatland up for lost.

Our hero meanwhile was manfully battling with the waves of an angry sea. He possessed a cool head and stout heart, which, with a tolerable degree of physical strength and remarkable powers of endurance, were of immense advantage to him in his emergency. He kept heading towards the shore, faintly hoping that by and by the wind would abate ; but it did not. As the day wore away he receded farther and farther from the shore. As he followed with his eye the outline of the distant shore, he could distinguish the spot where his own dear little cabin stood, filled with hearts burning with anxiety and distress upon his behalf. During the day one or two schooners were seen, which he vainly tried to signal.

Seeing the utter hopelessness of getting back to the American shore, he made up his mind to sail with the wind and strike out for the Canada side. The gale had now arisen until it was indeed furious. He was borne on over the angry waters, utterly powerless to guide his bark. He was obliged to stand erect, moving cautiously from one extremity of his vessel to the other, so as to trim it to the waves, fearing that each succeeding plunge would be the last one. He was obliged, too, to bail his boat of water, using his shoes for this purpose.

Hitherto our hero had been blest with the cheerful light of day. Now darkness was rapidly approaching. The billows of the sea looked dark and frowning. Thinly clad and destitute of food, our hero passed a terrible night. "When morning came he found he was in sight of land, and that he was nearing Long Point, on the Canada shore. After being buffeted by the winds and waves for nearly thirty hours he reached the laud in safety, and no mortal was ever more thankful. Still, exhausted with fatigue and faint from hunger, he found himself forty miles from any settlement, while the country that intervened was a desert filled with marshes and tangled thickets.

We will not undertake to describe his toilsome journey towards the Canadian settlements. Suffice it to say, he arrived in the course of twenty or more hours, and was kindly received by the people, who showed him every hospitality. On his way to the settlement he had the good fortune to find a quantity of goods, supposed to have been driven on shore from the wreck of some vessel. Accompanied by some of the inhabitants, he returned and took possession of the goods, which he carried to Buffalo, and from the avails of which purchased for himself a new suit of clothes. He then took passage on the schooner " Fire Fly," bound for Ashtabula Harbor. Arrived at his dwelling, guns were fired from the deck of the schooner, and the crew gave three loud cheers. On landing he found his funeral sermon had been preached, and that his wife was clad in the habiliments of mourning.

Of The Mormon Bible

Solomon Spaulding came to Conneaut to live in the year 1809, and shortly after began to write a book, claimed to be identical with the Golden Bible of the Mormons. We append the following statement of his brother, John Spaulding, copied from the work entitled " Mormouism Unveiled," written by E. D. Howe, of Painesville, Ohio :

"Solomon Spaulding was born in Ashford, Connecticut, in 1761, and in early life contracted a taste for literary pursuits. After he had left school, he entered Plainfield academy, where he made great proficiency in study and excelled most of his classmates. He next commenced the study of law in Windham county, in which he made little progress, having in the mean time turned his attention to religious subjects. He soon after entered Dartmouth college, with the intention of qualifying himself for the ministry, where he obtained the degree of A.M., and was regularly ordained. After preaching three or four years he gave it up, removed to Cherry Valley, New York, and commenced the mercantile business in company with his brother Jonah. In a few years he failed in business, and in 1809 removed to Conneaut, Ohio. In the year following I removed to Ohio, and found him engaged in building a forge. I made him a visit about three years after, and found that he had failed, and was considerably in debt. He then told me he had been writing a book, which he intended to have published, the avails of which, he thought, would enable him to pay his debts.

" The book was entitled ' Manuscripts Found,' of which he read to me many passages. It was an historical romance of the first settlers of America, endeavoring to show that the American Indians are the descendants of the Jews or lost tribes. It gave a detailed account of their journey from Jerusalem by land and sea, till they arrived in America under the command of Nephi and Lehi. They afterwards had quarrels and contentions, and separated into two distinct nations, one of which he denominated Nephites, and the other Lamonites. Cruel and bloody wars ensued, in which great multitudes were slain. They buried their dead in large heaps, which caused the mounds so common in this country. Their arts, sciences, and civilization were brought into view in order to account for all the curious antiquities found in various parts of North America.

" I have recently read the Book of Mormon, and to my great surprise find nearly the same historical matter, names, etc., as were in my brother's writings. I well remember that he wrote in the old style, and commenced about every sentence with 1 and it came to pass,' or 1 now it came to pass,' the same as the Book of Mormon ; and, according to the best of my recollection and belief, it is the same as my brother Solomon wrote, with the exception of the religious matter. By what meaus it fell into the hands of Joseph Smith, Jr., I am unable to determine.

Mr. Howe, the author of the work referred to, obtained and published the testimony of Aaron Wright, Henry Love and others, - all gentlemen of probity, - confirming the identity of Mr. Spaulding's production with portions of the Mormon Bible. Mr. Howe remarks, " Our inquiries did not terminate here. Our next object was to ascertain, if possible, what disposition Spaulding made of his manuscripts. For this purpose a messenger was dispatched to look up the widow of Spaulding, who was found residing in Massachusetts. From her we learned that Spaulding resided in Pittsburgh about two years, when he removed to Amity, Washington county, Pennsylvania, where he lived about two years, and died in 1816. His wife then removed to Onondaga county, New York, married again, and lived in Otsego county, and subsequently removed to Massachusetts. She states that Spaulding had a great variety of manuscripts, and recollects that one was entitled ' Manuscripts Found,' but of its contents she has no distiuct knowledge. While they lived in Pittsburgh she thinks it was once taken to the printing office of Patterson & Lambdin, but whether it was ever brought back again to the house she is quite uncertain ; if it were, however, it was there with his other writings, in a trunk which she had left in Otsego county, New York. This is all the information that could be obtained from her, except that Mr. Spaulding while living entertained a strong antipathy to the Masonic institution, which may account for its being so frequently mentioned in the Book of Mormon. The fact also that Spaulding, in the latter part of his life, inclined to iufidelity, is established by a letter now in our possession in his handwriting.

" The trunk referred to by the widow was subsequently examined and found to contain only a single manuscript book in Spaulding's bandwriting, containing about one quire of paper. This is a romance, purporting to have been translated from the Latin, found in twenty-four rolls of parchment in a case on the banks of Conneaut creek, but written in modern style, and giving a fabulous account of a ship being cast on the American coast while proceeding from Rome to Britain, a short time previous to the Christian era, this couutry being inhabited by the Indians.

" The old manuscript has been shown to several witnesses acquainted with Spaulding's writing, and they identify it as in his handwriting, but, as to the matter it contains, it bears no resemblance to the manuscripts found. Now, as Spaulding's book can nowhere be found, or anything heard of it after being carried to the establishment of Pattersou & Lambdin, there is the strongest presumption that it remained there in seclusion till about the year 1823 or 1824, at which time Sidney Rigdon located himself in that city. We have been credibly informed that he was on terms of intimacy with Lambdin, being seen frequently at his office.

" Rigdon resided in Pittsburgh about three years, and during the whole of that time, as he has since asserted frequently, abandoned preaching and all other employments for the purpose of studying the Bible. He left there about the time Lambdin died, and commenced preaching some new points of doctrine which were found to be inculcated in the Mormon Bible.

" He resided in this vicinity about four years previous to the appearance of the book, during which time he made several long visits to Pittsburgh, and perhaps to Susquehanna, where Smith was then digging for money or pretending to be translating plates.

" It may be observed, also, that about the time Rigdon left Pittsburgh, the Smith family began to tell about finding a book that would contain a history of the first inhabitants of America, and that two years elapsed before they finally got possession of it."

The evidence here given which seeks to fasten upon Spaulding the authorship of the Mormon Bible, or at least a portion of it, although not entirely conclusive, is still of a very strong presumptive nature, and we have thought it best to insert a full accouut of Mr. Spaulding's supposed connection with the Mormon book.

Local Industries

The Ohio furnace, located about half a mile north of Clark's Corners, in the southeastern portion of the township, was put in operation in the year 1830 by A. Dart and M. P. Ormsby. A large and extensive business was carried on for many years at this place in the manufacture of cast-iron stoves, and nearly all kinds of castings. At times as many as from one hundred to one hundred and fifty men were employed in connection with this furnace.

In 1841, Mr. G. Y. Eastman bought Mr. Ormsby's interest in the business. Mr. Dart died soon after, and business was suspended about the year 1845.

A forge and furnace had been in operation for a number of years, at an earlier date, on the flats of Conneaut creek, a short distance above the present site of the paper-mills. Wrought-iron was manufactured at this place. Henry Lake, Solomon Spaulding, and Elias Ivcyes were at different times either proprietors or in some way interested.

In 1840, Mr. J. A. Ellis started a machine-shop at Conneaut Centre, and about two years later added a foundry, where he has continued the business till the present time.

Cheese-Factories

The first cheese-factory built in the township was that at Amboy. This was built in 1869-70 by a stock company. The building is in size thirty-two by seventy feet, and three stories high, and cost, with the necessary equipments and utensils, four thousand dollars.

The first officers were J. D. Ransom, president ; P. C. Ryan, secretary ; Lyman Luce, S. Hazeltine, and J. D. Ransom, directors. The factory commenced operations in the spring of 1870. N. P. Tillotson was operator for three seasons, T. Buffington two, and L. Luce two. There has been an average annual manufacture of about one hundred thousand pounds of cheese until the past three seasons, when both butter and cheese have been made. Alonzo Green owns the controlling interest at present.

In the spring of 1870, at the same time the Amboy factory commenced operations, Weldon & Brown started a factory in the old tavern building at East Conneaut. A successful business was done at this place until the close of 1874, since which time there have been changes in proprietors and little business done.

In the spring of 1872, N. B. Payne & Sou built and put into operation a cheese-factory on their dairy farm, two miles southeast of Conneaut village. In the spring of 1S74 they increased the capacity of the factory by erecting an additional building and putting in new utensils and machinery. The milk of from three to four hundred cows is received at this factory, affording an average annual manufacture of about one hundred thousand pounds of cheese. A factory was built at South Ridge, in the spring of 1875, by Hayward & Sanford, who have since continued the cheese manufacturing business at that place with fair results.

Conneaut Agricultural Society

This society was organized in the winter of 1S53-54. The first officers were elected at a meeting held at the town-house, January 6, 1854. and were as follows : President, P. W. Grant ; Secretary. D. C. Allen ; Treasurer. S. R. Bradley ; Vice- Pre-idents one for each school district in the township), Benjamin Harper. H. Kilburn, Isaac Skinner, J. G. Whitney. Henry Grant, Simon Brown, Benjamin Cushing, Horace Baldwin. Henry Putney, G. V. Eastman, Thomas Gibson, Lewis Thurbur, Edward Brooks, A. Bagley ; Executive Committee, President, P. W. Grant ; Secretary. D. C. Allen ; A. Bagley, Isaac Skinner, and H. Kilburn.

The first annual fair was held September 21. 1854, on grounds leased of Amos Thompson, at Conneaut Ceutre. These grounds were a part of twenty-one acres subsequently purchased by the society, and improved and used as a fair-ground until the spring of 1875, when the society sold the same to D. Cummins for §2600, and disbanded.

Conneaut Harbor

The mouth of Conneaut creek, where it discharges its waters into Lake Erie, forms the best natural harbor on this shore of the lake between Cleveland and Erie. From the date of the arrival of the surveying party this harbor has been made use of, much to the advantage of the settlers of this township, and has added much importance to its history. The surveyors erected their store-houses at this point, and the early settlers who arrived in Conneaut first took up their abode here. No railroads had been thought of at this time, and lake navigation was of much importance, to the early settlers especially, in many respects. Grain grown in this vicinity, and for many miles south into the country, was shipped from this point, as well as much whisky distilled from grain at the numerous distilleries then in operation all over this section of the county. The products of the forests also added much to the shipping interests, as lumber, staves, oars, and handles were manufactured and shipped from this harbor in very large quantities. The first brick residence erected in the township - the Ford House, for many vears used as a tavern, and still standing - was at this place. For a number of years previous to the building of the Lake Shore railway, more shipping business was done at Conneaut Harbor than at any point between Cleveland and Erie. Six or seven large warehouses were in use. A large fleet of vessels sailed between this point and Buffalo. Steamboats made regular stops. Supplies for points as far south as Youngstown were shipped to this place. At the time the railroad was built it had the effect of taking much of the business from the harbor and dividing it up at different points along the road. An effort was made once or twice by the citizens of Conneaut to secure a railroad from the harbor, leading south into the coal, iron, and oil regions of Pennsylvania; but, from want of sufficient energy and capital, the effort proved unsuccessful. Ashtabula has since secured what Conneaut failed to do in this respect, and now has a busy and important port on the lakes, while Conneaut Harbor, naturally a better point, at present preseuts a deserted and almost lifeless appearance.

Vessels Built In Conneaut

Quite a large number of vessels have been built in this township for lake navigation and some for the ocean trade. The first vessel built in Couneaut was the " ^alern Packet. She was built by Elias Keyes and Captain Samuel Ward, about the year ISIS, on the creek, just above the present iron bridge, and was floated down the creek in a time of high water. She carried two spars, and had a capacity of about 27 tons. Captain Samuel Ward was her first master. Following this were the " Farmer,' built by Christopher Ford, at Conneaut Harbor, Charley Brown, captain ; wrecked on Long Point, October 20, 1827. afterwards rebuilt in Cleveland, and sailed on the lakes until forty-three years old. The " Independence,'' a schooner of about 30 tons, built by James Tubbs, on the lake shore, about a mile west of the harbor. The sloop " Humming-Bird," built in 1830 bv John Brooks, who was subsequently drowned off Sandusky while sailing her. The " Conneaut Packet," built by Gilmon Appleby and A. B. Tubbs. The sloop " Dart," built in Kingsville, and trucked to Conneaut to be launched and fitted out. The " Oregon." built at Harmon's Landing by James Brooks and John V. Singer. The "Commercial," built at Harmon's Landing by Reed & Lyon and others, about the year 1833-34, 0. Salisbury, captain. The " Reindeer," built about the same time by John V. Singer and others. The " North America" was the first steamer built in Conneaut. She had a capacity of 300 tons, and was built about the year 1834 by a stock company, the shares being one hundred dollars each. Her first captain was Gilmon Appleby. The steamer " Wisconsin, ' capacity 400 tons, was built about the year 1836 at Harper's, now Wood's, Landing. She was built by a stock company, and was towed to Buffalo to be fitted out. The " Constitution." built by Captain Gilmon Appleby and others, was a still larger steamer, having a capacity of about 450 tons. Following these again were the schooner "Troy," 130 tons, built at the harbor by Captain Harrison Howard about the year 1S40. The " J. B. Skinner," 100 tons, built at the harbor, in 1841-42, by Marshall Capron and H. C. Walker, and first commanded by Captain Marshall Caprou. The " Henry M. Kinney," 110 tons, built at the same time by Robert Lyon and Henry M. Kinney, aud first commanded by Captain Harrison Howard. The " J. W. Brown," 200 tons, built by Captain Harrison Howard and J. W. Brown, of Toledo ; " The Belle," 200 tons, built by the same parties ; the brig " Lucy Walbridge," 300 tons, built at the harbor, about the year 1844, by Charles Hall, George B. Walbridge, and O. Salisbury, and commanded by Captain O. Salisbury ; the brig " Lucy A. Blossom." 330 tons, built at the harbor, in 1S45 or 1846, by Chas. Hall and Geo. B. Walbridge; the " Banner," built at the harbor about the year 1S47, by Zaphna Lake and Benjamin Carpenter, at this time the largest sail vessel on the lakes, having a capacity of 500 tons, commanded by Captain Marshall Capron ; the schooner " Dan Marble," 150 tons, built by John Tyler and Zaphna Lake ; the " Traveler" and the " Telegraph," 300 tons each, built at the harbor by Chas. Hall. G. W. Walbridge, and John H. Kilburn, and commanded by John Martin and P. Snow; the " Greyhound," 400 tons, built at the harbor by a Buffalo company ; the " Stambaugb." 250 tons, built and commanded by Augustus Waird; the scow " Sea-Bird," 300 tons, built at Harmon's Landing by Hiram Judson and P. B. Doty; the scow "Fairy Queen," built by Isaac Van Gorder and Daniel Gilbert ; the " Nightingale," built by Captain Howard. A vessel of 450 tons capacity, for the ocean trade, was built at the harbor in 1862 to 1S63 by Wesley Lent for Tupper & Streiver. of Buffalo. The bark " Ogarita," capacity about 800 tons, was built at the harbor by O. Bugby, of Buffalo, and commanded by Captain Andrew Lent; the " Indianola," 400 tons, built and commanded by Captain George De Wolf for E. A. Keyes; the scows " Thomas Swain" and " Loren Gould," built by James A. Childs & Brother; the " L. May Guthrie," built by Judd & Childs. Besides these are a number of vessels built by Captain Marshall Capron, who has been more prominently connected with this branch of industry than any other citizen of Conneaut. His vessels are as follows : the scow " Times," capacity 60 tons, built at Harmon's Landing in 1859 and 1860 ; the bark " Monitor," 500 tons, built at the same place in 1861 to 1862; the schooner "Ann Maria," 450 tons, built at Detuiek's Landing in 1863 to 1864; the bark "Valentine," 300 tons; the bark " T. B. Rice." 300 tons, built at Demick's Landing in 1865; the scow " J. G. Palmer," 60 tons ; the schooner " Conneaut," 260 tons ; and the schooner " M. Capron," 250 tons.

Amboy is a small village in the west part of the township, where are located two stores, a hotel, two churches, school-house, post-office, cheese factory, flouringrnill. cabinet-shop, blacksmith-shop, shoe-shop, and numerous cigar-manufactories. There is also a platform-station on the Lake Shore railroad, where stops are made by two passenger trains per day each way.

The Methodist Episcopal church at this place was organized in the year 1823, by Rev. Jesse Yiets. The church building was commenced in the year 1839, but not finished for a number of years afterwards. The land was donated by Barnes Hubbard and Silas Wilder. The first trustees were William Perrin, Jesse Yiets, Bliss Ransom, Samuel Blakeslee, Charles Brown, R. S. Yiets, and Raswell Yiets. The first pastor was Rev. Jesse Yiets. The present pastor is Rev. W. J. Wilson, aud the church membership numbers one hundred.

The school building erected in the summer of 1877 is probably the best common-school building in the county. It is thirty-two by fifty feet, one story, and thirteeu feet between joists, and cost twelve hundred dollars.

South Ridge

South Ridge is another small village, situated in the south part of the township. There is at this place a store, post-office, hotel, church, school-house, cheese-factory, flouring-mill, and blacksmith-shop.

The Free-Will Baptist church located here was organized December 30, 1826, by Rev. Samuel Wise. The meeting for organization was held at the house of Appollus Thompson. Their meetings were held in union with other denominations until the year 1837, when the church edifice was erected, at a cost of two thousand dollars. The pastors have been as follows: Revs. Samuel Wire, Abram Shearer, D. M. L. Rollin, Stephen Bathriek, F. W. Straight, Rufus Clark, M. R. Kenney, William M. Yates, T. P. Moulton, R. E. Anderson, A. F. Bryant, F. B. Herrick, J. R. Spencer, and L. C. Chase. The longest pastorate was that of Rev. Rufus Clark, who served thirteen years. The church is at present without a regular pastor. At one time the membership reached one hundred and fifty, but at present it numbers but forty-four.

Conneaut township was organized in the spring of 1804. It was the first organized township in the county, and bore the name of Salem until the winter of 1832-33, when it was changed to Conneaut, which name had previously been given to the creek and to the post-office.

The territory originally embraced, in addition to the present limits of the township, a tract two miles wide off of the north part of the present township of Monroe. This was taken off of Conneaut and given to Monroe at the time of the organization of that township in the year 1818.

The first township-meeting was held at the house of Nathan King, and the following officers elected: James Montgomery, clerk; James Harper, Nathan King, and William Ferguson, trustees ; Hananiah Brooks and Joseph Tubbs, poor-masters; David Niles, John King, and James Montgomery, supervisors of highways; Seth Harrington and James Ferguson, fence-viewers; Levi Montgomery, constable; James Harper, town treasurer.

Statistics For 1877 Conneaut Village

The act of incorporation bears date in the year 1834, but at what time the first survey was made cannot be ascertained, for the reason that the village records have been lost or destroyed. This fact produces a great deal of embarrassment in our efforts to obtain reliable data in regard to the early history of the village.

The first mayor of Conneaut was Dr. Samuel L. Fenton, who was elected in the spring of 1834. There was a survey made in the year 1837. Mr. Wm. W. W allaee being the surveyor. The territory at that time included in the village limits extended as far north as to the lake, and was bounded on the south and east by Conneaut creek, and on the west by a line running along the centre of the road that now passes between the farms of E. F. Grant and Frank Blood, then called the Centre road, and extending northwardly to the lake and southwardly to the creek. The present farms of Mr. Olmstead, on the Ridge road, and of Mr. E. F. Grant, on the lake-shore, were at that time within the village limits.

About the year 1842 the limits were defined anew, so as to include just the territory which the village now embraces. The creek forms the east and south boundaries of the village. On the north it extends as far as to Fifteenth street inclusive, and on the west as far as to the centre of Chestnut street. On the southwest is an irregular tract, lying to the west of Chestnut street, and between State street and the creek, embracing about twenty -five acres, which is also a part of the village plat.

Conneaut is a handsome town, beautifully located on the creek that bears its name, which flows along the south and east sides of the village, the ground rising abruptly from the stream, and then gradually sloping to the east and north, forming as pleasant a site for a town as cau well be found. There is an air of comfort pervading the residence portion of the village, and of thrift pervading the business portion. Situated in one of the choicest agricultural parts of the county, it does a large and growing mercantile business, many of its business houses outranking in the amount of annual business done by similar houses in other and larger towns in this portion of the State. It is justly noted for its elegant church edifices, and its new town-hall is superior to any similar building in this section of Ohio. The people, as a class, are noted for their intelligence and morality, and it would be difficult to find a lovelier or more inviting place in which to make a permanent residence.

The first tavern or the town site was a log building situated on the corner of Main street and Harbor street extension, where Mr. X. B. Rogers' block now stands. A Mr. Dunn was the first proprietor.

The first frame tavern was the old Conneaut House, located just east of the site of the Keyes brick store. It was built about the year 1814, but not completed until 1824. A Mr. Pierpont and his father-in-law, Mr. Davenport, were the first proprietors

The first burial-place was located on ground now occupied by the Monroe and Union brick blocks, and ground just north of the same, between Main and State streets.

The first village physician was Dr. John Yenen, who settled here in 1815. He was a very successful practitioner, and practiced his profession in Conneaut for nearly sixty years, dying March 20, 1875, at the ripe old age of ninety-two. Dr. G. Fifield was another early physician, and spent his life in Conneaut in the practice of his profession.

Conneaut Academy

An act to incorporate Conneaut academy passed the legislature February 14, 1835. The incorporators were A. Dart, Henry Keyes, Lewis Thayer, Josiah Brown, James Brooks, and Aaron Wright.

The first school building was an old concern moved on to the corner of Main and Mill streets, near the present residence of Captain C. W. Appleby, and fitted up for the occasion. The first teacher was Rev. Judah L. Richmond, the school commencing in the spring of 1837. He was afterwards assisted by Miss Sarah Bonney, who became principal in 1839. W. W. Barns had charge of the school during the spring term of 1840, and A. Harwood during the school year 1840-41. J. Y. Brown became principal in the fall of 1841, and taught two years.

The brick academy building was erected in 184-1 - 15. The capital stock of the incorporation was divided into shares of ten dollars each. The principal original stockholders were F. H. Carter, Robert Lyon, Lewis Thayer, J. Y. Brown, John Reid, G. Fifield, John Venen, Ezra Dibble, Z. Lake, B. Carpenter, P. W. Grant, C. Appleby, M. H. Collins, and James Brooks.

A constitution and by-laws were adopted. The officers consisted of a president, a secretary, and five trustees, who constituted a hoard for the government of the corporation, and five of whom constituted a quorum.

The first school in the new building was taught by L. W. Savage, assisted by Miss Booth, who had charge of the school one year. The teachers since, as near as can be ascertained, have been as follows : Mr. Pierce, assisted by Chas. Hathaway, part of one year ; J. E. Ingersoll, two or three years ; Wm. Scales, one year; J. Q. and L. M. Burington, one year; J. Q. Burington, one year; Chas. Hathaway, one year ; R. M. Merrill commenced in the spring of 1855, and taught till 1861, six years; C. W. Heywood commenced in the fall of 1861, and taught two years; Rev. A. Bartlett, C. R. Goddard, assisted by Miss Quigley; J. Q. Burington, and Miss A. Smith, one year; G. A. Starens commenced in the winter of 1866-67, and taught one year; H. A. Andrews commenced in the spring term of 1868, and, assisted by Miss M. A. Rea and others, taught until the fall of 1S75, twenty-two terms, since which time X. L. Guthrie has had charge of the school as principal, with Miss M. A. Rea as assistant principal.

The school attained its greatest prosperity while under the management of Prof. H. A. Andrews, who held the position of principal for a longer period than any other teacher. The highest number of students enrolled at any one time was one hundred and twenty-one, and for several terms the enrollment was over one hundred.

The Amphictyon literary society was organized in connection with the school while Mr. Andrews was principal, in the spring of 1869, and has numbered among its members the best students of the school.

The school has been, since August, 1868, under the control and management of the board of education of the incorporated village of Conneaut, they having at that time leased the buildiugs. grounds, and fixtures of the academy board for a period of ten years at least. During the past year (1877) the board of education has made further changes, establishing a system of graded schools in the village, making the principal of the academy or high school superintendent of all the schools of the village.

The Christian Church

The Conneaut Christian church, the first church in this township, was organized by Rev. John Cheney, on Saturday afternoon, May 23, 1818, at the " Peter King school-house,'' on the Ridge road, between Conneaut and Amboy. Elder Cheney preached at one o'clock to a full house from 1 Tim. iii. 15: " The church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth after which an organization of fifteen members was effected. One of that number still survives, - Mrs. Lydia King, a worthy member of the church. The first church- or fellowship-meeting was held on the Fourth of July following. Meetings were held usually at the Centre, in the school-house, until 1834, when, during the ministry of Rev. Jonas Lawrence, a house of worship was built at the Centre, one mile west of Conneaut, on the premises now owned by D. Cummins, just at the rear of his residence. Before the house was completed Elder Lawrence died, September 12, after a few days' illness, at the residence of Colonel Fifield. Mrs. Fifield was one of the original members. Seven years after - Rev. Oliver Barr pastor - it was moved into Conneaut to its present location on Buffalo street next to the new town-house. Thirty years later - 1871, Rev. 0. T. Wyman pastor - it was enlarged, thoroughly repaired, and rededicated.