Litchfield Township

Litchfield Township

It appears from early records that the portion of Medina county now called Litchfield was wholly owned by Judge Holmes, of Litchfield, Connecticut, who caused it to be surveyed into lots, and an opening, ©r improvement, of several acres, to be made on the southwest corner of the Center, planted an orchard and erected a cabin. Some time- thereafter, the land reverted to the State of Connecticut, and, under the supervision of Mr. Beers, acting School Commissioner, it was thrown into market. During the time it was under the control of Judge Holmes, it was generally known by the name of Holmestown. When controlled, thereafter, by Mr. Beers, he called it, on his surveyed map, Litchfield, and by that name it was known at the date of its organization.

For many years prior to its settlement by the whites, tradition says s<t was a part of the choice hunting grounds of the Wyandott Indians; and that their wigwams were seen along Center Creek, in 1822. Prior to that year, the settlements at Liverpool on the north, and Harrisville on the south, had begun tp spread and drive out the wild game that had been the wealth and food of the Redman, and caused him to deseft his rude wigwam and seek after game elsewhere. Mr. Cyrus Cook, wife and child, were the first white p'ersons who came and made the first opening in the north part of the township, on the line of the north and south center road. He came in Februr.'ry, 1 S30 ^ £b May following. - 21

Jonathan Richards, wife and three children, (Charles, Abigal and Jujia,) Thomas Wilcox and wife, George Wilcox and wife, with two daughters, (Lucretia and Abigal,) Eliphalet Howd and wife, Asahel Howd and family, (Henry, Elizabeth, Caroline,) Judah Howd and George Olcott, came from Connecticut and settled iu the township. About the same time, Henry Howd, wife and three sons, (Albert, John and James,) came from Sheffield, Massachusetts, and settled. The Howds began their settlement on the west side of the center road, near the creek, and Richards located on the opposite side of the road, about one mile north from the Center. George Olcott settled on the south-west corner of the present Center, and George Wilcox on west side of road, about one mile south from Center. In the fall of 1830, D. W. C. Dickeson, Jacob Road and Z. Stafford came into the township and became settlers.

In May, 1831, Lewis Finiey and Asa Strait, with their families, became settlers, and were soon followed by J. L. Hinman, D. Pickett, O. Niekerson, W. Cole and their families. Mr. Hinman built the first frame house in the township.

Miss Jane T. Strait, aged thirteen year's, was the first person who died in the township, on the 13th June, 1831. A.t her funeral was the first public religious service ever observed by the settlers. On the following Sabbath, Asa Strait, by invitation, lecbured to the people, and may be said to have delivered the first sermon ever heard by the then residents of Litchfield township! If the names of all then present were called, how few would answer ! The moral and religious influence that prevailed in New England was cherished with respect; and as the children, one after another, left the homes of their parents and became parents in the wilds of the Western Reserve, they came together and worshipped as did their fathers. When the morn of the Sabbath came, they congregated, not at the sound of bell, but prompted by the impressions made in childhood ; and thankfully acknowledged the superintending care of Providence.

On 30th June, 1831, the township of Litchfield was organized, by electing E. Howd, J. Vandventer, George Olcott, Trustees; Thomas Wilcox, Clerk; Asahel Howd, Treasurer ; and Jonathan Richards, Justice of the Peace. At that election, nine votes were cast.

In the month of May, 1832, forty-*one persons came into the township in one day. Of that number, Messrs. Crow, Halladay, Wheeler, Peltons and tbeir families comprised a part. So great a number soon gave life and power to the sparse settlers, and encouraged perseverance.

The fourth July, 1832, was celebrated by the settlers of Litchfield meeting, selecting a site, cutting and hauling logs, and building a log meeting-house. To give sanction to such work on that day, the good wives, at the appointed time, came with baskets of cooked provisions, and, with their husbands, ate thaukfully and joyfully, when they reflected on the prospects before them. At the same place, and on the same day, they formed a Temperance and Moral Reform Society, which grew in influence and in numbers, and may really be considered one of the very necessary aids of moral reform. Nine names were obtained to the Temperance Pledge on that day ; and shortly thereafter, a Temperance Society was duly organized, which continued to meet and act until 1844, when its members adopted the Washingtonian Pledge. It still exists ; and, in 1861, numbers two hundred and twelve members, most of whom are active, exemplary, temperance men and women. Who will criminate the citizens of

In 1832 there was only one house at the Center, which was built and owned by George Olcott. The nearest house to the Center was that of Lewis Finley on the north, on the east that of D. Conyer, on the south that of W. Cole, on the west that of G. Pomnroy.

Mr. Moses was the first tanner and shoe-maker, and in due course of time he became the first saddle and harness maker ; and, still persevering, he became the builder and»owner of the first steam grist-mill.

The first Baptist Church was established in August, 1833, with thirteen members. Rev. Asa Strait was the first pastor in that Church. The number of members increased to thirty-two; harmony prevailed ; but in 1848, owing to causes that then prevailed, the church organization ceased.

of births is three hundred am] seventy two in fifteen years, two hundred and ten of % which are males and one hundred and sixty-two females. Should all tarry at home, and live to count three score and ten years, there is a strong probability that the year 1 900 may find a full hundred of shrivelled old bachelors travelling solitary and alone within the precincts of the township.

There have been one hundred and four marriages within the township, up to 1845 Within fifteen years, one hundred and twenty-'our persons have deceased in the township since the first death, being a fraction more than eight each year. If the number of deaths that occur can be relied on as an index of health, or the reverse, certainly the township of Litchfield may compare, in salubrity, with any other section of the county.

The oldest pioneer residing in the township is Charles Richards, who came in 1830. The next three entitled to that appellation are, Mrs. S. Strait, N. Strait, and J. V. Strait. To them there is a marked difference between what they saw in 1831, and what they see in 1861.

In 1832, when the Assessor travelled over the township to take a list of the property subject to taxation, he returned - one horse and twenty-four cattle, as appears on duplicate, valued at two hundred and thirtytwo dollars. Compare that list with the number and value of horses and cattle in the annexed statistical table, and those of the first settlers ; who examine, will hardly believe that so great an increase could be made in thirty years - a striking^proof of what industry and economy can accomplish :

Litchfield Statistics Personal Property

If to the foregoing be added the amount that yearly accrues from Oats, Clover-seed, Grass Seeds, Potatoes, Barley, Flax, Orchards and Gardens, it would augment the sum at least fifty thousand dollars, making the yearly products of the township to be one hundred and twenty-five thousand two hundred and sixty.