Lorain City (part 10 of 77)

During the first years of the settlement there were seasons of great scarcity of food. Such a season occurred in 1809. Whole families lived for many weeks at a time without bread and other necessaries of life. This season the peoi;)le were reduced to such extremities that provisions had to be imported. James Geer and Seba Bronson, Jr., dug out a canoe and in it went down Rocky river, thence to Cleveland, where they engaged a man named Johnson, with his boat, to go with them to the river Raising, now Monroe, Mich., after provisions. A terrific storm overtook them and they came near being lost. Their progress was slow, the journey so prolonged, and the jieople reduced to such a degiee of want for food, that on the return of the party with provisions, a day of thanksgiving to Almighty (fod was observed.

The year 181 1 was also a dismal one for the pioneers. A fever jjrevailed extensively, resulting in the death of nine mendiers of the little community. Azor Bronst)n was the first and Bela Bronson the next; soon after followed Mrs. Pardee, three cliildren of Ash;iel Osborn, and three of John Williams. Whole families were sick at the same time, and there were not enough left in health to attend the sick. The dead were interred in cofhus made by Captain Hoadley, out of planed whitewood slabs, and blackened with a mixture of basswood charcoal and milk.

At the time of its organization, this township was a part of Geauga county. At the election of officers, held at tlie house of Calvin Hoadley, Nathaniel Hoadley was called to the chair, and Bela Bronson appointed secretary. Township officers were chosen viva voce, as follows: Bela Bronson, clerk; Calvin Hoadley, John Williams and Jared Pritchard, trustees; Lathrop Seymour, constable. In May following, Nathaniel Doane was elected justice of the peace.

"All of Geauga county lying west of Columbia was annexed to that township for judicial and other jnirposes. The jurisdiction of that judicial functionary covered, in territorial extent, nearly an empire. The plaintiff in the first action brought before him, lived on (irand river, and the defendant on the Vermillion. It was the case of Skinner vs. Hulburt. The idaintifiE had judgment, which was paid, not in legal tender, but in lalior."* The labor was performed by the defendant for Calvin Hoadley and Nathaniel Doane, which paid the judgment.

Mrs. Sally Brown, in honor of being the first white woman that settled in town, was accorded the jOTvilege of naming it. She selected that of her native townshiji, "Columbia." At the time of the organization, there were twenty voters in the township, as follows: Lemuel Hoadley, Sr., Lemuel Hoadley, Jr., Calvin Hoadley, Jared Pritchard, Horace Gunn, Nathaniel Doane, Timothy Doane, Job Doane, Lathroi) Seymour, Isaac Frost, Elias Frost, Lyman Frost,

Grist Mill

The fir.st manufacturing establishment ever built in tiic county was the rude log grist mill of Calvin Iloadley, built in the summer of 18011. Its location was on tlie cast hank of Rocky river, on lot thirtyfour. The captain built a dam across the creek on that lot, about where the present road intersects the creek, and carried the water to his mill by a ditch some fifty rods in length. Tlie mill-stones of this pioneer establishment were made out of a couple of "hard-heads,"' by Lemuel Iloadley. The mill was crowded with business, but it soon came to an inglorious end. The great drawliai'k was its failure to run in dry weather, and the tirst freshet carried away the dam. The enterprise was abandonetl, and a location was selected on the same river, on the north line of the township, on lot twenty-one. Here he erected, in April, 1811, another log mill, and the same year a saw mill. These mills, in that early time, constituted a center of as much importance as a great city does to-day. " Iloadley "s Mills '' were known far and wide. In 1816, the log grist mill gave way to a frame. This old mill, built over sixty years ago, is still in operation, and has undergone but little change, although the familiar, smiling face of the miller has long since disappeared.

Sixty years, and overhead Tlie same broad root of blue is sjlread; But in the meadows bright and green. The stranger's children now are seen.

Saw Mill

A saw mill was built by Reuben Lewis in about the year 1814, a half-mile south of the center. A man by the name of Olmsted made the running gear and set it in operation. When the water was let on, the wlieel turned the wrong way, and before the slight defect could be remedied, a freshet washed a channel ai'uunil the mill and swejit it away.

Tliere are at the present time one grist mill - the old mill of ('a|it. Iloadley - now owned by O. \'aii Ilise, and two saw mills, those of 0. Van Ilise and Brown & Brother.

the only one in the township, waslniill in l>S(;;. It is located at the center, and is owned by W. B. FoUansbee. The number of cows supplying the factory is about three hundred. Average daily consumjition of milk during the season of 1878 was from. six to seven thousand ])ounds, making twelve cheese per day, of forty pounds each, and seventy pounds of butter. B. B. Adams, of the center, is at piv-^enl conducting the eiiter[irise.

The only store in Columbia is that of R. .J. Ba.stard & Son, who carry a general stock of. merchandise. The post office is in their store - R. Bastard, P. M.

Ransom Bronson

Mr. Bronson is a worthy descendant of an old and honored family. He wa.« born in Waterlniry, Conn., Sept. 11, 1805. He traces iiis lineage back to John Bronson, who emigrated from England to the United States in the year 1636. He settled in Hartford, Conn., but afterwards removed to Farmington, where he died in the year 1680.

The successive descendants, in the line of ancestry, were as follows: John Bronson, Joseph Bronson, Seba Bronson, and Azor Bronson, the father of the subject of this sketch. He was one of a family of fourteen children, nearly all of whom emigrated to the West, as did also their parents.

He was one of the five trustees of tlie Waterbury Land Company, and was therefore one of the original owners of the soil of Columbia. He emigrated to the township with his family, consisting of his wife and four children, in the summer of 1811, arriving at the place of destination on the 4th day of July. He located on sub-lot 11, but before the completion of his house lie was stricken down by a malignant disease, which was so fatally prevalent in the infant settlement at that time.

The family was left at his death in peculiarly unfortunate circumstances. The mother had four voung boys - the oldest only thirteen - to care for in the uncleared forest, with uo available means to clear the land of the debt resting against it, or even to put tlie uncompleted house in a condition for occupancy. She moved into a house belonging to Nathaniel Doane, which she occupied until her marriage to Reuben Lewis, some three years after the death of her first husband.

Instead of ameliorating her condition by this marriage, as she evidently expected to do, it was rendered infinitely worse by the unkindness of her husband, both to herself and children. After an unharmonious union of four years a separation ensued, Mr. Lewis removing from the township.

During this time the boys worked out at whatever they could find to do, and thus supported themselves, and for a time were kept together with theii* mother.

Ransom, at the age of eleven, took up his abode, under contract, with Marshall Culver. One day he thoughtlessly cut down some of the trees in his employer's growing sugar-bush. Culver \vas greatly offended, and refused to keep the boy longer. The lad regarded this as a great misfortune, but it really proved a blessing in disguise, for he was immediately after placed under the care of Samuel Hitchcock, to whose teaching and influence he attributes much of his subsequent success in life. He was trained by him in habits of industry and economy.

Dec. 4, 1833, Mr. Bronson was united in marriage to Mrs. S. H. Frink. His mother subsequently made her home with them, and died at their residence in Columbia, in the year 1851, aged seventy-seven.

Mrs. Ransom Bronson

Mr. Branson's occupation has been that of a farmer, and by good management, untiring industry, and frugal habits he has accumulated a fine property.

He has held various township offices, such as trustee, justice of the peace, etc. He was elected to the former office when twenty-two years of age. He was formerly a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, but at the organization of the Wesleyan Methodist Church of West View, which was the result of a division of the former church on the question of slavery, became one of the charter members.

His first wife died in 1877, and Dec. 25 of the same year he married the widow of Aaron J. Chapin, with whom he is now living at West View, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio.

Mrs. Bronson is the daughter of Moses and Almira (Smith) Adams, who were born in Schoharie Co., N. Y., in the year 1805 ; the father, Aug. 7, and the mother, April 26.

They had a family of six children, - two boys and four girls. The oldest daughter died in Joliet, 111., in 1878, and a son, John Q,. A. M., died when young.

Ida married, in the year 1870, Lindsey Anderson, and is now residing at Harvard, 111. The two sons, unmarried, also reside there. Olive died March 19, 1859.

Mr. and Mrs. Chapin first settled in Canada, where they remained about a year, thence removing to Iowa. After a residence there of three years they moved to Minnesota, and two years subsequently, back to their former home in Riceville, Pa.

He was a cabinet-maker, and was a skillful workman. Mr. Chapin served four years in the war of the Rebellion, being a member of Company D, Twelfth Pennsylvania Cavalry. He died in Canada, in the year 1871.

During her widowhood, Mrs. Bronson resided mostly at Titusville, Pa., but retained her home in Riceville. Though encountering many difficulties, by industry and frugality she maintained herself and children, whom she gave also a good education. She looks back to that period as one of great usefulness.

Jesse Eddy was born in Washington Co., Pa., Dec. 15, 1814. He was the son of David and Elizabeth Eddy, and lived at the home of his parents until he became of age.

David Eddy came from Pennsylvania about 1806, and erected a log cabin for his father, Caleb Eddy, in Euclid township, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio. He spent a part of his time in Columbia township, Lorain Co., until his marriage with Elizabeth Sherdine, of Pennsylvania, March 4, 1814. The following year (1815) he brought his wife and settled in Columbia township, remaining there until his death, which occurred Oct. 21, 1853. His wife survived him about one year, she dying Oct. 6, 1854. They liad four children, as follows, namely :

Jesse, born Dec. 15, 1814; married Caroline Chamberlain, Jan. 30, 1837 ; had issue - Mary E., who married Cephas Myers ; Susan Josephine, who died in early childhood ; Hattie E., who married James M. Mann ; both now reside in Rochester township.

Eunice Eddy, born Feb. 22, 1822 ; married - 1st, Hiram N. Bradford ; 2d, Samuel Huntley. Iter children were Eddy, Sylva E., Viola S., Henry 0., of whom A'iola died Oct. 1, 1862; Sylva married Dr. M. H. Miller; and Henry married Miss Ella Storrow.

Caleb Eddy was born in the year 1754, in Morristown, Morris Co., N. J. He married a Miss Brown. Their children were Timothy, born March 4, 1781 ; David, born Feb. 1, 1783; Elizabeth, born Dec. 9, 1784, still living in New Jer.sey in her ninety-third year.

About the year 1790, Caleb Eddy moved into Washington Co., Pa., where his last five children were born. He went from Pennsylvania to P]uclid, Ohio, about the year 1807, and was among the pioneers of Cuyahoga County. He died there about the year 1819. His widow afterwards married a Mr. Blinn, and died at Euclid. Caleb Eddy followed his trade, that of a black.smith, most of his liie, giving little attention to forming.

J&s.^e Eddy, as before stated, remained at home until he was twenty-one. He was occupied as a farm laborer, renting lands for a year or two after his marriage, when his father gave him twenty acres. He subse(|uently purchased ten acres more, making a total of thirty acres. These he exchanged for sixty acres of woodland, and on this he built a log cabin, and commenced life in real earnest by carving for himself a home.

His wife died in the old home, Feb. 5, 1855. She never had a strong constitution, but was full of energy and ambition. Her death was deeply uuiurned by her husband and friends.

Mr. Eddy has had various offices of trust bestowed upon him by his fellow-citizens. He was postmaster at Rochester Depot for four and a half years, and bears the reputation of having been its most efficient officer. During his term he registered nine hundred letters ; the smallest amount having been fifty cents, the largest, seven thousand dollars, in bonds, which went to Fort Collins, Col. He has also held other trusts, all of which he filled faithfully and well.

Tlie surface; rises fron) the north in successive ridges, parallel to the hike shore, the i)rincii)al of wliich are ('enter ridge, Chestnut ridge and Butternut ridge. The soil is varied and fertile, producing abundantly whatever the liand of the husbandman entrusts to it. The township is one of the most highly improved in (he county, })rescnting to one who rides through it an almost constant succession of cultivated lields and tasty homes. Along tiie ridges originally prevailed the chestnut, butternut, whitewood, white oak, beech and maple - the chestnut being especially abundant. On the lower laud, the elm, bassvvood, black ash and hickory were the leading varieties. The streams are few and unimportant, tlie jirincipal being East creek. Center creek and West creek, so called from their position in the township. The first two tlow into Avon, where they unite and form French creek, a tributary of Black river. West creek flows into the township of Elyria and is also an

I There are two stone (juarries in the northeastern part of the township, owned and worked by Luvel and Sydney L. Beebe. The stone underlies a considerable tract of land and is sandstone of the newer formation. Some of the finest building stone in the country are obtained at these (piarries. It is finished up by the owners, at the present time, chiefly for monumental use. There is a similar quarry on the farm of Wyllis Terrell, though not extensively worked.

First Akkivals

In the fall of 1809, Oliver Terrell, Ichabod Terrell - and David Beebe, Sr., of Waterbury, Conn., exchanged their New England farms, witli Mr. Root for something over one-fourth of the township. Having the privilege of selecting their land, they chose the northeast quarter, with some additional territory on Butternut ridge.

In April of the next year, a company of men, some twelve or thirteen in number, on foot and with their knapsacks on their backs, set out from Waterbury for the western purchase. Their names were David Beebe and two sons, David and Loman, Joel Terrell, Oliver Terrell, Philander Terrell, Elihu Terrell, Lyman

* Wyllis Terrell, Ichabod Terrell autl Laurel Beebe will please accept tliauks for infurmation furuisLeil the writer in the preparation of the history of this township.

At Bntlalo they bought an Outfit consisting of axes, saws, planes, chains, and some other articles for their use in the Ridgeville woods. A man with a small sail boat was engaged to carry the tools to ('levelaud, one of the men, Lyman Root, accoinjianying to take charge of the valuable cargo on its arrrival at Cleveland. The rest of the comjiany resumed the journey the next morning and reached Cleveland only a. <lay after the arrival of the vessel. From this ])lace, then a little settlement of only a few cabins, they ju'oceeded to Ridgeville, by way of Columbia, carrying in their knapsacks some of the lighter implements and leaving the rest to be brought afterwards on pack-horses. They reached the end of their long journey on Tuesday, May loth. As they approached the Ridgeville line David Beebe, Jr., ([uietly passed ahead of his associates, and arriving first on the ground, cut down the first tree. The first improvement was made on lot fifteen, on land now owned by .(ohn Lonsby. Here the men erected a rude log cabin, tiie roof of which consisted of bark. Tiie structure was witliout even the luxury of a puncheon floor. In this the men kept bachelor's hall, while on their selected locations they prosecuted the work of clearing and preparing for the arrival of their families later in the season.

The First Settlement

in the town was made July G, 1810. On that day Tillotson Terrell and his family, consisting of his wife and three children, from Waterbury, Connecticut, came upon the ground and took up their abode in the cabin with the men on lot fifteen. They all lived here as one family until the following September. Mr. Terrell remained until October, when he moved into a house which, in the meantime, had been erected for him on the place now occupied by the residence of the widow of Harry Terrell. On the arrival, soon afterwards, of his father, Ichabod Terrell and his family, Mr. Terrell changed his locati(ni to the east bank of Center creek, and afterwards to a more permanent one two miles farther east, on lot eight. The farm is now occiii)ied by his son Lovinus. Here he spent the remainder of his life. He was born in Waterbury, Conn., May 1, 17S5. He married, at the age of eighteen. Electa Wilmot, (huighter of P]lisha and Hannah Wilmot, and lived in Waterbury until his emigration to Ohio. The life of this pioneer came to an untimely end December 23, 1838. While in the woods hunting, about a mile from his house, he was shot by one Sylvester Powers, who, seeing Mr. Terrell iit some distance from him tlirough intervening brush mistook hmi for a deer. He lived until the following morning, and although conscious from tlic first that he was mortally hurt, exhibited the greatest coolness and self possession in the midst of surrounding grief and excitement, and died without a murmur at his fate, or a word of reproacli for the man wlm was the cause of it. His widow continued to carry on the farm until her younger children were settled in life, when she made her home with her youngest sou, on the old homestead. She died November 23, 18C1, aged seventy-six. There were eleven children, and all were living at the time of tlie father's death. Five are now (.January, 1879.) living. Eliza lives near Grand Rapids, ^Michigan. She married Rev. William Peters, a Methodist minister and resided in Ridgeville for some years. Estlier is the wife of John H. Faxon, Esq., of Eiyriii, and Harriet the wife of Dr. George Underiiill, of La Grange. Two sons, Marcus and Lovinus, are residents of tliis town. Lucinda was the first wife of Laurel Beebe, a well known resident of flie town. Slie died iii 1851.

Lost In The Woods

It was during the residence of the family in their first location on the Ridge that the following incident occurred. One morning while Mr. Terrell was at work preparing for the erection of his house on Center creek, Mrs. Terrell went to the stream at a point further east to get a pail of water. Instead of returning immediately as she liud intended, she concluded to go over to her husband and see how his work was progressing and started, as she supposed, in the right direction. But she soon became bewildered and lost in the dense woods, and could neither find her husband nor lier home, where sjie had left little children. After wandering about in the woods nearly all day, over logs and through brush and swamp, she came by accident upon the "Indian trail" which led from Columbia through Ridgeville to the mouth of Hlack river. This, liy chance, she ft)llowed in the right direction, and finally reached her home, though in a terribly worn and wretched conditi(m. It wdl serve to indicate the newness of the country to know that the spring to which Mrs. Terrell went for the water was only about thirty rods from the house.

In the latter j)art of Octolier, 1810, the families of David Beebe, Sr., David Beebe, Jr., and Lyman Root, who arrived under the care of David Beebe, Jr., and Ichabod Terrell, his family and liis aged father, Oliver Terrell, were adiled to the infant colony. There were in the party some twenty-two persons, the oldest eighty-two years and the youngest five weeks. Two wagons, three yoke of oxen and one horse, brought the emigrants and their effects.

At Cleveland, Ichabod Terrell bought a barrel each of Hour and salt, paying therefor the snug sum of forty dollars. Instead of going around through Columbia, as their predecessors had done, they took a more direct course, and from Rocky river to the place of destination, had to cut their own road. This part of the journey, only twelve miles in extent, consumed nearly four days. As tlie l)arty approached the house of Tillotson Terrell, Mrs. David Beebe, Jr., who was a near neighbor of Mrs. Terrell in Waterbury, led the way so as to be the first to greet her friend. The two women were so moved by the meeting, that neither could utter a word for some time, during which they stood with hands clasped across the brush fence that surrounded the Terrell cabin. Mrs. Beebe was the first white woman Mrs. Terrell had seen for over three months.

When the party reached the settlement Lorin Smith who had driven one of the teams through, was told that each of the pioneers had done some special act to signalize the settlement of the ct)lony and tlial it was his work to do the first plowing. He complietl with the suggestion, and thus he has the honor of turning the first furrow in Ridgeville. Mr. Smith afterwards settled in Delaware county, where he died in March, 1878.

The Beebes located on lot twenty-one. David Beebe, Sr., was born in Waterbury, Conn., April 23, 1747. He married Lydia TerrelC February 1, 1768, who was born in Waterbury, .January 10, 1747. They had eleven children, as follows, named in the order of their birth: Alice, Ava, Electa, Lydia, Esther, Eunice, David, Molly, Chester, Augustus, Loman.

Mr. Beebe became blind some years previous to his death, wiiich occurred in the year 1840, at the advanced age of ninety-four. Mrs. Beebe died in 1833. aged eighty-eight.

I'Ouk Days And Three Niuuts In The Woods

Early one nuirning in the fall of 1811, Mr. Beebe went into the woods in search of his horses, and the day being cloudy, he lost his way aiul wandered about all day without the least knowledge of the direction in which he was going. Night overtaking him, he crept into a hollow tree and there passed a sleepless night. The next day he moved about unceasingly to discover some olgect Ijy which he could determine liis whereabouts, but without success, and in looking for a lodging place, to his great amazement, he found the same hollow tree in which he spent the ])revious night. Convinced by this that he had been travelling in a circle, he adopted the i)lan the following day of selecting three or more trees in range, and in this way was enabled to travel in a direct course. Another night, however, was spent in the woods, making his bed on mother earth under one of the trees which he had selected in line. In the forenoon of the fourth day he reached the lake shore in Avon, which he followed westward until reaching the house of John S. Reid at the mouth of Black river. Here he was given a little food, his famished condition not permitting the quantity his wasted pliysical condition craved, and was then sent by Mr. Reid in the care of a guide to the house of Asahel Porter, on the lake

John Terrell, with two brothers, Roger and Jesse, emigrated from England to America about the year 1630. Roger is mentioned in history, in 1639, as one of the New Haven colonists whu settled Milford, Conn, ; he coming from Wetherslield, and probably from Watertown, Mass., to Wethersfield.

Jesse settled at Naugatuck. The first mention of John, at Milford, is on the church record, as follows: John Terrell and his wife, Abigail, baptized August, 1044; so that probably became to Milford a few years later than his brother Roger. Subsequently he settled in New York, and owned two acres of land where the city hall now stands. John had a son John, who was born in 1655. This John had eight children, among whom was Josiah, born in 1095. Josiah married Mary Goodwin, Jan. 1, 1723. They had seven children, among whom was Oliver, born in 1730. Oliver had two children, Ichabod and Lucinda. Oliver came, with his children and their families, from Waterbury, Conn., to Ohio in ISIO, when he was eighty years old. He was very spry and active, and rode on horseback the entire distance. He died in Columbia, this county, in 1816, aged eighty-six.

Ichabod, the only son of Oliver, was born in 1703. He married, in 1783, Rhoda Williams, one of the very few survivors of the Wyoming massacre. To them were born ten children, as follows, - Tillotson, born May 1, 17S5 : married Electa Wilmot in 1804, and died Dec. 23, 1836; they had eleven children. Lydia, born Nov. 1, 17S7; married James Emmons in 1807 ; they had thirteen cbildren ; she died Oct. 25, 1871, aged eighty-four. Philander, born Dec. 10, 1789; married Lora Reebe in 1811; had fifteen children, and died iu April, 1875. aged eighty-six. Oliver, born Sept. 2, 1791; married, in October, 1815, Anna Runnel ; had three cbildren ; he died Feb. 19. 1865, aged seventy-five. Lucinda, born Nov. 0, 1795; married Aiiron Warner, June 29, 1813 ; had five children, and died Sept. 3, 1872, aged seventyseven. Orpha, born May 2, 1798; married John Shaffer in 1817; had twelve children, and died in August, 1872, aged seventy-four. Ichabod, born Ot?t, 1, 1800; married Sally Humphrey, Oct. S, 1823; they have six children, and live in Ridgeville, on tbe farm where they commenced their married life. Elihu F.. born Jan. 3, 1802; married Electa Marsh in 1822 ; he bad four children, and died April 9, 1843, aged forty-one. Horace, born Aug. 10, 1803; married Minerva Mc- Neal, July 4, 1823; he has had thirteen children, and now lives in Iowa. Harry was born at Waterbury, Conn., April 7, 1806; he married, March 2, 1826, Annis, daughter of Joseph and Retsey Humphrey. She was born at Simsbury, Conn., Jan. 7, 1807.

Ichabod, the father of Harry, exchanged his lands in Waterbury, Conn., for ;vn undivided third of the northeast quarter of the township of Ridgeville. On this tract of land he settled with his family in October, 1810, then an unbroken wilderness. They came from Connecticut with ox-teams, and were seven weeks on the way. They cut their road from Rocky River, a distance of twelve miles, camping out three nights between that and Ridgeville. Ichabod Terrell was a man of sterling traits of character, holding different offices of trust among his people. He lived to see a home built up for his family ;imid this wilderness. He died July 23, 1825, aged sixty-one. His wife survived him a number of years, and died in June, 1851, aged eighty-five. She was pre-eminently fitted to endure the privations and hardships of frontier life; a woman of unfliuehiug courage, and fearless among the Indians and wild beasts of the forest. She was a mother to each pioneer family as they made their advent into the new settlement, and far and near she was known as ** Aunt Rhoda."

Harry, their youngest son, and subject of this sketch, was but four years old when he was brought into this unbroken wilderness to battle with the stern realities of frontier life. He very early learned to use the rifle with unerring aim, and many were the trophies of deer, bear, wolves, etc., of which he and his brothers were the victors. He met with two very narrow escapes with his life from wild animals while hunting alone in the woods; but these incidents were quite common to all the early settlers.

His early education was such as he could pick up in this pioneer settlement, where every one was battling to clear the soil of its dense forest. His arithmetic was learned by figuring with a coal on the puncheon floor, his father being the instructor. Eager and quick to learn, he soon mastered reading, writing, etc., and was much in advance of the other pioneer children of his age, so that we find him at the age of nineteen teaching their school. He was commissioned by Governor Allen Trimble as captain in the 9th Company, 2d Regiment, 2d Rrigade, 9th Division, in tbe Ohio Militia, to rank as such from the 7th day of November, 1829. He held various offices of trust, both from his town and county. Elected justice of the peace in 1835, he held that office for many years for which he was so well qualified. Several instances are mentioned in which he adjourned court and went with the parties to their homes to effect a settlement and reconciliation. Among the German settlers he was known as '- the man vot makes it all right."

He was proverbially neat in his person and ajjpearance, and correct and exact in everything he did. Always cheerful and social, in his later years nothing pleased him better than to have a houseful of young people " as visitors."

He died Sept. 4, 1864. His wife survives him, and still lives on the farm and in the same house where they commenced their married life fifty- three years ago, and where he had lived since he was four years old.

shore in Dover, wlierc lie was again refreshed with food and rest, and then conducted to his home. Every possible effort liad been made to find the unfortunate man - men from adjoining towns assisting his immediate friends and neighbors in the search. While in the woods he subsisted on a few hickory nuts which lie had been carrying in his pocket.

David Beebe, Jr., or Major Bcebe, as he was generally called, Iniilt a distillery at an early date on Center creek, opposite the Cahoon grist mill, operated it for a few years and then abandoned the business. He was a mason by trade and was much engaged in brick and stone l.-iying in this region oi country, especially in Elyria. His death took i)Iace August 27, 1847, aged seventy-six. His wife, Belinda Beebe, survived liim many years; her death occurred at the age of nearly eighty-seven. There were seven children, two of whom are living, viz: David, in Elyria, and Mrs. Bennett Smith, in Buffalo.

Lyman Root removed to Dover the next spring after his arrival in Ridgeville, but returned in 1815, and settleil nc^ar East creek, on what is known as the Mills farm. He manufactured the ashes of the settlers into black salts, and also kept a little store in an early day. He died in Ridgeville in 183C; his wife many years after, in Wood county, Ohio. Tliey had eleven children, and seven of them are now living, thongh none in town.

Ichabod Terrell moved into the house then occupied by his son Tillotson, who vacated when his house on Center creek, then in course of erection, was completed. Mr. Terrell was Ijorn in Waterbury, Connecticut, in 1703. He married Rhoda Williams, also of Waterbury, who was a survivor of the Wyoming massacre. They had a family of ten children, of whom Tillotson was the oldest. The other children were Lydia, Philander, Oliver, Lncinda, Oi-])ha, Ichabod, Franklin, Horace, and Harry. They all, with one exception, settled and resided in the town for longer or shorter periods.

Ichabod, now living in Ridgeville, has been a resident of the place for ne;irly sixty-nine consecutive 3'ears. He is the sole survivor in town of those who arrived in 1810. He is now seventj'-eight, and his wife, who was Sally Humphrey, seventy-seven.

Ichabod, the pioneer, died in 1825. His wife died in Columbia, in 1851, in the eighty-sixth year of her age. She left, at her death, ninety-one grand-children and a large number of great grand-children surviving her.

Noah Terrell came from Waterbury, with his biniily, when Tillotson Terrell came. He stopped in Columbia, for a' short time, and then removed til Ridgeville, occupying, for a while, the first cabin built in town. In 1811, lie settled a short distance east of where Laurel Beebe now lives. He afterwards moved to Columbia, and later, to Dover, but, eventually returned to this town, and died here. He had a turning lathe, with which he made wooden ware, such ;is tienibers, or plates, milk bowls, and many

In the fall of 1810, Joel Terrell returned to Waterbury, and in July, of the next year, lie and his wife, and their son Wyllis, and his family, of wife and five children, started for their hcmie in the distant west. They joined the infant colony in September following. They erected a house on the ground now occupied by the frame tavern at the Center, and the two families jointly occupied it, until the elder Terrell built a house where his grandson, Wyllis Tei-rell, now lives. He moved into his cabin January 13, 1812. It was a very primitive structure, when Mr. Terrell and wife began housekeeping in it. It was without a floor, and indeed, bad not a board in it, excejit two planks used as a foundation for the bedstead, and through an opening in the roof, over the fire-place, the tojis of three large oaks could be seen. This house was occupied for thirteen years, and then a frame was built on the same spot, or nearly so.

Mr. Terrell being a shoemaker, was a valuable acquisition to the little settlement. The settlei's paid bini, for the shoes he made them, in clearing and logging. He was a very successful bee hunter, and for years, now and then, a tree was found in Ridgeville forests, bearing the inscrijition of bis name. He was a man of much energy of character, and was one of the most prominent men in the place. He was the first justice of the peace elected in the township. His death occurred in 1825, at the age of sixty-eight, and his wife, Eunice, in 1842, aged eighty-four.

They had but one child, Wyllis. He, Wyllis, soon opened his log house as a tavern. It was a favorite place of resort for tJie Indians, both before and after the war. Major Terrell always treated them kindly, occasionally yielding to their importunities for liquor, but always exacting from them the promise that they would not get drunk, a promise which, it is said, they always kejrt. Major Terrell bought the Cahoon grist mill, soon after it was built, and the Indians often came to him for their corn and meal. He always yielded to tlieir requests to be trusted for payment, and this gained their further admiration. They frequently brought the family presents. They finally gave the tavern the name of and, on one occasion, some twenty of the men brought their s(|uaws and pappooses to see the wonderful ]ilaee. Some time afterwards, one of their number bnnight a ])air of deers' horns, and fastened them uji to the front side of the house. For a nunilier of years, small bands of them would ])ass and repass the i)lace, and would often stay over night in the house. In 1821, the old structure was torn down, and the following year a frame was built, and in this Major Terrell kept tavern up to the date of his death, in 1830. His wife died in 1857. There were six children in this family, four of whom are living, as fol-

Dnrinj; thc^ year 1812, a few additions were made to the .settionicnt. (ieorire Soxton, witii his family of wife and oiR' cliild, arrixcd in llio spring of tliat year. lie was orinjiially from Bennington connty, Vermont, Imt had resided for a short time in Newburgli. Cnyahoga eonnty. He settled on Center ridge, on lot thir(y-nine. The location is now occupied by the saw mill of .John (lahoon. He remained there three years, and then sold to fSamnel Calioon, and moved fartiier west on the same road. Sexton married a daugliter of Josepli Cahoon, and the two families emigratcLl from Vermont together, C!ahoon settling in Dover, Cuyalioga county. iMr. Sexton died in November, 1829, and his wife in tiie fall of 1859. Of their seven children, all but two are dead. Ciyrus S. lives in Ridgeville, and Amos in Cuyahoga (county.

Jonathan A. Sexton, a brother of George, arrived in town in 1813, and married here and settled. His wife was Betsey Shellhouse. .He lived on lot thirtynine for several years and then moved to Cai'lisle, and later to Wisconsin, where he died. Soon after, anotiier brother, .Tames Sexton, came into the township with his family, and settled on the lot on which his brother (ieorge last lived. He sold out in 1834, and eventually removed to Wisconsin and died there. His widow, who was a daughter of Martin Shellhouse, is now (January, 1879,) living in ^St. .loseph. Mo., at the age of eighty-seven.

One night, in 1817, Mr. Sexton was aroused by a fracas in the direction of his sheep pen, and, on going out to ascertain the cause, found, in the corner of the fence, his large dog and a wolf engaged in deadly conflict. Sexton procured a club and went to the assistance of the dog. In a few moments Mrs. Sexton arrived with the ax, with which her husband quickly despatched the wolf. The ground was covered with snow at the time, and both husbaiul and wife were barefoot. Mrs. Sexton, herself, with oidy a broom for her weajion, once rescued a pig from the jaws of a beai\

There were now some ten families in the township. Their nearest neighbors were in Columbia, and between them lay the uiibi-oken forest. West of them the nearest settlement was at Florence, Erie county, twenty-two miles away. But their eonii)arative isolation was not their greatest hardship. F'ood was sometimes very scarce and hard to procure. After the land was once brought under cultivation it produced abundantly, but it was covered with an extremely heavy growth of timber, which rendered the work of clearing, .slow and difficult. The price of many articles of food which the people of to-day would regard as indispensable, was so high as to render them beyond the reacli of the pioneers, and their food was consequently of the plainest character. A mush, made of "jointed" corn, milk and stewed puni})kiu, were some of the dishes composing the meal. Until the erection of the Cahoon mill, in the sjjring of 1813, it was often difficult for the settlers to get their grinding done. They sometimes carried their grain to the mill at Chagrin Falls, forty miles distant, and, at others, depended on the "mortar and pestle."

The clothing of the early settlers was as simple as their food. For a number of years after settlement, every farmer whose land was suitable for the growth of flax, cultivated more or less of the product, from which most of the clothing for summer wear was made. In the winter the men occasionally wore whole suits of buckskin, and their pantaloons were frequently of that material. It was far more durable than agreeable. The pants would often be wet to the knees, and, when dried in the evening before the Idazing tire, sometliing of a struggle would be required for the wearer, on going to rest, to bring about a separation; and the experience of getting into them of a morning, with the thermometer, perhaps, down to zero, can be Ijetter imagined than described.

While their condition was one of poverty, it was softened by the fact that none were exempt from it. They all shared the same lot, enduix'd the same hardships, subsisted on the same food, and were ari'ayed in the same rude garments, ami there was, therefore, no occasion for envy or uneasiness on the part of any one.

There were many things, however, that tended to discouragement. The cattle died in large numbers of murrain - a disease from which they were not wholly exempt for many years. Wolves attacked and killed the sheep, and considerable expense was incurred in building enclosures to protect them from the carnivorous designs of those annoying animals. Not only were the sheep unsafe from them, but they would frecjuently kill calves and young cattle. Joel Terrell, one night, thus lost two young cattle only a short distance from his house.

In the prosecution of the work of clearing, the larger trees were generally girdled, and, when dead, would frecjuently in a dry time take tire fnun burning logheai)s, when an arduous struggle would lie required for the settlers to save their homes. A tire, originating in this manner, destroyed, in the summer of 181.5, the log house of the elder Beebe, with all its contents except a single bed.

In August, 1813, Hull surrendered Detroit, and a ew days after, a report reached Ridgeville that a party of Biitish and Indians were seen landing at Huron. This information created the greatest excitement among the inhaliitants, and preparations for flight were immediately commenced. Household goods were secreted in brush heaps, stowed away in hollow logs, and even buried in the earth, wdiile a few blankets and other camp equipage were jiacked on horses, or in wagons, a general hegira was made for Columbia. There were about ten famlies living in Ridgeville at this time. David Beebe, Sr., David

Beebe, Jr., Joel Terrell, Wyllis Terrell, and Loman Beebe, and their families, with a wagon and two yoke of cattle journeyed along the ridge road, until they reached the old mud road leading to Oolnmbia. Ichabod Terrell and his family, with a cart and a yoke of oxen, took the old Indian trail to Columbia. In preparing for the journey, Mr. Terrell discovered that one of his oxen was suffering intensely from tlie bite of a rattlesnake, his swollen tongue hanging out of his mouth, and the family traveled only a mile and a half tlie first day. They camped in the woods the first night, and the next day, the disabled ox having partially recovered, they arrived in Columbia. The Beebe party, after many mishaps, reached Iloadley's Mills, on the nortli line of tlie township of Columbia, and spent the night in a deserted log cabin. The Columbia settlement was found to be nearly abandoned. The next day, word reached them that the party, supposed to be Hull's victors, were the paroled prisoners, and the refugees returned to their homes, all surviving their terrible fi-ight. From this time until Perry's victory, the settlers lived in almost constant fear of Indian massacre.

All the men in Eidgeville, who were subject to military duty, were stationed at the block house, in Columbia, and tlius tlie women and ciiildren were left to the protection of a few old men. Thus things continned until September, 1813. Ou the tenth day of that month, the roar of cannon was plainly heard in Ridgeville, liooming, at first, so slowly that, it is said, Mrs. David Beebe distinctly counted sixty guns when the firing became a confused sound. Tlie inhabitants knew that a battle on the lake was in progress, and that on its result, depended the safety of their homes, and perliaps their lives, and hence their minds were intensely agitated. Soon the joyful news arrived that Perry jiad won a glorious victory, and further fears were dispelled.

The following are the names of those from Ridgeville who were on duty at the block house, viz: Wyllis Terrell, David Beebe, Jr., Loman C. Beebe, Samuel Beebe, Leverett Terrell. Oliver Terrell, Philander Terrell, Tillotson Terrell, Noah Terrell, John W. Hill, and Sheldon Wooster.

A few additions were made to the settlement during the war. Stephen Cables came into the township in 1813, and settled on lot thirty-three. Three years afterward, he removed to Amherst, where he lived the remainder of his life.

Asahel Morgan settled on center ridge, lot sixteen, in September, 1813. lie came into the country without his family in the fall of 1810, driving one of the teams of the party that came at that time - as far as the eighteen mile woods, in New York. He soon after returned to Connecticut for his family, but was dissuaded from moving at that time by the prospect of war. Mr. Morgan died in 1837, on his original

! Martin Shellhouse and family, and his oldest son Martin and his faniily, came into the township in 1813, and located on center ridge. Tlie old gentleman was in very feeble health at the time of arrival, and died a week afterward. The wife of Martin Jr. also died shortly after settlement. The rest of the two families, except two daughters who intermarried with the Sextons, removed to Florence, Erie county.

Moses Eldred came into the township in December, 1813. He was a native of Massachusetts, whence he removed to Dover, Cuyahoga county, in March, 1811. His location in Ridgeville was on center ridge, lot forty-six. At the time of his settlement there was not a liousc west of hiin nearer than Floronee, Erie county. He lived in Ridgeville until 183G, and then again took up his residence in Cuyahoga county, in Bedford, and later in Carlisle, where he died in .Tune, 1857. Mrs. Eldred died in 1833. They had a family of ten children, six of whom are living. Clark, Noah and Melissa (Mrs. Wm. 0. Cahoon) live in Elyria township, and Francis in Ridgeville. Aaron lives in Medina county, Ohio, and Jarvis in Michigan.

Mr. Eldred served in the war of 1813, and was wounded in a skirmish with the Indians on the peninsula, near Sandusky, in September, 1813. Joshua R. Giddings. tlien a young man, sixteen or seventeen years of age, was in the same engagement, and carried Mr. E. from the field of battle. He was the first postmaster in Ridgeville, and at a subsequent period was associate judge for Lorain county.

Calvin Smith and Zenas Barnum came into the township in 1815. The latter bought out Stephen Cables. His father, John Barnum, arrived the next year.

Chauncey and James Emmons were the first settlers on Butternut ridge, in this township, settling in 1811. In 1818, Joseph Cole planted himself lietween them. Buel Peck, N. H. Hinkley, N. Case, Pliilo Murray, E. Rice, Peter Cole, Miles Tyler, and a family of the name of Chanter, came about the same time.

Borden Beebe, originally from Connecticut, removed from Canandaigua to Ridgeville in 1813, and located on Center ridge, lot twenty-eight. A few years subsequent, he moved to Chestnut ridge, and bought the farm previously owned by his son-in-law, Truman Walker, and spent the remainder of his life tliere.

A;iron Sexton, father of the Sextons previously mentioned, with liis wife and three sons, arrived in 1810, and took np his abode on the lot on wiiich James and George were then residing, they erecting a house for him. His son AViDiam aflorward married and settled in Carlisle, and Piatt in Huron county. Tlie other son, Eastus, was a cripple and never married. The father died in 1837 or 1838, and liis wife many years after, in the uinety-fourtli yeai- of iier age.

Truman Walker was tlie first settler on Chestnut ridge. He located in the year 1813 or 1814. John Shaffer was an early settler in this part of the town. Harris Emmons and Seth R. Alcott located further west on the same road, in 1818.

John Kibby settled here on lot fifteen, in the summer of 1831. He and his wife are living, and on their original location. A little romance is associated with their marriage, which occurred on their journey from Connecticut. Having suddenly determined to emigrate witli Origen Adams and family to the "far west," a compliance witli the law, requiring the publication from the pulpit of the marriage bans for three successive Sundays preceding the marriage, was impossible. But as soon as the party got out of their native county, a justice of tlie peace was sought, to whom the young man stated his case, accompanied liy a request to unite him to his traveling companion, "if he could do so in view of the law." The magistrate expressed his contempt for the law, tied the nuptial knot, and the young people resumed the journey as man and wife. ilr. and Mrs. Kibby are now aged respectively eiglity and seventyeight. Mr. Kibby has been blind for the last four years. Adams located in the western part of tlie town on Center ridge. Some twenty years afterward, he removed to Wisconsin, where he subse(|uently die<l. A son, Elmer, lives in Elyria; and a daughter, Mrs. Jeremiah Van Wormer, in Ridgeville.

Ebenezer Porter settled on Sugar ridge in 1833, aud died here in 18G7, at the advanced age of ninet)'-two. Two of tiie cliililren live in the county, viz: Mrs. Cyrus L. Sexton in Ridgeville, and Mrs. Williams in Avon. Tlie family was from Massachusetts, as was also that of Richard Van Wormer and liis father, Jeremiah, who located on the same road in 1833.

Chester Beebe, son of David Beebe, Sr., witli his family, consisting of his wife and two sons, joined the settlement in October, 1818. He settled on the northeast corner lot of the township, known as tlie "windfall" lot, erecting his house on the location now occupied by his son, Sidney L. Beebe. He raised a family of five cliiklren, three sons aud two daughters, all of whom are living. The sons. Laurel, Lovel,

William Blain and his family moved into town in the same year. They were from New Jersey. Mr. Blain made his location on Butternut ridge. He cleared up the farm now occupied by the widow of his son, Richard, and lived on it until his death in 1849. Mrs. Blain died in 18G1. Tliey had a family of seven children, two of whom, Mrs. Lydia Abbey and Isaac Biain reside in the townsliip.

James Blakesley and liis family, consisting of his wife and five children, moved into town in February, 1820. They were originally from Waterbury, but came from Trumbull county to Ridgeville, Mr, Blakesley located on Butternut ridge, on lot fourteen, and lived there until his death in 1858, aged eightytvvo. His wife died in 1840. Chauncey Blakesley is the only member of the family now living in tlie town. A daughter, Eliza, married Elijah Rigby, in Trumbull county. He came to Ridgeville with his family in 1819, settling on lot fourteen. He subsequently went to Illinois, where his wife died. He now lives in Wisconsin.

Joseph Humphrey and family, consisting of wife and four children, came to Ridgeville from Connecticut, in 1823, He settled at the Center, on tlie location of the brick hotel, which he built in 1830, His tavern bore the name of "Farmer's Inn," His death occurred in 1853 or 1854, His widow died many years after, aged eiglity-six. Three children are now living, and in Ridgeville, viz : Mrs, Iciiabod Terrell, Mrs, Harry Terrell and Jlark Humphrey, He - Mark - continued the hotel for a number of vears after his father's death.

E, Byington settled in 1832 or 1833, Oliver Lewis moved into town in 1839, Otis Briggs in 1830, settling on the farm on which he now resides, aged eighty-one,

The first coujile married in the townshiji was Jethro Butler, of Dover, to Clarissa Beebe, daughter of Borden Beebe. They were married in the winter of 1813, by Joel Terrell, justice of the peace. The first child born in Ridgeville of civilized parents, was Harriet Terrell, daughter of Noah aud Esther Terrell, This event occurred in the spring of 1811, and, very appropriately, in the first house built in the township, Wyllis Terrell, in writing of this event in the Elyria Coiisfitiifion, says :

"During the winter fre<iuent rains and heavy snow-fall filled the swamps and low places with water, and at the opening of Spring, to make the matter still worse, there came an unusually heavy rain, and Center creek swelled to the size of a river. David Beebe becoming alarmed at t^'e situation, started up the creek to look after his daughter and famil3% and found her and her babe, three weeks old, in bed, aud the water four inches deep on the floor, and a little fire in a kettle near the bed. He moved the family to his home on the ridge, and thus the cabin was deserted after being the home of the first settlei-s for eleven months."

townsliij) was Nancy Beebe, daughter of David and Belinda Beebe. She was born April 18th, 1813. She became the wife of Mark Humphrey, now living in Hidgeville. The first male child born in the town was (_»\ven A. Cable, son of Stejihen Cable. He was born in 1813. The first death was that of Martin Shellhouse, an old gentleman who was brought from Vermont to Ridgeville on a bed. He died Nov. 27, 1813, one week after his arrival in the township. The second death was that of Lydia Terrell, daughter of Noah Terrell. She died in August, 1814, before conipletins the first term of school taught in the town. The first place selected for the burial of the dead, was on the farm of Asahel Morgan, on lot sixteen. Only a few interments were made there, however, the location being abandoned a few years after, and a site selected at the center of town, the ground for which was given by Joel Terrell. The change of location was the cause of much displeasure to Mr. Morgan, who is credited with the remark, when it was decided upon, that he would never be buried in the Terrell burying ground as long as he li red and had his senses. John Bariium, who died in 1819, was the first person buried in this cemetery. Most of the bodies in the old graveyard were removed to the new. That of Lydia Terrell, however, was never disturbed, and the precise spot in which it rests is not now known. The first frame erection in the township was the barn of Amos Cahoon, built in 1813. The old structure was destroyed by fire in the fall of 1878. The first frame house was the tavern of Wyllis Terrell, Sr., built in 1823. The first blacksmith was Zenas Barnum. His first shop was located at the center of town, and consisted simply of a few forked stakes and poles, with a roof of shakes. Afterwards he had a better structure in the west part of town. The first doctor that jiracticed in the town was Zephaniah Potter, of Columbia. The earliest settled liiiysician was Dr. John Butler. The first wolf killed in the township was shot by Garry Koot, in 1813, then a lad of fourteen years. This was quite an event, as the cunning animal was rarely bagged by the most experienced hunter. The uiaile in the township, and, very probably, the first in Lorain county, was made by Mrs. Belinda Beebe, in 1813. She }iressed it with a fence rail, one end of which was stuck in between the logs of their cabin, wliilo, on the other end, was hung a basket filled with stones. The basket consisted simply of a bark hooj) peeled from the body of a tree. A forked stick constituted the cheese ladder. Thus is necessity fertile in expedients.

First Law Suit

The first law suit was between Lonian C. Beebe, plaintiff, and Joseph Cahoon, defendant. It was held at the house of David Beebe, June 17, 1813, and before Asahel Osborn, a Justice of the peace of Columbia. It was an action for damages, the plaintiff claiming unfaithfulness, wasteago and poor work, on the part of defendant in the grinding of a quantity of wheat for plaintiff, in May of the above year. The decision of the court, rendered June 18, 1813, was in the following W(.)rds:

"It appears, from evidence before this court, that, from twenty -eight bushels of wheat, which said plaintiff carried to said defendant's mill, said defendant made one hundred and eleven pounds' weight less flour, and that not so good as Cajit. Calvin Hoadley generally makes out of similar wheat. From a mature consideration of the evidence and circumstances, it is the opinion of this court that the said plaintiff, Loman C. Beebe, is entitled to receive of the said defendant, Joseph Gaboon, the sum of six dollars damage, and five dollars and seventy -seven cents costs of suit, for which judgment is rendered in favor of the plaintiff against defendant by this court."

The first legal process issued by a magistrate of Ridgeville after its organization, was a writ of attachment, taken out by Loman C. Beebe, against Simeon Tylor. It was dated August 2, 1813, and signed by Joel Terrell, justice of the peace. This was served on Tylor by John Reading, constable.

Religious Matters

In emigrating to the new country, the pioneers of Ridgeville did not leave behind them the New England habits in which they had been trained. A religious service was held the first Sunday after the arrival of David Beebe and his associates. Joel Terrell conducted the exercises, which consisted of the reading of a jiortion of scripture, a prayer, and the singing of a psalm, or two, to which David Beebe "l)itched" the tunes. Very few of the earliest settlers were members of the church, and a church organization was not formed until twelve years after settlement; but during all this time, Sabbath services were regularly kept up. For this, much credit is due Joel Terrell, who was by profession a Baptist. He did more to establish religious worship, and to regularly maintain it, in the absence of a minister and a church organization, than any one else. He usually conducted the meetings, which were at first held at the dwellings of the inhabitants, and subsequently at the school house at the Center. The was formed December 20, 1822, Rev. Alfred H. Betts. of Brownhelm, and Rev. Lot R. Sullivan officiating ill its organization. The people, on the occasion, assembled at the school house, but it was found to be too small to accommodate the large number that came together, and the congregation repaired to the barn of Joseph Humphrey, on the opposite side of the road, where a sermon, appropriate to the occasion, was delivered by Dr. Betts. The organization was called " The First Presbyterian Church of Ridgeville," and was composed of six members, as follows: Chester Beebe, and Marcia Beebe, his wife, Hezekiah Case, Samuel Eldred, Seth R. Alcott, and Lucinda Cahoon. Mr. Alcott was appointed church clerk.

that occasion, presented letters for admission, and, on exiiniiiuition, were received into the eluirch, viz: Mrs. Hezckiuh Case, Marcns Case, Fjunra Case his wife, and Ora Case. The elinreli never liad a settled pastor, but dejiended uj)on neigboring towns for the ministry of the W(ird. Meetings were held in the school house, at the center of town, and in the school house at the west part of town, until the I'rcctiou of a house of woi'ship in .

The church was never very ju'osperous. It struggled along, under adverse circumstances, for many years, but gradually lost ground, until it practically ceased toexist. Such was the condition of things when, in February, 1841, D. C. White, a lay member of a church in New Jersey, came into the place, and began to preach the gospel. " Under his labors," (we cpiote from the church records), "the church seemed somewhat i-esuscitated, and agreed to renounce its creed, or articles of faith and covenant, and take the simple woj'd of God, as recorded in the Bible, for their only rule of faith and practice. They also agreed to have a communion season, and that they would covenant together anew; and although some cases of discipline existed, the past should be forgotten, and each member should receive his brother, and for the future walk iu love, one with another."

On the fourth of July, of this year, Mr. White was invited, bj- a unanimous vote, to become the jiastor of the church. He accepted, and, on the third of the following Sej)tcmber, he was ordained and installed by a committee of the "Lorain County Association," the sermon, on the occasion, being delivered by Rev. Chas. G. Finney, of Oberlin. The church embraced, at this time, a membership of tifty-flve. Oliver H. Lewis was church clerk, succeeding Ebenezer Porteiwho was appointed to the otlice January 31, 18'^.5.

June 27, 1873, work was commenced in the creetiou of the fine brick church edifice, now occujiying the former location of the old church, which was removed to the opposite side of the street, and now stands a few rods west of the residence ef Albert Terrell, and is unused. The new church was not (-omj)leted until January, 18T0. The first service iu it was held on Christmas immediately jireceding. It was dedicated January 12, 1871), Rev. Dr. VVolcott ])reacliiug the dedicatory seruKju.

According to the figures of Mr. Bradford Race, who was treasurer of the building committee, presented on tiiat occasion, the cost of the church was ten thousand, two hundretl and forty-four dollars and fourteen cents. Tlie churcii had jjreviously been named, at a meeting called for the purpose, the First Congregational Church of Ridgeville. The number of members now (January, 1870,) belonging to the church, is forty-seven. Chas. llerrick is clerk, and Henry D. Rogers, T. T. Winkles, Le Roy Race, Edward Ames, deacons. There is no settled pastor at present, but preaching is had once every Sabbath, by ministers from Oberlin. Job Lickerish is superintendent of the Sabbath school, which contains about one hundred and fifty scholars.

The Methodists

A Methodist Episcopal class was formed ou Butternut ridge in 182."), by Rev. Harry 0. Sheldon, one of the earliest circuit preachers in this region. There were seven members composing the organization, namely : Wilson Blain and wife, Elijah Rigby and wife, and Harris Emmons, wife and daughter. Wilson Blain was the first leader of the class. Jolm Kibby and wife joined the class the following year. The meetings were first held in the log house of Mi'. Blain, and later in the fra:ne school house then standing on the site of the present brick school house at the cross roads. The circuit preacher officiated once in two weeks. According to a class-book in the possession of Mrs. Richard Blain, the class contained in 184:3, forty-three members. Rev. Adam Poe was the presiding elder of the district. John Tibbals was the pastor in charge, and Richard Blain class-leader. The membei-ship now numbers twenty-eight. Rev. N. J. Close, of Avon, is the pastor of the church. James Nye is the class-leader. He is also the super, intendent of the Sabbath school. The church l)uilding was erected in 1850.

During the pastorate of Rev. Uissette, in 187.5, some eight or nine members of the church, including among the number some whose connection with it embraced a period of nearly fifty years, were expelled for non-attendance upon church service. The expelled members, who absented themselves for the alleged reason of dissent from the doctrines enunciated by the pastor, with a like number who withdrew from the church, were organized by a Rev. Mr. Bell into a class under the name of Free Methodists. The organization was effected in February, 18713. Meetings were held at the school house and at the house of Henry Dickson, until the erection of a house of worship on Butternut ridge, in the summer of 1876. Revs. Hart and Bell officiated iu the dedicatory services. Rev. Scott Marshall is the present pastor of the church. O.'jborne Hale is the superintendent of the Sabbath school.

This church was formed in February, 1875. It embraced a membership of some forty-five at its organization. A church building at the Center was erected in the fall and winter of the same year. The present membershiji is about sixty. The Sabbath school contains nearly fifty scholars. Rev. J. Heidegger, the priest in charge, has been connected with the church in that relation since its formation.

The first house in which .school was kept was built of logs, and stood on ground now occupied by the brick tavern at the center. The seats consisted of slabs resting on pins, and liewed on the upper side. In one end of the buikliag was a tire phiee witli stone back, but without janiljs, and the logs would frequently catch tire. In tiie end opposite was the window, made by cutting out, for a distance of ten or twelve feet, a single log of the structure, and placing glass in the opening. Along the window, and for a few feet at each end beyond it, was a rude desk at which the scholars practiced their writing lessons.

The first teacher was Lydia Terrell, who taught in the summer of 1814, but died before completing the term. The next school was kei)t by Betsy Shellhouse. John Reading was the first male teacher. Aliigal Davis taught in the summer of 1817. She has lived, until recently, in Cleveland for many years, and is well advanced in life. Samuel Mills was the last teacher in the old school house, which was destroyed in the winter of 1817 by fire of unknown origin.

Another house, also of logs, was built immediately afterwards ou the ojiposite side of the sti'eet, and a short distance further east. Wyllis Terrell, Sr., was an early school teacher in tliis structure, and he is thought by some to have taught in the old honse.

The town was subsequently divided into two school districts, and a house built in the west part of the town and one in the east part. The latter was the first frame school house in town, and, it is believed, the first in the county. It was erected in 1831. It was situated in what was then called the northeast district, on the farm then owned by Philander Terrell, now owned by Oliver H. Lewis. The uails used in the construction of this building were made in I'almadge, then in Portage county, and cost twentyfive cents per pound.

The first school tauglit in this house was kept by Peter Barton, in the winter of 1821-22. Merritt Osborne taught the following winter. His term ended with a school exhibition, a novel feature then. It was held in the bai-n of Asahel Morgan, old and young alike participating in the exercises.

The division of the township, with the location of the two school houses, as previously stated, was unsatisfactory to the people at the center of town, and they erected for themselves a house at the center. Subsequently they succeeded in obtaining a school district in this portion of town.

The present condition of the schools is shown by the report of the clerk of the board of education, for the year ending August 31, 1878, which gives the following statistics:

Value $8,800 Amount paid teachers 2,445 Number ot scholars 410 A catholic school was established at the center in October, 1876, with about forty-five scholars. The number now enrolled is fifty-five. The school is held in the town hall.

Organization

The township was organized the first Monday in April, 1813, at the Terrell tavern. There were fifteen voters, and they were all at the election, which resulted as follows: Wyllis T'errell, clerk; David Beebe, Sr., Ichal)oil Terrell and Joel Terrell, trustees; David Beebe, Jr., and John Reading, constables; Joel Terrel, Justice of the iieace.

The township officers elected at the spring election of 1ST8 are the following: Alljert G. Terrell, clerk; Wm. D. Fuller, Randall Stetson and Lester C. Sexton, trustees; Chauncey Blakcsley and James Healy, justices of the peace.

Post Office

A i)ost office was established in Ridgeville in 1815. Moses Eldred was the first postmaster, who kept the office in his own house. He held the office until 1828, his successors being as follows:

Edward Byington, until 1830; Levi W. Terrel, 18-42; Alonzo Benliam, until 184(i; Joel Terrel until 1851; Joseph Humphrey, until 1854; David Beebe, now of Elyria, until 18(;0; Alonzo Benham, until 1864; Doctor Palmer, until ]8C(i; John Browen, until 1867; H. (}. Linder, until 1868; George P. Burrell, until 1869; Bert Wilmot, until 1870; E. P. Smith, until 1874; Orson J. Teriell, is the present incumbent of the office, which is located ar the center of the town.

The first store in the township was kept in his own house by Lyman Root. There are at the [u-esent writing four stores in the town, the name of the owners being as follows: Orson J. Terrell, Nicholas Diedrich, 11. Ramsdall, M. Bruce.

Manufacturing Interests

In 1812, and prior to the partition of their lands, Joel, Oliver and Ichabod Terrell, and David Beebe, Sr,, gave to Joseph Cahoon sixty acres of land at the center of the town, the consideration of the conveyance being that the grantee build a grist mill on the land so conveyed. The deed was excuted December 3, 1812. This was the first real estate transfer in the townshii). In the spring of 1813 the mill was erected. It stood on the west bank of Center creek, a few feet north of the bridge that now crosses the stream. The mill was about eighteen by twenty fe'^t in size, constructed of basswood logs, hewed on the inside, and was the best mill in the county in its day. It had but one run of stone, which was made out of a common "hard head." Wyllis Terrell, Sr., bought the mill a few months after its completion and operated it until 1826 or '27, when he sold to Orson Humphrey. The mill long since ceased to exist, and there is now none of the kind in the township.

The Ridgeville Chair Works

Tliis eiitcrpri.si' has pi'own uj) to its present importance from ji sninll l)i'ginniiig. It was established by A. 11. Mooers, the present proprietor, in November, 1853, with a cai)ital of seven dolhtrx and iiftii cents. He served his ajuirenticeship with his father, wlio was a chair maker, and had worked in Elyria, making chairs liy the piece, the year jirevious to his location in Ridgeville. lie rented a room, eighteen by twentyfour feet in size, in Joel Terrell's saw-mill at the center of the town, and with the capital previously stated, a few tools and a turning lathe which he borrowed, started in business for himself. He was alone for over a year. He made about one liundred cliairs a montli and those of the cheapest character. For these he found a market, mostly at Elyria. After running for three years he sold out to William Young for two hundred dollars, but bought liack within two weeks, paying a bonus of twenty-tive dollars. Some two years and a half afterwards, during which he engaged in other enterprises, helionghta small building near the liuslinell mill, and moved it to its ]>resent location, ill I lie rear of his house. In this building-, which he now uses for a barn, Mr. Mooers prosecuted his business for about .six months, using a horse power, wlieii he conimeiiced tlie erection of the first of tlie three large buildings now comjirising his works. In addition to liis factory jiroper, Jlr. Mooers has a saw mill twenty-eight by sixty feet, two stories high, the motive-power of which is a forty-horse power engine. The goods nuide by these works consist of every variety of wood chairs, all kinds of double cane-seated chairs, settees and the round-cornered cottage bedstead. Mr. Mooers finds a market for his goods iiiOlcvcland. In 1873 he employed nearly seventy-five hands. At the present time he has forty employees, five of whom are women.

These works furnished for the Sajngerfest building in Cleveland, in June, 1870, six thousand chairs in nine days, all carried to the city in wagons. The capital invested in business at the present time is u})wards of thirty thousand dollars.

Since this enterprise was started by Mr. Mooers, nineteen similar establishments, within a radius of twenty miles, have had an existence and failed of success. He attributes a great part of his success to his strict temperance jirinciples, to which he has adhered from childhood, never having tasted a drop of malt or spirituous liquor.

Just south of the saw mill is a building used by Mr. Mooers, exclusively for the manufacture of an implement called the " Gritfin Land Leveler," of which Mr. Seth Griffin of Elyria, is the patentee. It is a combined roller, harrow and scraper, and is used for leveling roads and tracks, and for the preparation of land for seeding. It was first patented in 1874, and its manufacture begun in 1877. About thirty machines are turned out yearly, and there is an increasing demand for it.

- Recognizing the necessity of means for the greater security of the dead from the nefarious business of grave robbers, Mr. Mooers ajiplied his mechanical genius in this direction, and patented in the sjiring of 1878, a --Metallic Coffin Shield" which he is now manufacturing. It is made of wrought sheet iron, and is used in the place of the ordinary box in wiiich the coffin is enclosed. Efforts in this direction are most commendable.

Saw Mills

The first saw mill in this township was built by Major Wyllis Terrell, on Center creek, near his grist mill, in 1811). It continued in operation until 1830, when Major Beebe and Joseph Humphrey, out of sanitary considerations, bought the [jroperty and tore it away. It overflowed their lands with water murii of tiie time, causing a great deal of sickness.

Capt. Bush erected a saw mill on West creek at an early day, but it never went into operation. A fresiiet carried away the dam, and tlie enterpri.se was abandoned.

TiiK Herrick Mill, at the Center, was built by Jiiel Terrell, son of Major Terrell, in the year 1850. He established at the same place a button factory, which he oj)erated in the day time, and the saw mill at night. It ceased to exist some five or six years since. Successive owners of the saw mill were men by the name of Viets, George Burrell and Dr. Ilerrick, of Cleveland, the present owner.

The Roiunson Mill, located on lot fourteen, was built in 1850, by Messrs. Peck and Hesten. The former subse((uently bought the hitter's interest, and ran the mill until 186G, when the present proprietor, J. Robinson, came into possession of the property. It is a steam mill, and has facilities for sawing from two thousand five hundred to three thousand feet of lumber per day, but has been idle much of the time of late years.

The Mooeus Mill. - This is by far the most important mill of the kind in the township, and, indeed, in this section of the country. It was built and is used mainly as an adjunct to his chair works, but the mill also does a great deal of custom work. It was built in 1873. It is a two-story frame, thirty liy sixty feet, with a substantial brick boiler and engineroom with an iron roof, making it as nearly fireproof as possible. The engine is a forty-horse power. Tlie capacity of the mill is five thousand feet of lumber per day. The upper story is used by Mr. Mooers for liis turning works, and is replete with all the varied machinery necessary to thi'.t branch of his chair factory.

The only cider mill in the township is ownied and operated by W. II. Eldred, who, with his father, built it in 1856. The entire machinery, with the exception of the engine, is of Mr. Eldred's own manufacture. It possesses facilities for the manufacture of eighty barrels of cider per day. With a small force of hands the average is about thirty-five barrels per day. Mr. Eldred does a general custom business, and also ships largely to Cleveland. In 1874, he added a feed mill with one run of stone, and run by steam, the engine being a twelve-horse power. Its capacity is about twenty-five bushels per hour.

Cheese Factories

The ExcEr,siOR Factory. - The original factory on this location, lot twenty-four, was built in 1S09 by Jackson & Roe. It was destroyed by fire in 1871, when the jaresent factory was erected by Adams & Eldred. In 1873, Jackson & Eldred, the present proprietors took charge, and have continued its operation up to the present time. This factory makes a specialty of the manufacture of what the proj)rietors call "Cheshire cheese," the entire product being shipi)cd direct to England. It consumed the milk of about four hundred and fifty cows the last season.

The Fuller Factory was established in 1870, by a stock company. W. D. Fuller, the present owner, has operated it about three years. It formerly consumed the milk of about two hundred cows. It was supplied the last season by about one hundred and fifty.

The Briogs Cheese Factory, situated a short distance south of Briags' CJorners, was built in the spring of 1871 by a stock company. Tbe present manager of the factory is C. I. Mead. The directors are Homer Terrell, John McNelley and Edward Hill. The production for the season of 1878 was aboul sixty thousand pounds of cheese, consuming the milk of about two hundred cows.

C. Lester Sexton

C. LESTER SEXTON. Soon after the marriage of George Sexton and Miss Mary Cahoon, at Vergennes, Vt., in the year 1810, they moved into Ohio, stopping at Judge Kingsbury's, Newburgh, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, where they remained until March 1'^, 1812; tiien, with family, Mr. G. Sexton moved into the west part of Ridgeville, Lorain county, Ohio, where he resided until his decease, November 7, 1829, aged forty-two years, leaving a widow and seven children, five of whom are since dead. Mrs. Mary Cahoon died September 17, 1849.

The two children living are Amos C. Sexton, who is a farmer in Orange, Cuyahoga county, Ohio; the other, C. Lester Sexton, of whom this sketch is written, following the same calling as his brother, resides in Ridgeville, Lorain county, Ohio. He was born at Newburgh, as above, on April 20, 1810.

The parents of Mrs. Lester Sexton, viz: Ebenezer Porter and Miss Eunice Yale, were married at Lee, Berkshire county, Mass., in 1800. They left Lee, in 1822, with a family of eight cliildren, for Ohio. Spending the winter in Dover, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, in the early spring th y removed to Ridgeville, where they built the first "log house" on Sugar Ridge. As a farmer, there he lived until death, which occurred on July G, 18G7, he having reached the advanced age of ninety-one years; his more aged father having died at his son's residence, in 1839. ninety-four years of age. Mrs. Eunice Sexton died November 19, 1847.

Mr. C. Lester Sexton and Frances C. Porter were married at Ridgeville, December 5, 1833. Soon after they removed to Ashland, Ashland county, Ohio. Returning to Ridgeville on the 9th of March, 1838, they commenced in the unbroken woods to make for themselves and children a home. How pleasant that iionie and its surroundings have become, the artist shows in the view accompanying.

Mr. Sexton was father of five chihli-en. Lydia Louisa, their eldest child, was born in Ashland county, Ohio, November 2(j, 1834. Becoming the wife of Ilarlo C. Emmons, of Elyria, she was left a widow in March, 18G9. In San Francisco, California, she was re-married to John Dunbar, and has since resided in Pefaluma, California. George P. Sexton and E. Porter Sexton were both born in Ridgeville; the one November 5, 1838, the other April 15, 1841. At the commencement of the rebellion, both brothers enlisted in Con)i)any E, Forty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry. George died in hospital at Paiutville, Kentucky, February 7, 1862; aged twenty-three. E. Porter serving his full enlistment, was honorably discharged, since which time he has generally been in Ridgeville.

Frances M. was born August 21, 1847, and became the wife, February 9, 1809, of W. H. Bastard, of Columbia, Lorain county, Ohio, where they now live with their sons, Robert Lester and George Harry.

Mr. Sexton has filled, and now holds the otfice of township trustee. Still vigorous, at a ripe age, loved and respected by his neighbors, he remains one of the makers of Ridgeville. To him belongs the credit of being one of the first, if not the first, of using tile drains, to any great extent, in Lorain county, - he at an early day, laying over two miles on his farm.

Soon after tlie arrival at Elyria, of Judge Ely's first wife. Mr. Sexton's mother, and another lady, started on foot througli the woods, to make a friendly call on the new-fomer. Tlie visit heing made, the ladies commenced (heir journey home. Losing their way, and night coining on, they were forced to spend the niglit under a ])artially fallen tree. The next morning brought them kind neigliliors, who had passed the night in vain search for them. Such was "calling" in Lorain county pioneer life.

Richard Blain

Wilson Blain was born April 34, 1789, and married to Hannah Van Natton, in May. 1810. They moved to Ridgeville, this county, in Septemljer, 18J8, where he bought a farm on tlie Butternut ridge, and lived there until his death. lie had four children. Richard, the eldest son of Wilson, and subject of this sketch, was born October 13, 1813, ami married Faiiuv

M. Fuller, November 20, 183G, who was born October 18, 1820; she was the daughter of Warren and Vesta Fuller. Warren Fuller was born May 8, 1700, and died July 1, 1870. Vesta Fuller was born January 7, 1795, and died July 11, 1870.

To Richard Blain and his wife have been born four children: Warren W., born November 6, 18.37; James M., born December 30, 1839; \"esta II., born February 11, 1841; and Harlan I., born March 14, 1843, and died April 5, 185G.

Ricliard Blain united with the Methodist Episcojial Church in 1839, when he was seventeen years old, and remained a faithful, devoted member until the close of his life. In all these years, after he became of age, he was either class leader or steward, and usually both. He was always at his post, and tilled his place with honor to himself, and great benefit and credit to the church. He was a man of decided and iinlilemished character, one who lived to do his neighbors good; and was truly devoted to his wife, his children and the church of liis adoption.

Russia Prefatory Note

The following sketch of Oberlin history is mainly a compilation, but it may be regarded as reliable, anil is as complete as the scope of this work ^vill admit. The facts and documents pertaining to the early history, I have taken chiefly from the " History of Oberlin," in manuscript, by President Fairchild ; of which, availing myself of the generous offer of the author, I have made free use. Other facts and statistics have been taken from the college catalogues, from articles in the Oberlin Evcmtjelisi and in the Oberlin Revieir, and from other sources, for my indebtedness to which, this general acknowledgment must suffice. For the estimates of Oberlin, and of a few of its leading men, the writer is alone responsible. H. M.

Introduction

The history of Oberlin m;iy be said to be the history of an idea, first, as conceived in the minds of individuals and matured into a plan, which may be called its origin; then as converted by them into fact, and made an outward reality, which constitutes its begitining; next, as receiving a sudden increase of mental and moral force, which gave it enlargement, and was its second beginning, from which it should proceed as from a new point of departure; and finally, as its natural and gradual development, in which is found, amid strivings and conflicts, its growth to maturity. In this fact, that Oberlin is built on and represents a progressive idea, or a fundamental principle, is found its distinctive and representative character; and this is the true explanation of the enthusiasm it awakened, the oi)position it excited, the success it has achieved, and the work it has wrought.

The explanation and source of the idea must be sought in the character of the period. It was a period of revivals, and of the beginning of great and radical reforms. Before Oberlin had an existence, so much as in thought, extensive revivals had prevailed in various parts of the land, by whicli whole communities and towns were regenerated, and thou.sands had their conscience quickened, and their life renewed. Following, or accompanying, these revivals were certain special reforms, which were a practical use of christian principles for the overthrow of great, individual, social, and national evils, as intemperance, slavery, and war. Of these, the anti-slavery reform, from the ardor with wliich it was espoused and advocated by its friends, and the violence with which it was resisted by its enemies, gained especial prominence. Now, Oberlin was, from its beginning and in its very idea, the embodiment of this spirit of revival and reform - of revival as first, and of reform as proceeding from it. It was this spirit of revival and reform that created it, that possessed and ruled it, and that gives life to its history.

The origin and character of the men who first composed Oberlin, likewise show its character. These were all, either immediately or mediately, from New England. They were genuine New England men, with the New England mind and heart. Moreover, they were of the best type of the puritan character. They were serious, earnest, self-contained, independent in thought and spirit. God-fearing and sincerely pious, with purity of intention and singleness of aim, consecrated to the work of doing good, courageous and persevering, and overflowing with an enthusiasm generated and sustained by an ardent devotion to a lofty purpose. Oberlin is a true child of New England, a certain reproduction - not an imitation - of New England ideas, culture and life. It was New England transferred, for a specific purpose, to the woods of Ohio.

In form, also. Oberlin is peculiar. This name, Oberlin, stands neither for the town nor for the college, separately and singly; it signifies both in their unity. Town and college are units of a composite idea. Both sprang into existence together, the town for the college, and the college for the world; and, therefore, both as one for the world. Oberlin was not founded in selfishness, but in benevolence; not for its own sake, but for the sake of humanity. It was not meant that the end of the college should be the education it should impart, but the good it might promote through that education; neither was it meant that the end of the town should be its own mere existence and welfare, but also the good it should aid the college in promoting.

I have in these words briefly sketched the ideal Oberlin, as it was first conceived, and as it has been actually, though imperfectly, realized in its history. In this general and comprehensive characterization, it has been my aim to throw light on the history which follows.

The origin of Oberlin is due to two men, John Jay Shipherd and Philo Penfield Stewart, the inventor of the well-known Stewart stove. Mr. Shipherd was a native of New York, and Mr. Stewart of Connecticut. In 1830, Mr. Shipherd, holding a commission from the American Home Missionary Society, found his way to Elyria, where he preached to the Presbyterian Church as their pastor for two years.

Mr. Stewart, who was laboring as a missionary among the Choctaws, being compelled, on account of the ill health of his wife, to return north, corresponded with Mr. Shipherd, who was an old friend, respecting a field of labor, and finally accepted an ir.- vitation to make a liome for a time at his house. Mr. Stewart thus became one of Mr. Shi])!ierd's family in the spring of 1833. These men, thus thrown together. were alike earnest reformers. They had an intense conviction that the church needed to be raised to a higher plane of christian life and activity, and that a great work must be done in the Mississippi valley.

In temj)erament they were opposites. Mr. Shipherd was ardent and sanguine, while Mr. Stewart was cautious and slow; but even this difference proved a real advantage, for, when the time came for action, they complemented each other.

In the summer of 1832 they talked and jirayed over the themes which absorbed both their minds - some scheme by which they could realize their desire and hope of doing good. Mr. Shipherd"s mind dwelt especially upon the thought of a christian community of an unworldly and elevated type, and which, imbued with an earnest missionary spirit, should be a centre of beneficent iniJuence. Mr. Stewart's thought dwelt upon the plau of a christian college, which should embrace the co-education of the sexes, and provide manual labor that might at once promote the health of the students and defray their expenses.

** In their deliberations they would exchange views ; one would present one point of interest and the other a different one. Mr. Stewarl proposed a college, of which Mr. Shipherd could not see the necessity, as Hudson college was in its infancy and poorly sustained ; but Mr. Stewart suggested the manual labor system, which Mr. Shipherd fully approved. Thus they labored and prayed, and while on their knee.^ asking guidance the whole plan developed itself to Mr. Shipherd's mind, and before rising to his feet he said, 'Come, let us arise and build.' He then told Mr. Stewart what had come into his mind, - to procure a tract of land and collect a colony of christian families, who should pledge themselves to sustain the school and identify themselves with all its interests. They came down from the study, and Mr. Shipherd with a glowing face said, ' Well, my dear, the chdd is born, and what shall its name be ?' He then related what had passed through his mind."

The name selected for the contemplated colonv and school was Oberlin, after John Frederic Oberlin, a pastor in eastern France, an interesting account of whose self-denying and successful labors in elevating the people of his parish they had just road. The next thing was the selection of a location. Judge Fly, of Elyria, oifered to give that part of the village known as " the Point;" and a tract embracing two or three farms on the north ridge road in Brown helm, was also proposed ; but neither of these was thought to be large enough for the full execution of the project. The level tract, with a hard clay soil, forming the southern part of Russia township, remained as yet undisturbed by settlers, who were disposed to choose more desirable locations.

The day following the season of prayer in which their plan had taken definite and fixed shape in their minds, Mr. Shipherd and Mr. Stewart mounted their horses and rode to this unoccupied tract. Along what is now Main street, the line of a road had been marked years before by a party of surveyors, who had cut down the trees for a width of about four rods, but this cleared sjiace was at this time overgrown by underbrush. Having arrived at this place they dismounted and secured their horses, and kneeling under a tree asked divine guidance. The elm standing in the south east corner of the college square is pointed out as the one under which this first ])rayer was offered. They at that time fixed npon this unoccupied tract as the site for the future Oberlin.

The next thing was to secure its possession, and the next to obtain settlers ; and for the attainment of these objects, as well as to raise funds for the promotion of the enterprise, and to engage teachers and students for the school, Mr. Shipherd resolved to visit New England. The owners of the tract. Street and Hughes, with whom it seemed desirable to treat immediately, resided in New Haven ; and such men as were needed for colonists, and would be willing to enter upon the arduous undertaking, must be found in New England.

After a two weeks' journey Mr. Shipherd arrived in New Haven, and calling upon the i)roprietors asked of them a gift of five hundred acres of land for a manual labor school, with the understanding that, a colony being collected, for the remaining five thousand acres they should receive from the settlers, as fast as sold, at the rate of a dollar and a half an acre ; and this proposition he enforced with the plea that their acceptance of it would be a mutual benefit, by aiding the school and by bringing their lands into market.

After calling upon them day after day without success, as he came down from his room one morning he remarked to the lady of the house where he was staying, "I shall succeed to-day." And he did; for on calling one of the firm told him that they had concluded to accept his pro])osition.

It was planned to sell the five thousand acres to the settlers at an advance of one dollar, thus securing a fund of five thousand dollars with which to hi}- the foundations of the college, enough of this fund being appropriated to build a saw mill and grist mill, to be owned by the college.

The next thing necessary was the securing of such settlers as would make a distinctively christian colony. To secure such as were desired, a covenant was drawn up, which all who jtrojiosed to become members of the colony were asked to sign.

The Oberlin Covenant

"Lamenting the degeneracy of the church, and the deplorable condition of our ijerishiug world, and ardently desirous of bringing bolh under the entire influence of the blessed gospel of peace; and viewing with peculiar interest the influence which the valley of the Mississii)pi must exert over our nation and the nati<>ns of the earth ; and having, as we trust, in answer to devout supplications, been guided by the counKel of the Lord: the undersigned covenant together, under the name of the Oberlin Colony, subject to the following regulations, which may be amended by a concurrence of two-thirds of the colonists: