Lorain City (part 19 of 77)

Again, taking up the descendants of Peter Penfield, it may be stated that the family of Austin C. is at Saratoga, and that the children of Horace - George, Myron and Willie - are at the old homestead, where the first cabin was built. Russell II. married Henrietta Virginia Blanchard; their children are: Emerson, Anna M., Florence V. and Aniia P. Homer Penfield and his wife, Martha, have two sous, Norman and Roderick.

The Starrs were one of the largest families amonothe early settlers. Raymond was the first. He came from New Harpersfield, Delaware county. New York, in 1839, and settled on lot nine, section four (the center). He married Betsey Peufield, and they were the parents of Lewis, who resides in LaGrange; George R. and Horace 0., of Elyria; Russell (dead); Franklin and Alonzo, in Cincinnati, Ohio; and Betsey (Mrs. Goodwin, of Elyria).

William Starr came into the settlement in 1830, and took up land in lot two, section four. His three sons were, Orrin K., George W. (dead), and Gideon B. The daughters were, Polly Ann (Smith), of Wellington, Clarinda, Orline, Jane, and another.

Orrin Starr came iu 1834, and took land in lots five and six, section five. His wife's name is Abigail. They have six children, four of whom are in the county. H. H. is iu Nebraska, and Mana (Taylor), in Michigan. The others are: Heman E., Clapp R., Minerva (Smith), and Edna (Dixon).

Talcott came into the township last of all, having remained in Elyria sometime after coming into Ohio. He took uj) lot eight, section five. Two of his descendants, Matthew L. and Gideon L., are residents of Penfield. Alden is iu Cleveland, Angeline in New York, and Maria dead.

The Starrs have been prominently identified with the interests of Peufield, and have contributed much, iu various ways, toward its prosperity.

The Knapp family were the first permanent settlers after tlie pioneer Penfields. They were from Ilarpersfield, Delaware county, New York, and tlieir first representative, Samuel, who remained in the township, carae to the settlement in the spring of 1832, locating on lot fifty-five, section three, east of the center. His wife's name was Mary. She died in 1842, and lie married his second wife, Sarah Hayes. Samuel Knapp died in 1874. William Knapp had come out in the spring of the same year with Peter Penfield and located land on lot forty-nine, section four. On his way back after his family he was taken si(-k, and died at Haml)urg, New York, near Buffalo. Stephen Knapp and his wife, Grace Jolinson, came in October, 1825, and settled on lot forty-nine, section four. They brought with them two children, Lucy and \¥illiam J., aged respectively three years and one year and two months. William J. is still a resideni of the township, and has not ijeen absent more than two years altogether since his arrival. He is a carpenter and joiner by trade. His wife is Eliza Lindslcy, a native also of Delaware county. New York. The other children born to Stephen and Grace Knapp, were Charles S., Julius B,, Sally, Harriet, Van Buren, Ephraim, Helen, Charlotte and Carrie. All are living except one. Steplien Kna]i]i died March 22, 1870, and his wife is still living. Shubael Knapp, a brother of Samuel, Stephen and William came into the township in 1830, and took uj) lot thirty-four, in section four. He was killed, a few years later, by the falling of a large hollow sycamore log, which he was assisting in standing upon end for the purpose of making a smoke liouse. His skull was crushed and he died almost instantly. His children were L. L., Abigail and Shubael. Lewis Knapf), anotlier brother, came in about 1S34, bringing his mother and settling upon lot thirty-five, section four.

Calvin Spencer and his family, and brother Ichabod, moved into the settlement from Durham, New York, in the spring of 1824. Calvin hadpurcliased land on lots seventeen, eighteen, nineteen and twenty, section two. His children were: Merwin, Mary, Harriet, Iloyt, David and Julia (Mrs. Carman, the famous singer of Norwalk).

Benjamin E. Merwin and wife, of Durham, Greene county, New York, came in May, 1824, and located on lot thirty-seven, section five. Their children were: David P. Ji-., Geo. E., Caroline and Irene. David P. Merwin, Sr., arrived a year later. None of the family are now resident in the township.

Elijah and Mei'cy Hawley came at the same time as Calvin Spencer, and the husband died in August of 1825. Tlieir cliildren were Jesse, Elijah, Catharine, Mary (ilrs. C. Spencer) and Eunice. Jesse

William, usually known as Sipiire, Andrews settled in 1828. He was from Wallingford, Connecticut, and was a brother of Judge Andrews, of Cleveland. He died in 1876. Beri Andrews, a cousin of tlic S(|iiire, became a resident in 1834.

William L. Hayes, of Delaware county, New York, arrived in 1829, and .settled upon lot forty eight, section four. His father, Andrew Hayes, came two years later. William married Aurilla Lindslcy, and reared a family of seven children.

H. G. Witbeck and liis wife, Freelove (Welton), came from Scholiarie county. New York, in 1831, bringing with them three cliildren^ Josiah H., Hiram and Mahala (afterwards Mrs. R. Peters). Josiah H. and lliram are residents of Penfield. The other descendants of II. G. and wife were James, Abel, Mitchell and Lucinda.

D. W. C. Dixon, of Litchfield, Connecticut, settled in 1832. upon lot fourteen, section one, and Lewis Hart, of the same State, came about the same time. In 1833, J. B. Gaylord and his wife Hannah, came from Delaware county. New York, and settled upon lot fifty-eight, in section two. Peter Bosh, of New York State, settled the same year upon a farm in section two.

Elisha Sheldon took up land in 1834, and in 1835 himself and wife settled upon it. Their homestead is upon lot sixty-one, section one. They had seven children, of whom five are still living: Sarah E., (Mrs. C. E. Starr), Daniel P., and A. E. in Wellington, William L. and C. H. in Penfield.

Edward Palmer, of Columbia county, Kew York, came in 183G. Giles, Charles, Randolph and Sarali were his descendants. The last named is the only one now living.

Joel B. Smitli was an early settler, and a son, Levi Smith, is now one of the leading citizens of Penfield. Pliny Jackson made the first settlement in the northwest part of the township, taking up the extreme corner lot, in 1832. His children were Jane, Martha, George, Alonzo, Melissa, Harriet, and Eliza.

Dr. .Tames Blancliard, who had previously made a visit to the township, settled upon lot forty, section six, in 1835. He was from Cairo, New York.

Hiram Norton, of Allegany county. New York, settled in 1841, in the southeastern jiart of the township. He had three sons. George II. Norton is a resident of Penfield. Edward J. and Andrew J. are in Michigan.

When the Penfields came into the woods they found a few Wyandot Indians encamped there, pursuing their only occupation, hunting and trapping. They were seen in the vicinity more or less frequently for ten or a dozen years later, and then the last brave disajipeared before the advancement of the suijerior race. Some of the squaws were very handsome in tlieir swarthy savage style of beauty, ami are said to liave known liow to enhance their charms by many rude arts of the toilet, but their ai)pearance was rendered less suggestive of wild woodland life than tile imaginative reader would like to suppose by tlicir wearing calico dresses; the warriors wore deer skius. The Indians came sometimes to trade with the whites and bartered baskets, turkey wings and other trinkets, as well as venison, for calico, blankets, and bread or flour.

Among the Indians who were seen in early days at tills settlement was the famous Seneca chieftain, Red Jacket, a savage nobleman of symmetrical figure, powerful and of commaiuling presence. It was evidently with great reluctance that he forsook the old hunting ground of his tribe.

The Indians were in the custom of going just before tlie holidays to Sandusky, where they exchanged furs aiul other trophies of the chase with the traders f(jr blankets, trinkets and supi)lies for the winter. In the spring they returned to the Black river country to hunt and make nuij)le sugar. The mer chants of Sandusky would furnish them with certificates in these words: "This is to certifiy that the bearer is of the Seneca tribe of Indians, which is an entirely ])eaceful tribe, and desires that he be permitted to hunt on the lands unmolested, and in no case to give him whiskey." These certificates they were very forward to show.

Maple sugar making was very generally practiced by the Indians in the spring, and the same ones have been known to return season after season to localities favorable for following this, the most civilized practice they engaged in. They made their saj) troughs of bark peeled from trees of medium size, and taken off in pieces about two feet long, half cylinders in shape. The ends were turned up and tied with thongs, the rough outer bark being removed, and the trough, when finished, was capable of holding three or four quarts of sap. The Ijark, stripjied from a huge tree, would make a reservoir of sufficient size to contain half a barrel, and this was used as a receptacle for the collected contents of the smaller sap troughs. Kettles were hung above a fire, and the same process of sugar making was pursued, that is so commonly practiced to-day.

Nearly all of the Indians wiio encamped in Penfield, were upon friendly terms with the settlers, and many favors were extended by each race to the other.

W. J. Knapp, who came iiito the woods when a little boy, with his father, remembers playing with the Indian children, particularly one bright, active, handsome little fellow, of whom be learned how to shoot witli bow and arrow.

Spy Buck, an Indian of magnificient physique, and a great hunter, encamped with others of his tribe in the woods for some time one season, and was much admired by many of his pale-faced brethren. He had with him a very beautiful squaw, and the two seemed to live together in a condition of sylvan happiness almost idylic, but one day a party of Indians arrived from the headquarters of tiie tribe in U})per Sandusky, and compelled Sj)y Buck and his band, including the handsome squaw, to return with them. The settlers heard along time afterward that the S(iuaw belonged to another Indian, and that in punishment for their infidelity, she and Spy Buck had been put to death at the stake. The other Indians of this tribe were very reticent in regard to what had become of the two, l)ut it was evident from their manner when the wherealjouts of Sjiy Buck and the squaw was asked, that they knew perfectly well their fate.

Among the last of the Indians who came into Penfield, was Seneca Jolin. In company with sevei'al others, lie had l)een camping for some time in the favorite hunting grounds of this vicinity, and finally some of the settlers nuide up their minds that Seneca John and his untutored companions must leave tlie counti'v. Thi'ee of them constituted themselves a kind of a delegation to make known to the Indians the desire of their white brothers. They took with them a colored man, and proceeding to the hut of Seneca John, informed that dignitary that he and those of his race must depart from the country. Seneca John listened to the spokesman of the ])arty quietly, until he had ceased speaking, and then drawing himself up to his full height, expressed briefly but forcibly his indignation and contempt:

After this brief extempore speech, tlie " four white men" left, and notwithstanding the force of the declaration of independence he had made, Seneca .lolin and his braves cleared the country a few days after.

Wild Animals

The territory lying along the Black river formed the favorite hunting grounds of the wandering bands of Indians, who had headquarters farther west. They enjoyed undisputed jiossession of this forest before the white came in, and still lingered in the vicinity when the settlement contained a dozen families. As the forests disappeared, the Indians and the game went also. Deer were very numerous. The country was full of wild hogs, opossums, jiorcupine, turkeys, raccoons, and the smaller varieties of animals. Beside these, there were wolves and wildcats. Hunting was sufficiently dangerous to be exciting, and those who went into tlie woods to secure material for a dinner, had to be upon their guard lest they should be made a meal of. Lewis Penfield provided himself and family with their first thanksgiving dinner, with his rifle. He was a pretty good siiot, and concluding that some venison would lend attractions to thelioard, he went out a short distance into tlie woods, and in a few minutes time brought down a fine buck. Stephen Knapp was a great hunter, and many instances of his success ill woodcraft might be cited. He was very fond of adveiitui-e, and often made long tramps in ([uest of the hirger kinds of game. He once shot a wildcat under his dwelling house, aud made a huge l)antlier hite the dust, over in the edge of Litchfield township. Several otliers were killed about the same time. Wild turkeys sometimes came very close to the dwellings of the early settlers, and quite a number of them were eiilrai>ped through their temerity, upon one occasion. Quite a flock of them entered Mr. Knapp's barn, to pick up kernels of grain from the floor. They were seen to enter, and one of the family creeping cautiously to the barn, (piickly shut the door. Afterwards the barn was several times baited as a trap, and once or twice the family was successful in making a catch. There were beaver in Peiitleld, but they abandoned their dam very soon after the first sound of the ax was heard in the clearing. The writer was shown by Mr. W. J. Knaiip, the dam which still stands as a monument to the industry of these strange animals. It extends across a swale through which a small stream runs, about a quarter of a mile north of the center. It is now about six feet high above the bed of the stream, and was probably two feet higher wlien constructed. Its form is plainly visible. It is that of an arch, with the convex side up stream. It was built in the place where the minimum of work would secure the maximum of result, aud had the intelligence of man instead of the instinct of animals, been exerted in its construction, it could not have been made more perfect. The extent of the overflow caused by the building of the dam, was from twelve to fifteen acres.

In the matters of birth, a girl got a little the start of the other sex, as girls usually do in all the att'airs of life. The first child born was Harriet, daughter of Peter and Catharine Penfield. The birth occurred in December, 1821. John, son of Amor and Altana Penfield, was the first boy born.

The first marriage in the township was that of Caroline, daughter of David Merwin, Sr., to Dr. Samuel Strong. It took place in 1826. The first resident of the township married, was Lathrop Penfield. He was married March 17, 1824, to Caroline West, of (Jraftou, the ceremony being conducted by Franklin Wells, Esq.

The first litigation, was between Peter Penfiidd and Levi Mills, in the summer of 1820 or 1827. It was in regard to work done uiiou a mill-dam, and the dispute was settled by referees.

The first log house was that built in the fall of 1811), for Peter Penfield, by Seth C. Ingersoll. The first frame house was built by Peter Penfield, upon his homestead, in 1822. The first brick house was built about 185-1, near the center, by Hiram Smith.

The first row of corn was planted Ijy Lathrop Penfield, ill 1820, the small timlier lieing cleared from two acres aud a half of land for this crop. Some wheat was sown the same season, where now stands the first orchard, i)lanted by Peter Penfield.

The township was noted for its fertile soil and fine crops. Corn and the cereals were raised in larger ([uantity and of better quality than in the adjoining townships. It was a not uncommon thing in the first decade of its settlement, for the pioneers of older townships to come here for produce, when, because of inferior soil, and perhaps through want of j)roper tillage, their own crops had proven insufficient.

A farmer once drove into the settlement at the head of a small procession of other farmers, each in a huge wagon, and, addressing one of the resiilents, said: "We come after that for which the children of Israel went to Egypt. - corn!" Tiieir wagons went back heavily laden.

So prolific was the soil, aud so rich the harvest, that, when a name was to be chosen for the township, that of Richland was popularly agreed upon, and before the town was organized the commissioners of Medina county were petitioned to bestow upon it that name. They took it into consideration; but, discovering that there were other localities named Richland, rejected the petition and named the township Penfield, in honor of the first settler. It may be added that the productiveness of the soil has not been decreased by the application of this name. The township is still Rlchlaml, in fact, though Penfield by name; and its farms and orchards fully attest, to-day, the truth of what was said in regard to the agricultural ([ualities of the township fifty years ago, by the men who first felled the forest and broke the ground.

The first township election was ordered to be held upon the first Monday of April, 1825, at the house of Trninan Penfield. The following officers were elected upon that occasion: clerk, Truman Penfield; trustees, Samuel Knapp, Samuel Root, Peter Penfield; treasurer, Lathrop Penfield; overseers of the poor, Lewis Penfield, Calvin Spencer. In 1826, May 27, Benjamin Merwin was elected justice of the peace, the first in the township. At the close of 1878 the township officers were: clerk, Andrew Denliam; trustees, W. C. Hastings, Elisha Sheldon, M. E. Starr; treasurer, A. D. Lindsley; justices of the peace, W. W. Penfield, George H. Norton; constables, W. J. Krebs, Perry Best. School Board: David C. Bunt, president; Samuel McCoy, Calvin Ensign, Foster Lewis, Douglass Goodyear, Edward M. Linder, D. F. Curtice, Orrin K. Starr.

Elisha Fields preached the first week of March in Miat year at David Merwin's house. After that, meetings were held every four weeks until fall, by the same preacher, and then the Rev. Harry 0. Siieldon began his ministrations in the township, speaking to small assemblages at the old log school liouse. Rev. Matthew L. Starr was also an early preacher. He came from the east, and preached his first sermou in an unfinished house, standing upon a workman's licnch which had been left in the largest room of t]u> rather small dwelling.

The first church formed in Penfield was of the Presbyterian denomination. It was organized .January 14, 1829, by Revs. A. H. Betts, Xenophon Betts, Joel Talcott and T). W. Lathrop. Following are the names of the original members: Lewis Penfield and wife, Peter Penfield and wife, Truman Penfield and wife, Amos Penfield and wife, Anizi L. Penfield and wife, Dr. James Hall and wife, and Anna Merwin, wife of David Merwin - thii'teen in all.

The first class of this church was organized in August, 1834, the Rev. A. Billings in ciuirge. It was composed of the following members: Wm. L. Hayes, AuriJla L. Hayes, Mrs. Sarah Hayes, Esther Mary Hayes, Russell H. Starr, Henry G. Witbeck and Freelove Witbeck. But two of the original members ai-e still living - Mr. and Mrs. Wm. L. Hayes. The society at this date, December, 1878, numbers one hundred and sixteen members. The Rev. 'J'homas (r. Roberts is pastor, and the officers of church and society are as follows: stewards, Levi Smith, A. B. Hayes, E. A. Starr (recording), S. Long, Wm. Knapp; class leaders, James Webber, Wm. Furze, Wm. P. Boice, Clapp Starr ; local preachers, P. C. Bunt, George Norton, Mathew L. Starr (superanuated); Sunday school su2ierintendcnt, James Weber; trustees, Orrin Starr; Mathew L. Starr, .Joseph Jones, Geoi'ge Norton, S. Barton, Wilhird Hart, James Webber, Wm. L. Hayes. A cJiurch building was erected in 1842, half a mile east of tlie renter, but the society moved to the center about 1855, and occupied tlie more commodious house at present in use.

In the year 1830 or 1840, the Baptist church was organized with twelve membeis, viz: Rev. Asa Straight and wife, Samuel Knapp and wife, Wm. Rogers and wife, Peter Bost and wife, Mrs. Elisha Sheldon, Mrs. Kellogg Latham, Mrs. Edward Hart, and the mother of Wm. Rogers. Mrs. Siieldon is the only one of the original members living. For some time this church had no ri^giilarly settled pastor, but was suj)plied with pi-eacliing by different ministers. Meetings were held in school houses and private dwellings for several years. In 1853 efforts were made to secure funds for building, and in April of 18.5.5 a house of worship was dedicated. Rev. E. Tibbals being the pastor in chai'ge. Previous to this time, however, the church had a settled minister - Elder George Edwards. The present pastor is the Rev. Michael Shank; deacons, Silas Rogers, Elisha Sheldon; trustees, Elisha Sheldon, W. B. Andrews, Sliubael Knapp; clerk, W. B. Andrews; treasurer, Elisha Sheldon.

Episcopal Church

An Episcopal church was organized in 1844, but did not remain long in existence. The following, from the record of tlie church, explains how it came into being:

"We whose names are hereunto affixed, deeply impressed with the importance of the christian religion, and earnestly wishing to promote its holy influence in the hearts and the lives of ourselves, our families and our neighbors, do hereby associate ourselves together, under the name, and style, and title of the parish of Christ Church, ill the township of Penfield, county of Lorain, and State of Ohio, and by so doing do adopt the constitution and canons of the Protestant Ejiiscopal churcli in the diocese of Ohio, in communion with the Protestant EjiLscopal church of the United States of America.

To the above form the names of twenty subscribers, the number required, were affixed, and a meeting was iield, in conformity to notice given, upon the 13th of August, 1844, at wiiich time Rev. Messrs. Davis and Ilolden, being present, the church was organized and the following officers elected: senior warden, Daniel .Vndrews; junior warden, Beri Andrews; vestrymen, Lewis Jones, Bishop Richmond, William Andrews; clerk, William Andrews. The church never built a house of worship.

Before the usual facilities for teaching were jiro- \i(leil, Clarissa Rising, of Huntington, taught a school in Calvin Spencer's private house, about a mile south of the center. This was the first sciiool in the township, and was held in the summer of 1839. Among the pujiils were Samuel and Jane Penfield, Horace Starr and Betsey Ann Starr, William Avery Penfield, and the Spencer children, Mary Merwin, Harriet Hoyt and David Hoyt. George R. Starr, now of Elyria, taught the second school in the winter of 183!) and 1830, and Lucy Adams also taught after him. The first school house was erected a mile and a half east and about three quarters of a mile north of tlie center. It was a frame structure covered with rough boards. Several log school houses were built aftorwiirds. The first select scliool was taught in 185-1, by Eleazer Hale, an Oberlin student. At tliis writing the township has eight district schools.

Cemetery

The burial place is u]>on a plat of ground, half a mile east of the center, a portion of wliich was donated by Gideon Penficld, in 1840. Additions have been made at various times, as has been made necessary by the increase of the population, and proportionable increase of mortality. There is a family burying ground ujjon the old Samuel Knapp farm, one of the earliest dedicated to those wiio luive have passed over to the silent majority.

It is a notiualdu fact tliat, in the soutliorn part of Loraiu county, and in territory lying contiguous to it, the roads first laid out have been those running from soutli to north. There is an explanation of this fact. We find tliat the settlers in this part of the country, and fm-tlier soutli, had a desire to perfect routes of travel to the lake, for it was there that they naturally expected to find a market, in future years, for the corn and wheat they did not need for home consumption.

The first road tlirough Penfleld, was one of these roads, laid out as a line of travel, l)y which the inland farmers might take their produce to the larger towns near the lake shore, and to the harbors. It is known now as the River road, and was opened from S])encer and Homer, in Medina county, through Penficld, in the early days of the settlement. Much time was spent in its improvement. But little was done upon tlie Penficld and Wellington road for many years, the swamp in the latter township remaining a place to lie dreaded at all times of the year, and nearly, if not quite, impassable during the wet seasons.

The north and south center road was laid out and [ilanked in 18.30, or the following year, and was known as one of the best roads in this part of the country, as long as it was kept in repair. The planks have Ijeon a thing of the past for many years.

Post Office

In the spring of 1830, a mail route was laid out from Medina to Norwalk, through Penfield center. The first mail was carried through in April, by a man named Laborie, who traveled on foot. The Penfields living a mile and half from the line, arranged to deposit all of their mail matter in a hollow tree, at the river crossing, and to have matter left there for them. This was the primitive post office of the township.

In April, 1821, Truman Penfield moved on to the line, and took chavge of the mail, in an informal way, until 1835, when he was commissioned postmaster, lie held the office for many years, and was not a defaulter. His successor was D. W. C. Dixon, and he was succeeded by Lyman Hayes. W. J. Krebs was commissioned as postmaster upon the 17th of December, 1878.

The first saw mill in the township was built !)y Peter Penfield about 1838. Samuel Knapp built one about two years after; and Calvin Sjteneor and others at a still later date. Black walnut timber was so common that it was used very largely for fence rails, and the lumber was sold for only four dollars per thousand. In 1850, a saw mill was built and operated by R. II. Penfield, Horace Penfield, Orrin Starr, Lyman Hayes and Almond Lindsley, for the purpose of furnishing lumber for the plank road leading north through LaOrange. This was burned in 1857, and subsequently rebuilt. It is now owned by W. W. Penfield. There is also another saw mill, witii a flouring mill in conjunction, owned by S. Samson & Son, which was built in 18(!8, by A. C. Hitchcock. Both of these mills are located near the center, upon lot twelve, tract four.

Hi ram Witbcck and John Mcdraw started a cheese factory upon the center road, west of the center, in the spring of 18G9, and took the milk of about three hundred cows. McGraw soon sold out his interest to Witbeck, who contined to run the factory until 1877, when he sold to Mr. Crozier, of Wellington. Christy & Norton started a factory in 18G9, in the south part of the township, conducted it for several years, and then transferred the property to Baldwin & Laundon, of Wellington. This firm also owns the factory started in 1870, east of the river, by a Mr. Benedict, of Litchfield. S. White started a small factory in 1875, which he still manages. There is another factory upon the river, in the northeast part of the township, which was started in 1875, by R,. Ilolcomb, and is now owned by George liozier, of Wellington.

Agricl'Ltural Statistics

The following are the statistics for 1877, showing the amount of the most important productions of the township; also the population in 1870, and the vote for President in 1870:

Truman Penfield

Prominently identified witli tlie material progress and development of Penfield township, and among its most respectable citizens, was Trnman Penfield. Removing to Penfield nearly sixty years ago, he was one of the pioneers of the township, and became one of -its most substantial business men, as well as among its best practical farmers. He not only witnessed the transition of a sjjarsely settled region into a prosperous and flourishing locality, from an uncultivated wilderness to a highly fertile and productive agricultural township, but by his industry, energy and thrift, did much toward the consummation of these various and beneficial improvements.

Truman Penfield was born at Fairfield, Connecticut, October 4, 1789, and died at Penfield, Ohio, April 20, 1868. He was the son of Lewis Penfield, who was born March 3G, 1705. He married Adah Beardslee, January 32, 1780. In 1802, they removed to Harpersfleld, Delaware county. New York, wliere they became respectable citizens.

Truman Penfield was married to Ruth Ann Scoville, May 10, 1814. The fruits of this union were: Samuel S., born -Tnly 13, 1818, in Harpersfield, New York; married Permelia Dayton, September 23, 1839; resides in Penfield. Jaue A., born August 27, 1833, in Penfield, Ohio; was graduated from the Oberlin Collegiate Institute (ladies' course of 1847); in the following year, August 15, 1848, was married to Judge A. W. Hendry, of Sandusky, Ohio, where they have since resided.

Mrs. Ruth A. Penfield died Decembers, 1834. For his second wife, Mr. Penfield married Maria Dayton, of Harpersfield, New York, in September, 1825. The children of this second marriage were: Maria, born August 22, 1828; married Iliram Smith, September 18, 1851; they reside at Flint, l\Iichigan.

William Wirt Penfield was born June 29, 1831; and November 32d, 1854, was married to Martha, daughter of Jedediah (iaylord, of Penfield. He (William W.) has always lived upon the homestead farm at Penfield center, where he was born. In 1873, he removed the old farm house and built a new one, in modern style, an illustration of which, with portraits, adorns another page of our work. He is extensively engaged in raising improved breeds of cattle, with which the old farm is well stocked. In addition to his agricultural pursuits, he is (piite largely interested in the manufacture of lumber, he being the owner of a capacious and well furnished steam saw mill located at the center. He occujiies a leading position in liis township, and in his life and character has admirably tyjiified what well directed energy, perseverance and industry will accomplish.

Truman Penfield, third and last child of Truman and Maria (Dayton) Penfield, was born August 3, 1833; married Sarah, daughter of Levi Caylord, March 20, 1857. He now occupies the position of general ticket and passenger agent for the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad Company, and resides at Hannibal, Missouri. The character for personal integrity and high moral worth which the Penfield family have always maintained, is so well known to the residents of Lorain county that anything of a laudatory nature from us, in this respect, would be superfluous. The desire to improve the locality where he cast his lot nearly sixty years ago, was one of the strongly marked traits of Truman Penfield. His son has done much toward beautifying the homestead, and in adding many improvements, which his father would have done had he lived a few years longer. They have certainly, between them, made Penfield center a delightful as well as a beautiful hamlet, which, in future years, shall remain a monument to their enterprise.

Elisha Sheldon

Closely identified with affiairs tending to develop the general interests of the townshiji of Penfield, and always endeavoring, by his life and character, to exercise a beneficial influence in the community of which for many years he has been a prominent member, Elisha Sheldon to-day deservedly enjoys a foremost position among the best citizens of that township.

Elisha Sheldon was born in the town of Kortright, Delaware county. New York, January 16, 1811. He continued to reside in Kortright until the death of his father, Jonathan Sheldon, which occurred in 1822, when he went to live with an uncle in the adjoining town of Harpersfield, where he lived until he was twenty-two years of age. He was engaged as a team. ster for Croswell & Diekermau, tanners, of Gilboa, Schoharie county. New York, with whom he continued almost one year. In the spring of 1834, he removed to Ohio and purchased one hundred and eightyeight acres, located in the town of Penfield, Lorain county, wpon which he worked, and also by the month, until the fall, when he returned to New York, and the following year married Sallie Peters, and returned to the new home in Ohio, May 3, 1835. He then put up a log cabin, in the midst of an almost unbroken wilderness, into which he moved before it had windows, and lived therein six months before it had a chimney. In the January following, he built that necessary appendage to a comfortable dwelling, his young wife helping to lay the brick. After the elapse of forty-five years, Mrs. Sheldon very appropriately designates her exj)erience in the brick-laying line, as "the spice of pioneer life." The first year of his settlement, Mr. Sheldon cleared off some six or eight acres and sowed it to wheat. Every year since has witnessed some improvement to his farm, to which he added seventy acres, subsequent to his original purchase, upon wliich he still resides. He has deeded to each of liis sons a good farm, thus giving them an infinitely better and easier start iu life tlian he ever had.

Mr. and Mrs. Sheldon have had seven children, namely: Sarah E., now the wife of C. E. Starr, resides in Penfleld; Daniel P. lives at Wellington; Addison resides on a farm in Wcllinglon township; William L. lives on a farm in Pcuriold; Charles II. lives at home with his parents, owning a part of tiie homestead; .James M. and .lohn L. are dead, the former dying at the age of five years and five months, and the latter at the age of almost ten years.

In politics Mr. Sheldon is a republican. He has served his township as assessor and ti-ustee several terms. He and his excellent wife are both members of the Penfield Bai)tist church, of wliich Mrs. Sheldon is the only one of the constituent members now living. This worthy coujile have pulled together forty-four years, and the prospects are for them to celebrate their golden wedding.

Mr. Sheldon is noted for his liberality in sustaining benevolent and charitable institutions, aud for the generous aid he lends to worthy objects connected with religion and education, lie is deservedly esteemed as an upright and honest citizen, a good neighbor, a kind husband and an atfectionate father. He has lived an industrious and busy life, and in the management of his intei'ests has been careful and economical, so that he and his wife, who has largely assisted him iu the accumulation of his property, can pass tiieir declining years iu comparative ease aud comfort. Having always been temperate and regular in his habits, he enjoys perfect good health, and bids fair to exceed liy many years, the allotted span.

Beri Andrews

Prominently connected witii the material interests of Penfield, and among its early and respected citizens was the subject of these lines. He was born in Meriden, Connecticut, February 5, 1800. He was the son of Marvel aud Sallie (Bronson) Andrews, both of whom were natives of Connecticut, and among the worthy citizens of that State. At the age of twentythree, Mr. Andrews married Eliza Hall, the union resulting in four children - two sous aud two daughters, namely: Bela, now married and settled in Henry county, Illinois; Hannah E., Sarah B. and William B., all living on the homestead farm. Mrs. Andrews died April 31, 1857. On the twenty-ninth of April, 1858, he married Amy, daughter of Jonathan Sheldon. She survives him.

In 1834 Mr. Andrews moved to Lorain county, Ohio, and settled on the farm where his widow now resides. The place then contained over three hundred

Mr. Andrews held several offices, notably those of township clerk and justice of the peace, in which he served with general satisfaction to the people, and with jiersonal credit. He was an exemplary member of the Protestant Episco])al Church, of which he was senior warden for many years. After an eminently useful life Mr. Andrews died October 0, 1868. He was a man who was greatly respected for his many excellent qualities. A good practical farmer, and an industrious and honest citizen, his death was felt as an irreparable loss in the community in which he had lived so long, and in which his worth was well known and so generally appreciated.

A portrait of himself and widow, together with a view of the old homestead, is inserted in this work, as a deserved testimonial of a meritorious life, and as a token of regard from her to whom his many virtues wereiis a household word, and to whom his death was a sad bereavement.

Among the representative pioneers of Penfield township, who have materially assisted in the growth and progress of that town, none are more worthy a place in its history than Orrin Starr. Emigrating to this section of the country forty-five years ago, at a time when the territory now embraced within the limits of the township, contained but two frame dwellings, and when the number of families therein did not exceed a half score, he has contributed not a little to its l)resent prosperity. Orrin Starr was born in Delaware county, New York, October 30, 1803. He is the son of Eleazar and Rebecca (Clapp) Starr, old settlers of that county. He received what literary education he ever obtained at the common schools of iiis native county. When seven years of age his father died, and the duty of helping to provide for his widowed mother devolved upon him, which duty he cheerfully preformed, assisted by his elder brothers. 1 lis early years were spent on the homestead farm. Iu 1834 he sold out his interest in the family estate and emigrated to Lorain county, Ohio, and settled on tlie farm now occupied by David Drake, aud located about one mile and a half northeast of Penfield ecu - lor where Mr. Starr now resides. On the 13th of September, 1835, he was married to Abigail, daughter of Heman and Lucinda Ilickok, of Schoharie county. New York.

Hon. Heman Hiekok was born in Watertown, Connecticut, and removed iu au early day to JefEerson, Schoharie county. New York, where he was extensively engaged iu farming and milling. He was a public benefactor, and for many years a justice of the peace of his town, a side judge, aud also a member of the legislature of the State of New York. In 1833

Mr. Ilickok and his wife removed to Ashtjibula county, Ohio, wliere tliree of their sons, Ambrose, Homan C. und Hiniin, had preceded them some years.

Til is worthy couple have now lived together harmoniously for fifty-three years, having celebrated their golden wedding three years ago, suri'ounded by many relatives and friends. They had eleven children, of whom six survive. The names of the children are as follows : Melinda, deceased ; Minerva and Maria, twins ; tlie former lives in Penfield, the latter in Michigan; Elizabeth, died in Kansas, Alonzo B. died of disease contracted in the army, at Mount Vernon, Kentucky ; Hiram H. resides in Nebraska, Emma L. deceased ; Edna, resides in Oberlin ; Clapp R., Marian A., deccixsed. Those living are all married and settled in life and are good and respectable citizens.

Mr. Starr is a republican in politics, and was formerly an old line whig. He was elected to the office of justice of the peace in his township, but resigned after serving about a year, feeling as though his time was required in the management of his pei'soual affairs. He has also been elected to other township offices. Mr. and Mrs. Starr are lioth members of the Methodist Episcopal church, the latter having joined it in the days of her youth. Mr. Starr now owns a fine farm of two hundred and thirty-seven and a half acres, located at the center, an illustration of the buildings of which, with portraits of himself and wife, appears on another jwge of this work.

Mr. and Mrs. Starr are not only among the pioneers of their town, but are also among its most respectable and influential citizens ; and no history of the town of Penfield would have been complete without a representation of themselves and their home. Their entire career has been characterized by an honest endeavor to promote the best interests of their children, and to leave a record behind them worthy the emulation of those who follow. Industry, economy and a determination to succeed have been the prime factors of llieir life work, and the results have been alike ilatleriutr and well deserved.

Street Goodyear And Family

Eli Goodyear, father of Street, the subject of this sketch, married Sally Hitchcock, both residents of Hampden, Connecticut. They had five children, viz: Chester, Wooster, Ezra, Lucinda and Street.

Street Goodyear was born May 19, 1808, and unforliinatoly, during his youthful days, he had little opportunity of gaining even a good common school education; but being possessed of a quick and active brain, he, by observation, or rather by intuitive perception, acquired good business qualifications, enabling him to make progress where others might have failed. At the age of eight years he was left without a protector to shield him from the rough, thorny pathway of life; but by rare good sense, and pleasant mien, he won his way step by steji uj) the rugged hill of fortune. He was married November 25, ISS-l, to Miss Susan A. Jones, of North Madison, Connecticut.

Mr. Joseph and Mrs. Lucy (Austin) Jones were residents of North Madison, Connecticut. They were parents of twelve children, viz: Sally M., Lewis, Austin, Lucy Ann, Nancy, Polly, Caroline, Joseph, Emeline, Henrietta, George and Susan A., all bora in North Madison, Connecticut. All are now living excepting Polly and Lucy Ann.

After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Street Goodyear settled in Northford, Connecticut, where four of their children were born, viz: Jane Ann, born March 27, 183C; Gilbert L., born June 35, 1837; Francis R., born October 12, 1841, died October 29, 1849; and Edward S., born August 39, 1843.

Ill the fall of 1844, the family removed to Penfield, Lorain county, Ohio, establishing a new home amid the wilds of an unbroken forest, where wild beasts roamed at night in search of prey. After settling in this pioneer home, two more jewels were added to the mother's crown, viz: Douglas J., born June 14, 1840; Lucy Ann, born January 4, 1851. Jane Ann married Hiram Witbeck and settled in Penfield; number of children seven. Gilbert L. married Nettie Stewart, of Hinkley, Medina county - only one heir. Edward S. married Miss Mary Crane, of Penfield; they have two children. Douglas J. married Miss Mary E. Ecker, of Rousburg, Ashland county, Ohio, three heirs; Lucy Ann remains single, ministering to the wants of the many. Like a sister of merey, doing good as opportunities are presented.

Mr. and Mrs. Goodyear, early experiencing a change of heart, they became members of the Congregational church in Northford, Connecticut, remaining in good and regular standing until their removal to Ohio.

After a short sojourn in their pioneer home they united with the Methodist Episcopal church, becoming active and efficient members, and workers in the vineyard of the Lord.

The toils and struggles consequent upon a pioneer life, and the man}' cares laid upon willing hands, have (piite unfitted Mrs. Goodyear for enjoying the blessing of health. She being an invalid, is dependent upon others to guide the faltering footsteps along the shore of time. Of a quiet and pleasing address, and social temperament, she wins affection, and binds with cords of love the hearts of her household.

Although Mr. (Joodyear's life has been one of almost constant toil, he has ever been personally a ' stranger to sickness, and yet remains an active, energetic man for one of his years. His perseveringindustry has yielded a competence sufficient for all necessai-y wants, and he is wont to compare the present with the past, when immediate wants compelled him to work for his more fortunate neighbors, receiving his pay in grain, which he was forced to take upon his back (for want of an easier conveyance) and go

To procure money necessary to pay taxes, he was compelled to fell trees, ])ile them in immense heaps, then burn to ashes, and convert into black salts, they being the only article that would command cash on delivery in the pioneer days.

How little the sons and daughters of the present time know of the toils and struggles endured to secure the independence now enjoyed by them. If they would seek for enlightenment, let them question such men as Mr. Goodyear, whose life lessons wore learned in the tread-mill of experience.

La Grange

La Grange is township number four, range seventeen. It presents to one who drives through its territory an appearance of thrift and plenty. Broad, well tilled fields, huge barns, almost bursting with their store, snug farm houses, and beautiful villas moot the eye upon all sides, and silently attest the wisdom, the energy, and the cultivated taste of their owners.

Physical Featukes

The township is almost perfectly level, except in the extreme eastern and western parts, where it is traversed by small streams. Here the surface is somcwiuit rolling, The east branch of the Black river flows from south to north, through the eastern portion of the township, and Wellington creek, a small rivulet, diversifies the western part, and adds a pleasing element to the landscape. The soil is. for the most part, clay, or a clay loam, though there are small areas in which sand and gravel ajtpear. Deep down, 'under all, is the solid sandstone, which, had it lain nearer the surface, would have proved a vast element of wealth. It only appears at the surface in the northwest corner of the township, where it is ipiarried in a small way.

The Okkhnal I'Koprietoks

of La Grange township were Henry Chamiiion and Lemuel Storrs, the former having drawn two-thirds and the latter one third of the laud. These men also had three thousand, seven hundred acres in tract eight, range nineteen, now in Brighton and Camden. In 18:i5, Champion conveyed his portion of the lands to his sou-in-law, Elizur Goodrich, of Hartford, Connecticut. Goodrich was not long in possession of his western estate, for he began exchanging it, in the summer of the same year, for New York State property. Nathan Clark, Roger Pheli)S, Noah Ilolcomb, and .James I'elton, of Jefferson county, were the first to obtain land of him, and soon others followed their example, the "westward, ho!" fever extended, and so it came about that a colony of New Y6rkers was located in the wilderness of -southern Loraiu county.

Phelps, Ilolcomb, and Pelton, in the autumn of 182.5, came out to examine the land. After a short stay, they returned, and made so favorable a report that others, among whom were David and Asa Rockwood, Fairchild Hubbard, .Joseph Robbins, Sylvester Merriam, and Levi Johnson were induced to jjurchase farms. They, too, exchanged lands with Goodrich.

The First Settlement

was made by Nathan Clark, on the 14th day of November, 1825. Clark was a native of Harlem, Connecticut, and was married in ISKi, to Ann Loomis, who came with him to Ohio. He settled near the cast branch of Black river, and resided there for some time, but afterward bought lot number fifty-one, upon which he remained until 1855, when he removed to Michigan, in which State he died in 1860. His first wife died in 1833, and he subse(piently married Lucy Barnes.

As soon as the season of 1836 opened so as to allow journeying over the rough roads, and through the almost unbroken woods, the families of Noah Ilolcomb, Sylvester Jlerriam, James Disbrow, Joseph A. Graves, James Pelton, Levi Johnson, Curtis Hastings, Charles Rounds and two sons, Joseph Robbins, David and Asa Rockwood and Henry Townsend came into the township, and each established a rude and primitive home. Fairchild Hubbard came in November, from Brighton, where he had been living for severtil months.

There were, in the latter part of the year 1826, seventy persons within the ])resent limits of LaGrange, some in the east, some in the west, some at the center and still others in the northern and southern portions of the township. All however were neighbors. Men living five miles apart in those days knew more of each other than do many uow-a-days who occupy the same city house, and felt more truly friendly concern for each other than exists at present, in most cases, between neighbors whose gardens adjoin. Half a century ago there was a vast deal of sincerity in the daily greetings of the people, a sincerity which the Araert

Altlioiigli there was now quite a settlement, people who had been accustomed to the more advanced conditions of life upon the farms or in the villages of New York, felt an almost unbearable sense of loneliness. Tlie comparative isolation in whicii they dwelt was new to them, and their hearts turned fondly back to the old love, to the place of their birth and early life, around which hung the halo of the dearest associations and memories. At this period, there was scarcely a man or woman in the little colony who would not have gladly returned to the old home, had it been feasible to leave the new without sacrificing everything. Several did leave. Those who remained overcame more obstacles, and in the end accomplished more than their fondest hope had ever painted. Tiie country, they found, was not all that the first cnthuastic writers had represented it to be. The soil was of a nature difficult to handle with the rude implements they had; teaming was difficult, on account of llie wet condition of the undrained ground; and the timljer was of extremely large growth, rendering the clearing of the forest a greater task than in many other portions of the country. There were many hardships to be endured. Food was at certain seasons hard to obtain. Leeks grew in abundance, and were for a time about the only edible vegetable that the settlers could procure. The cows fed upon them, and their milk was tainted by the pungent bulbs. Cattle were too valuable to be slaughtered for food; aiul when game failed, some of the hardy pioneers were driven to expedients whicli tlieir gra.nd-children or great-grand-ehildren of to-day would fancy they could not endure. It is related of the children in one family, that in a time when the provision store was low, they obtained their principal sustenance from basswood buds, which they climbed the trees to get. Murrain attacked the cattle, and often the pioneer was obliged to lose the value of considerable time expended in preparing the soil for a crop, because his oxen were suddenly stricken with this disease, to which they generally succumbed. Tliere were few vehicles of any kind in the settlement. One man owned a wagon, of which he frequently made two carts, whicli he rented to the neighbors. The price paid for the loan of one of them to make a journey to Elyria was a day's work in logging.

There was every thing to overcome, and but very little at hand to do it with. The men who persevered in the long, hard struggle, and hewed out homes for themselves from tlie primeval forest, made the begining of what is now one of the most thriving, wealthy and respectable communities in the county. Every [iioneer who entered tlie Reserve, was a hero wlio should be reverently and thankfully remembered by those whom he prepared the way, and as fully as the limited knowledge of the facts and the limited force of words will permit.

Of all who came to La Grange in 1836, Joseph Robbins alone remains to tell of the privation and toil of the early settlers. He is still living at the age of ninety years, the father of eight children, three of whom, Nicholas L., George H. and Mrs. Delos Dernier reside in the township. Nicholas L. lives upon a farm of one hundred and thirty-three acres, a mile or more west of the center, with his wife Harriet Lamoure, daughter of an early settler, and is probably as well preserved a man of three score years, as the county contains. George II. is a merchant, and it is under his roof that his aged father's later years have been spent. Josiali, or Deacon Robbins, as he is generally known, came from Champion, Jefferson county, New York, in 1820, and settled one mile west of the present village, ujion the farm now owned by Allen Sanders. He lived here with his wife, Mehitable Ilurlburt, for thirty-flve years, and then came to the cornel's. He is a man whom all revere, and his long life has been spent for the good of all who have been within the reach of its influence. Mehitable, his wife, died in 1878.

Of tiie other settlers who came at the same time Deacon Robbins entered the county, and all of whom are now dead, but little can be learned. Noah Holcomb settled u]ion a farm on the southeast corner of the township; Sylvester Merriam in the eastern part on what is now the River road. He died in 18(i3, May sixth. .James Disbrow settled on the same road in the southern part of the township. .Joseph A. Graves located on the east and west road near the boundary of Grafton. Fairchild Hubbard settled near the center, led a long and useful life, aiid was widely known and resiiected for his many good (pialities. He died in 1859, at the age of eighty-eight years.

One Hundred Year.S Old

David Rockvvood, born in Manciiester, New llani|)- shire, October 4, 1777, married Roba, daughter of Ciiarles Rounds, of C!lianipion, New York, and came to LaGrange in 1820, arriving on the 5th of -June. He was the oldest mnn in thetownsliip when lie died, having reached tlie age of one hundred years one month and twenty-five days. He died November 28, 1877, having been a resident of LaGrange for over half a century. The helpmate who came with him had an experience of pioneer life in strange disproportion to his. She died the year after coming into her new home and was the first person who passed over to the silent majority from the little settlement. Mr. Rockwood married Polly or Patty Graves in 1828, and she died in 1844. Two years afterwards he married Mrs. Lindsley, of Elyria. David Rockwood was the father of thirteen children, three of whom live in La Grange. F. W. Rockwood lives u]>on a farm in the northwest corner of the township, near tiic one upon which his father settled. There are also two daughters - Mrs. Emetine Gott and Mrs. Palina Bussell. There are twenty-two grandchildren, descendants of David Rockwood, and thirty-eight great-grandchildren.

The funeral was iieid Deeeniber 2d, four days after the decease of the centennarian pioneer, and was one of the most impressive ceivmonies ever witnessed in the vicinity. The sermon was i)reached by tlie Rev. Jolm Mitchell, before a very large audience conqwsed of the people of LaG range and the aged friends of the deceased from adjoining and distant to\vnshi|)s. After its c'onclusion the masonic fraternity, of which Mr. Rockwood had been a meml)er for over seventy years, took charge of the service and conducted their solemn burial rite. David Rockwood well illustrated the truth of the old saying, that the longest life is too short. He said upon the one hundredth anniversary of his birth that as he looked back upon his pilgrimage it seemed bi'ief, very brief.

Asa Rockwood, who came into the country aboul the same time as his brother David, remained in LaGrange but a short time and then removed to I'ittsfield. John Rockwood, a nei)hew, came to the townshi]! in 1S2S, and made the first settlement on tJie street north of the center, on the farm now owned by W. W. Noble.

In 1837 there were a number of additions to the populiition of the township, prominent among whom was Rev. Julius Becman, of Otsego county. New York. He was promised by Goodrich fifty acres of land on condition that he would move into the townsliip and officiate as a minister of the gospel for ten years. He accepted, and ufter the lapse of ten years, during which he had done good service in the settlement for his religion, received a deed of the propei'ty. He was the first preacher who settled in the neighborhood and the only one for miles around. His work Wiis not confined to LaGrange, foi' ho rode into all of the adjoining territory and held sei'viees in a number of localities at considerable distance from his iiome. He died in 1853, at the advanced age of eighty, retaining his faculties in a marked degree of excellence to tiie last. He was a native of Warren, rvitchfield county, Connecticut, and was born January 28, 1773. He commenced preaching when twentyeight years old, in IJensselaer county. New York, having been ordaineil in 1803.

Calvin Wilcox was another of the settlers of 1827. He was born November 7, 1790, in Charlestown, Montgomery county. New York, and came to Wellington in 1825. Two years later he settled at La- Grange center, and married Harriet, a daughter of Fairchild Hulibard. Ho was a man who held deservedly the high esteem of his neighbors, and through their election held various offices of honor and trust. He died in 1871.

Hewey Noble came in 1828 from New York, and made the second settlement upon the road north of the center, on the farm owned in 1878 by Mr. Blackwell. He died ujion this place in 1871.

Russell Loomis, now living aged ninety-two years, canie in 1829, and took up a farm lying next the one uiion which he now lives, which is in lot fifty. He was born in 1780, in Coventry, Connecticut. He has one son living in the same house with him, R. N., aged sixty-two years.

Jeremiah Filley was a noteworthy and eccentric genius, who came into the township in LS3(i. It is said that ho cleared and caused to be cleared over two thousand six hundred acres of land. He was a remarkably shrewd man in bargaining, an energetic, wide awake man in the now fast growing community, and a great hunter.

An Indian Incident

of curious character, in which Pilley played a prominent ])art, is always suggested to old settlers i)y the mention of his name. Most of the Indians had disaj)peared from the county by the time Filley arrived, but a few remained, and usually made their place of rendezvous Indian Hollow, in Carlisle township. They were occasionally to be seen sweeping through the woods upon their jionies, in pursuit of deer, and sometimes camped within the territory of La Grange. Filley had met them more than once, and had doubtless resorted to various means to get them to leave the country. At any rate, they were known to entertain anything but friendly feelings toward him. One day while hunting, he came ujion a party of them, and after a short conversation, succeeded in rousing the rod men's ire to such a point, that they threatened to kill him. He saw that there was no lack of intention on their part, and resorted to a bold plan to make good his escape. The Indians' rifics were loaning against a tree, at a little distance from them, and in this fortunate circumstance, Filley saw his deliverance from danger. He drew his own rifie to his face, suddenly, raised the hammer, and covering, with accurate aim, the little party of braves, told them that the first who moved would be the first to die. Keeping the gun to his shoulder, and his eye upon the Indians, he slowly retreated until he had gained a safe distance, when he changed his tactics, and ran for dear life. After that, he very naturally felt somewhat suspicious of Poor Lo, and avoided his society. Several weeks, or perhaps months, after his narrow escape from the tender mercies of the Senecas, the hunter had occasion to pass the scene of the unpleasant little occurrence, and found blazed upon a large tree, his own portrait, full length and life sized, while upon other trees surrounding this one, were the figures of Indians, all with their guns pointed toward the central figure. This hieroglyphic work, the hunter interpreted as a threat to take his life, should the Indians ever have the pleasure of meeting him again. The scene of the occurrence was in the woods, only a short dis- tance northecast of what is now the village of La Grange. Tlie representations of men cut or blazed upon the trees have been seen by many persons now living, and are said to have been reniarkaly natural and suggestive. Filley gave up the life of a woodman aud hunter, became a ])reacher, and wont to Michigan. Tlie settlement grew fast from the year 18cO. In 1831 there were fifty-seven families in tlie township, more than twice as many as in 1828; in 1835 there were one hundred and seven, and in 1840 there were one hundred and thirty-four. Tlie amount of public expenditures for the year ending March 2, 1829, was ten dollars and thirty-four cents.

Horace Sanders came to the township in 1830 or 1831, a,nd is now represented by a son, Allen Sanders, who lives upon tlio old Robbins farm, lots fifty-eight and sixty-tliree.

H. C, or as he is commonly called, Casey Hastings, like most of the other settlers, came from New York. He first took a farm on the road running east from the farm of Mr. Adams, but sold out and bought in lots forty-four and forty-seven, a mile west of the center. He is at the present writing seventy-two years of age. He is tlie father of ten children, and they form a remarkable family. His five sons and himself atrgregate a weinlit which makes their average over two hundred pounds apiece. Mr. Hastings has some lively recollections of the ferocity of the wild or "shack" hogs, wiiich were ({uite numerous when he came to tlie country. He went out to hunt the next nioi'uing after his arrival, and was very skeptical when told about the savageness of the undomesticated porkers. He was soon convinced, however, tiiat all lie had been told was true, for a small herd charged upon him, and he only saved himself from their tusks by climbing high up among the roots of a fallen tree, by which he was fortunately standing when the hogs made the onslaught. One of them fastened its jaws upon his boot-heel and bent it off. These wild hogs were perhaps a greater cause of annoyance than the wolves were, to the early settlers of La Grange and its vicinity. They were certainly more savage, and unlike wolves, would never hesitate to attack a man in the woods. They were occasionally used for food, but the moat was coarse, spongy and ill flavored.

The year 1832 was a good one for the settlement, jis it witnessed a large increase in the population. During the year came the families of Adolphus Gott, Peter Gott, Josepli Lincoln, William Lamoure, Joiiatluiu Olmsted, and others, and in the same or the following year I'liineas and Harvey Powers arrived.

Adolphus Gott bought a farm one mile south and two miles west of the center and Peter Gott, a farm about a mile and a half northwest from the center upon which his son, William H. now lives. He has two other sons and a daughter living in the township. Jonathan Olmsted bought a farm adjoining Gott's. Joseph Lincoln bought two miles southwest of the center. Lamoure bought west of the center. William Ormsby came in the same year as the above. He is*

A silk enterprise engaged the attention of Phineas Powers. He came from Worcester, New York, bought land southwest of the center, made a clearing, and, conceiving the idea of establishing himself in the silk producing business, he planted in 1830 upon six acres of ground, twenty thousand mulberry trees. He erected a factory, procured silk worm eggs from Ashland, and was soon rewarded for his enterprise by having a ([uar.tity of skeins ready fm- the market. He was assisted in the manufacture by his sister, Mrs. Sibley, and the two seem to have brought a large share of good judgment and industry to bear upon the business. The county ])aid a premium of fifteen cents per pound upon all silk manufactured, and this, with the legitimate profit of trade, led Mr. Powers to anticipate success. But unfortunately the worms all died the second year, and nearly all the money and labor expended in the enterprise was lost. Powers went to Ashland, remained there six years, returned to La Grange, and after a short time removed to Cleveland. Such, in brief, is the history of one among many failures in a business which, forty years ago, held out perhaps more inducements to the man of speculative turn of mind than any other.

The Freemans - Simeon and Olive - with their sons Bonian, Glen J. and F. N., came in 1834, and the father settled upon lot forty-eight, at present owned by Bomau, Sr. R. Freeman, Joshua E. Freeman, F. R, Freeman, and Henry Freeman, came about the same time. The heads of these families have all passed iway.

Prominent among the settlers of 1833 was Nathan P. Johnson, of Hartford, Washington county, New York. He married eleven years before coming into Ohio, Laura Waite, of Champion. Mr. Johnson was elected to the legislature, in 1844 and 1855, and elected senator in 184G. While serving in this capacity he took a strong stand against the repudiation of the State debt, a position which made him unpojiular with his party at the time, but won res])ectforhim in the end. His wife died in 184(;, aud he afterward married Mary Hart, of Elyria. In 18(52 he moved lo the center, and was apjiointed postmaster by President Lincoln. He held this ottice until bis death in !874. He spent his life in doing good, and he was 'lighly esteemed by all who knew him.

David C. Peltoii came to the township in the same year. He has been married three times, and is the fatlicr of twenty-one children, two of whom, a son, Floyd, and daughter, Mrs. Lydia Crowner, live in the township.

Allen Sheldon and his wife, Anna Mari.a, settled also in 1833, on a farm one and a half miles west of the center, now owned by a son. Colonel L. A. Shelilon. There are two other sons, Wm. E. and F. Y. L. A. Sheldon was colonel in the Forty-second regiment Ohio volunteer infantry, and was elected to congress three terms - 1868, '70 and '72, from the

IIoratH! Knowles came in 1833, from Wellington, Massachnsetts. He was until recently in excellent health, and is said to have done as much hard work as any man who ever lived in the townshi]), accumulating thereby a snug fortune for himself and a competency for his children. His wife, Catharine, died in 1877. Mr. Knowles is at this writing eighty-three years of age.

Minor C. Noble and Peter Crowner arrived in 1834, and took up lands, the former in the northern part of the town and the latter about a mile north and a mile west of the center. Both are living. Mr. Noble is eighty-one years of age and Mr. Crowner eighty-three. Four generations of the Crowner family are living. INIr. Noble had three sons and three daughters. W. W. Noble and M. E. Noble own farms about two miles north of the center ujjon the old plank road.

The first cliihl, born in the township, was Eliza, daughter of Henry Townsend. The date of her birth is in dispute. It is said by some that she was born June 3, I82G, but there is a strong probal)ility that she first opened her eyes upon this world in November of the same year. Miss Townsend went, when seven years of age, to Geauga county.

An event of considerable interest to the whole community, and particularly to Curtiss and Patty Hastings, their parents, was the birth of the twins, Goodrich and Hubbard Hastings, so named after the origiluil proprietors of the township. They were born June 2G, 1837. The twins were honored by visits from all the people for miles around, and were the objects of much curiosity and admiration. It is related that they were rocked to sleep in a saj) trough. I'loth iire now living near the place where born. E. II. llastiugs has a farm of two hundred and twentysix acres, and E. G. Hastings one of one hundred and forty-two, ujion which his father also has his home.

The first marriage and the first death occuri'cd in the year 1837. A very hapjiy occasion was that of the marriage of Calvin Wilcox, of Wellington, to Harriet, daughter of Fairchild and Phebe Hubbard. The liiidegroom and a party of friends rode upon horseback from Wellington, and their horses stood tethered out of doors all night, awaiting their return. The (-cromony was conducted by Rev. Alfred Betts, of Hrownhelm, who earned his fee by riding twenty miles though the woods, to officiate at the wedding. The bridal trip was by bridlepath to Wellington, and was performed upon the day following the wedding. This nujitial knot was tied March 8, 1827.

In the fall of the same year, November seventh, the hearts of the pioneer settlers were first saddened by llie presence of the great destroyer in their midst. The family visited was that of David Rockwood, and the member taken was a loving wife and mother. She died after a short illness, of bilious fever, and the friends assembled at the bereaved home to attend the funeral, sad beyond the power of words to tell, and solemn in its simplicity. There was no saljle hearse, no retinue of carriages, no luxurious or conventional expression of grief, no funeral sermon, but tenderly and lovingly the inaninnite body was laid in earth after a homely, earnest prayer and the singing of a good old hymn. Hearts were left aching as they ever have since man came upon the earth, and ever will until the race is no more. That was all. Deacon Graves conducted what little there was of funeral service, and when the burial had been made, the sorrowing people disjjcrsed to their homes. Mrs. Rockwood was a daughter of Charles and Lydia Rounds, of Chamjjion, New York.

A terrible fate befel two young children of Josepli Lincoln and wife. These people, as has been before stated, settled in 1833 upon the farm now owned by Reuben Wright, two miles southwest of the center. A few years after, as Mr. Lincoln and his wife were returning, one winter evening, from a visit to a friend about three miles distant, they were startled by finding their house on fire; and when they arrived at the l)lace, they made the horrifying discovery that two of their children liad been burned alive. Two older children, girls, had escaped from the house before it was completely wrapped in flames, but were so frightened that they lost their presence of mind, and were unable to render the fire-imprisoned little ones any assistance. They saw the children at the windows, and heard their agonizing shrieks until they perished in the flames. Speaking of the casualty in after years, the sisters said that the memory of the horrible scene would haunt them to their dying day.

The first frame building in the township was a barn erected by David Rockwood, on his farm near the east branch of Black river; and the first frame building at the center was a store upon the s<nitheast corner of the s(piare, put up and occupied by Dr. Hubbard. Calvin Wilcox built for his own occiipaney the first frame dwelling house. The first brick building was the store of Rol)bins & (iott, at the center, biiill, in 1805.

Curtiss Hastings drove the first horse team owned in the townshiji. It is said that on one occasion he was three days in making a journey to pjlyria and back, such was the state of the road.

The commissioners of L(U-ain county, at the .June session, in 1824, attached La Grange townshij) to Carlisle, for civil and judicial purposes, and it was not until 1837 that it was separately organized. It was detached in January, of the year mentioned, and the first election, at which twenty-nine ballots were cast, was held at the house of Fairchild Hubbard, in April following. These are the otficers elected: Eber W. Hubbard, township clerk; Noah Holcomb,

Noah Kellogg, and Paircliild Hubbard, trustees; James Disbrow, treasurer; Joseph A. Graves and Natlian Clark, overseers of the poor; James Disbrow and Henry Townsend, fence viewers; Henry Hubbard, constable; Henry 'J'ownsend and Nathan Clark, supervisoi's; El)er W. Hubbard, justice of the ])cace. Faircliild Hubbard, Joseph A. Graves, and Noah Holconil) acted as judges of election, and Eber W. and Henry Hulibard as clerks.

The townshij:) was given its name by Dr. Eljer W. Hubbard, a great admirer of General La Payette, whose country home in Prance was called La Grange.

Cheese Factories, Saw Miles, Etc

The first saw mill in the township was built on the farm of Noah Holcomb, by Andrew Holcomb, aiid tjie lirst grist mill was a very weak one-horse power affair, in tlie north part of the town, of which one Cross was the proud proprietor. La Grange has now its full share of manufactories, of various kinds. - most of tliem are in the village. There is an old llouring and saw mill on the east brancli of Black river, two miles east of the center, the property of Bradley Woodmansee, and there are three in the village.

Of cheese factories, there are three outside of the . village, one owned by L. G. Parsons, half a mile east : of tlie old plank road, and two miles and a half north from the center; one owned by George Kelner, two miles northwest from the center; and Crozier & Sheldon's factory, two miles east, and a mile and a half ^Duth of the center.

.Toel Curtiss has a cliecsebox factory a mile west of flie center, and two miles south, whicli su])plies many clieese factories in the vicinity, and some .at a considerable distance.

Burial Places

The remains of Mrs. David Rockwood, the first person who died in La Grange, were interred in a small "chopi)ing," or clearing, upon the farm of Deacon Robbins, in the western portion of the township, and rested there for seventeen years, when they were removed and re-interred upon Mr. Rockwood's farm.

Tlie first cemetery laid out was the one on the north side of the road, just west of the center. Here repose, after toilsome and noble lives, many of the brave pioneers of La Grange. There are two other cemeteries, one upon the River road, in the eastern part of the township, and one in the northwest corner. The first burial in the cemetery at the center was a child of Lewis Rounds, aged two j'ears.

La Grange Village

Lying exactly in the center of tlie townshij), ipuirtered by the nortli and south and the east and west roads, built up about an open square, is the well-to-do, progressive little village of La Grange. It has a handsome brick town hall, seventy-eight \>y thirt^'-eight feet, built in 1875, three churches, a hotel, nearly a dozen stores, several quite extensive manufactories, and as well educated, well behaved class of citizens as any community in the county.

The growth of "the corners," or the center, had liecn a slow and steady one through many years, but the size of the little village increased so fast during a few years prior to 1875, that the people began to think of having a corporation government, and accordingly petitioned for a charter in the year mentioned. The first election was held April 8, 1875, and the choice of officers resulted as follows: Mayor, J. E. Willard; clerk, D. D. Gott; marshal, P. Holcomb; councilmen for one year, A. Ryan, G. H. Robbins and Wm. Hopkins; for two years, D. Holcomb, E. L. Gott and 0. Dale; and treasurer, D. L. Gott. In 1870, the councilmen elected were: A. Ryan, Wm. Hopkins aiul Chas. Kelner. The officers elected in 1877 were; Mayor, E. W. Clark; clerk, A. A. Cragin; marshal, Horace Knowles, Jr. ; councilmen, 0. Dale, .1. C. Willard and George Wliitney; treasurer, C. C. Manville; and street commissioner (appointed), Rufus Knowles. The office of mayor was made vacant by Clarke's departure from town, and at a special election, L. L. Crane was elected to fill the vacanc}^ In 1878, three councilmen were elected; Chas. Kelner, N. Marcey and J. B. Hastings.

The Religious History

of La Grange shows a stalwart growth from a small beginning. The people of this township, however, were of good material for the leaven of religious feeling to work in. Tlie efforts of the early preachers were warmly seconded by the early settlers, who had come from a part of the country in which churches had long been estaljlished. There was from the first a feeling favorable to the organization of the institutions of I'eligion. Something has already been said of the labors of the first preachei'. Rev. Julius Beemau, and a few facts in regai'd to his son-in-law. Rev. P. R. Preeman, who was a strong and influential minister, will not be inappropriate in this connection. He was born October ti, 1805, in Worcester, Otsego county. New York, and was married, by her father, to Lucy Beeman, in October of 1826. In 1838, he came to La Grange, where he remained until 1850. He cleared two farms, set out two orchards, and shared nearly all of the hardships of pioneer life. It was while in the midst of these labors and trials that he entered the ministry. Up to the time of his departure, Mr. Preeman ])reached almost uninterruptedly in La Grange,

Pittsficld anil iici,i;hVi(iring t.owiisliii)S. He was ono of tlio soviMi men in fiii (Grange wlio voted for Hirney, abolition caiulidato for the Presidency, :ind was a member of tlie Buffalo Convention of 1848, wlicrcat was formed the free soil party. Mr. Freeman is the only jierson living, of all the iiunibcr who were iqion the deck of the first steam packt^t in the world - the Clcremont - before, during, or just after the great (rial from New York to Albany, lie was a child two years of a.ge at the time, and was carried on board of Kulton's famous steamboat, upon her arrival at Albany, by his father. Mr. Truman's age is now seventy-tour years, and that of liis wife seventy. His home, at the present writing, is and has been, since \s:>i), in Jjlinois.

was organized as early as 18'iS, only three years after the first settler came to the township. It might, l)erhaps, l)e called the first fruit of Rev. .Julius ]5eeman's labors. May 13th there assembled eighteen persons who wei-e the constituent meml)ers of the church, - Julius and Charlotte Heeinau, (Miarles and Lydia Rimnds, Hannah Pearce, Noah Jlolcomb, Sr., Eunice Ilolcomb, Polly Hastings, Noah Holcomb, Jr., Alice Holcomb, \Vm. Case, Alfred Stilwall, I'hobe Stilwall, Laura Ilerrick, Joseph Itobl)ins, Joseph A. Graves, Jerusha Graves and Asenath Morgan. Deacon lloljbias is the only one of the original uuaiibers now alive. The places of worship were two log school hou.ses, one in the eastern and one in the western portion of the township. Services wei-c held in them alternately for the accommodation of members living in their neighborhood. The present pastor of the church is the Hev. 8. Jones, and the deacons are Thomas Perkins, Jose[ih Itoi)bin sand D. L. Gott. Mrs. L. M. Noble is clerk and Mrs. Helen Gott, treasurer. Tiie church huilding now m use is at the center; it was built in 18.j0. David L. Gott, W. W. Noble and Wells Chamberlain are tiie trustees.

A Methodist class was organized in the east part of town in 18;);5, the members being Stephen Cottrell and wife, Mrs. Hunt, her son and his wife, Peter Gott and wife, and Mrs. James Peltoii. Peter Gott was class leader from the first and foi- many 3-ears. After a time, as the i)opnlation in the settlement increased, it was thought advisal)le to hold meetings at the center. Mr. Munger's house was most commonly used, but a log school house across the street near wluu'e the Woolcott house now stands, was sometimes the place of meeting. Uev. Mr. Morey, a cii-cuit jireacher, occasionally was present and gave the little class encouragement. The first rpiarterly meeting was held in Munger's barn, there being no church edifice at the time and that being the largest building available. This meeting, we are told, was largely attcndeil and very satisfactory. It was conducted by a Rev. Mr. Petty. The Methodists began building iu 1839, upon a lot donated by Mr. Munger, a church, which was completed the following year. C. Noble made and presented the sash. Peter Gott, Carey Hastings, Otis Hastings and Nathaniel Smith were the ])rincipal financial pillars of the church at this time and contributed most of the means used in the erection of the small building. The old church is now in the rear of Robbins & Gott's store, and is used as a warehouse. It gave place in 1875 to a handsome wooden structure of Gothic architecture, thirty-eight by seventy-five feet in dimension, which cost about seven thousand dollars. The pastor in 1878 was the Rev. G. L. Hannawalfc; stewards, F. V. Sheldon, (ieo.

A. Whitney, Walter Dale, H. A. Wilcox; recording steward, Henry Wilkins; trustees, R. Knowles, W. C. P.utler, E. R. Hulburt, S. G. Humphrey, R. C. Hastings, E. Blackwell, H. A. Wilcox, F. V. Sheldon, George Smith.

The first protracted meeting was held at Elder Beenuxn's, and continued two or three weeks. Services were held every morning, afternoon and evening, and a great many conversions were made. Of the founders of Methodism in La Grange, two only still remain at that place. Peter Gott and Polly, his wife, live in the village, full of years, and beloved and esteemed by all.

though they were third in tlie order of organizing a (diurch, built the first church edifice in the township. There is now no church of this denomination in the tdwn. The constituent members of the Congregational ehurch organized in 1834, were Nathan P. Johnson and wife, Calvin Wilcox and wife, William Dixon and wife, Sylvester Merriam and wife, William

B. Dixon and Mehitable Robbins. Services were held at the house of Calvin Wilcox, and Rev. Mr. Talcott, of Wellington, for a time, supplied the pulpit. Rev. Mr. Eells, of Oberlin, was the first j)astor. The society Iniilt, in 183."), a house which they used alternately with the Baptists until the latter denomination erected a church of their own which they invited the Congregationalists to share with them, neither church being strong enough to support weekly i)reaching. This relation continued until the Disciples liuilt, when the Congregationalists j>urchased a half interest in their meeting house. The old (!ongregational church was bought by the town in 18.53, and made into a school house, after which it became a feed store, and then a hardware store, finally disappearing in a neat building erected by Dr. Merriam. The Congregational society lost some of its niendjers who were best able to sustain the church, through their removal from town, and those remaining being unable to keep up the church oi-ganization and work, it became extinct.

The Free-Will B iptists and the Disciples have had churches in La Grange, but neither denomination is now alive. The Disciple Church was organized by Calvin Smith in October, 18.53, and the first pastor

Throughoiil: the Western Reserve tlic cluirch and the schdiil Jiave been, from the days of the first settlement, almost inse|iarable, yet distinct in titutions. Thev iiave sprung ii:to Ijeing from one motlier and one motive - the desire to perpetuate in the west the good intluences of the older eastern States. Almost invariably the j)ioneers Jiave taken measures for the mental advancement of their children at the same time they have established the church iu which tiiey siudl receive their moral education. It was so in La Grange: the same year that witnessed the building of the first church, logs were hewn for two school houses, one in the eastern and one in the western jiart of the township. This was in 1828, only three years afrer the first settler came into the county. The first

I teachers were Henry Hubbard and Polly Greeves. After them came numerous others of all degrees of ability; most of them, however, but jioorly qualified to teach.

A farmer from an adjoining township, anxious to get a school for liis daughter, mentioned, as a strong iceommendation, the fact that she had been part of a term to a high school. But, iu those days, there was

' not as much required of a teacher as now, and the pay was considerably less than the young men and women of to-day receive for "teaching the young idea 111 shoot." Male teachers received from twelve to sixteen dollars jier mouth, and young women three diiUars per month.

There was a steady advancement in the quality of the district schools, and it culminated at the center aliout 1808, in the establishment of the union school system, which has since been in vogue. A twostory brick l)uilding was erected in tliat year at a cost i)f about three thousand five hundred dollars, and a small frame building ))ut up in 1877. P. V. Sheldon, Dr. (reo. C. Underbill and Geo. E. Freeman were the members of the school board at that time, and Dr. Geo. N. Snyder was the first sujjerintendent. At jiresent E. D. Merriam, D. L. Gott and H. C. Wilcox, constitute the board, and Dr. Snyder is again superintendent. His assistants are John Handyside and Emma Rawson. The school has three de])artments: the i)rimary with fifty-five ))upils, the intermediate with twenty-four, and the high scho(d with forty-fonr, making a total of one hundred and twenty-three.

La Gt;ANiii5 Lodge, No. 3!)!), was organized on the i;3th, of November 18(;7,with the followiTig charter niendjers: Harlow P. Sage, ElizurG. Johnson, Martin Stroup, Orrin P. Rol)berts, Edson Hastings, Elijah Hastings Joseph E. Hastings, Reuben Curtice, Harvey Bartholomew, Silas Stroup, David L. Gott, Louis L. Crane, (Jeorge 0. Underbill, Albert Foster, (Jeorgc Foster, John B. Hastings and Edward L. Gott. The first officers were : Elizur G. Johnson, W. M ; John B. Hastings, S. W ; Martin Stroup, J. W ; Albert Foster, Treasurer; Harvey Bartholomew, secretary ; Orrin P. Robberts, S. D ; Elijah H. Hastings, J. D ; (ieorgo Foster, steward ; Louis L. Crane, tyler. In 1878 the following were the officers: G. B. Chamberlain, W. M ; Edson Hastings, S. W ; George Foster, J. W ; II. B. Crozin, treasurer ; D. P. Crowner, secretary ; II. J. Wilkins, S. D ; J. E. Hastings, J. D ; A. Foster, A. W. Nichols, stewards ; S. Stroup, tyler; I). L. Gott, George C. Underbill, F. V. Sheldon, finance committee. The Lodge has a handsome room, thirty by sixty feet, in the third story of the brick building erected in 1805. Robbins & Gott occui»y the lower j)ortion for a store.

The pioneer |iractitioner of medicine was Dr. Ebes W. Hubbard, oldest son of Fairchild Hubbard. He was born in Steuben, Oneida county. New York, in the year 1800, and graduated at the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Fairfield, Herkimer county, the same State. He came to La Grange in 1836. Dr. Hubbard had quite an extensive practice and enjoyed the thorough confidence of the people among whom he lived, as is attested by the fact that he was many times elected to impcu'tant offices. He was the first clerk of the township ; was three times elected justice of the peace; became associate judge in 1831 ; was elected as representative three terms - 1835, 1830 and is;)7. In the last mentioned year he was appouited bank commissioner of the State, and in 1813 was made commissioner of the Ohio Canal fund. Dr. Hubbard married Honor Kingsbury of Brighton, and was the father of six children. He resided for many years in Elyria, and in 1853 removed to Stateii Island, where be died in 1873.

Dr. Spencer was the next ]iliysieian in town. He was followed by Dr. Julins Beeman, and tlien came Dr. Jonathan Gibbs. Other jjhysicians who came at an early day, were Doctors George C. Underbill, James R. Pelton and E. D. Merriam. Pelton remained until about 1870. Doctors Underbill and Merriam are still in practice, as are also Doctors George N. Snyder, - Park, M. W. Ingalls. Charles W. Higgins and - Green, each remained but a shm't time.

Dr. Underliill is the senior physician of the town. He came in 1842, and has been in constant practice in the vilhige ever since, with theexce])tion of two years, wiien he was in the army as surgeon of the Eleventh Cavalry. He is a native of Vermont, and a graduate of Willoughby (Lake county) medical college. His age in 1878 was fifty-eiglit years. Dr. Undcrhill, it is s:iid, was the tirst physician in this part of the county will) used ([uinine in cases of typhoid fever and in- Ibimniation of the lungs. He began to use this medicine in the first mentioned disease about twentyfive years ago, and in the latter as many as thirty years ago.

(!alvin Wilcox was the first postmaster. lie; hud the office for about twenty years, and kt'pt the few letters he received at his house where they were called for not, daily, as at present, but once a week or fortnight. George Wilcox succeeded his father. David Gott was postmaster for a number of years. Hon. Nathan P. Johnson was postmaster for fourteen years. His daughter, Mrs. E. M. .J. Nolile, was appointed to the office when he died, in 1873, and is the present postmistress.

Manufactories, I'.Usiness Houses, Etc

The first tavern was built and kept by J. K. Pelton. It was situated a few rods west of the center, upon the north side of the road. Pelton also built the Woolcott House in 18-t(i, and Daniel Pelton built another hotel on the north side of the s(|uare, still standing but unoccupied. The jn-eseut ])roprietor of the Woolcott House is William F. Woolcott.

Among the most important of the industrial pursuits in the village is the cheese factory and creamery of Butler, Crozier & Sheldon, which daily manufactures into cheese or butter, the milk of about five hundred cows.

There are three saw-mills, Sheldon & Coleman's, W. C. Butler's, and Behuer & Butler's, the latter also a cheese box factory. Ewiug & Benschoter have a planing mill. Carriage making is carried on by Behuer Bros., and by A. Ryan; the first named firm also has a foundry'.

Statistics

The pioneer iiractitioner of medicine had many obstacles to surmount and diificulties to overcome. In the early days of a new settlement much sickness, particularly of a malarial form, was prevalent; and such also may be said to have been the case twentyfive or thirty years ago. Among those who liavebeen prominent in battling with disease and in the professional care of the sick, none enjoy a better rejiutatiou than Dr. Merriam. For nearly thirty years he has stetidily practiced the healing art, and during tliat protracted period has met with good general success.

E. 1). Alerriam was born in the town of Champion, Jefferson county. Now York, July 18, 1824. He is the son of Sylvester iferriani, who moved to Ohio, accompanied by his family, including the subject of this sketch, in the year 1836. He settled in the eastern part of LaC range townslii]i, on what is now known as the Dean farm. There were then but five families residing within the present limits of tlie townshiji. The first few years of Dr. Merriam's life was spent in agricultural prusuits, and the accpiisitiou of an elementary education at the common schools of La (Jrange. In 1842, he entered the Oberlin collegiate institute, where he received a liberal literary education, completing whicli, he commenced the study of medicine under Professor Dascomb, M.D. The next few years were spent in alternate teaching and professional study, and in 1849 and '50 he finished his medical education with Professor H. A. Ackley, M.D., at the old medical school of Cleveland. Keturning to La Grange, in the spring of 1851, he commenced the practice of medicine under very favorable auspices, receiving from the first a liberal share of patronage. At the age of fifty-four years, we still find Dr. Merriam in the active practice of his profession.

A man actuated in private and public life by motives founded on the right and good never fails to leave his impress on the community in which lie resides. Few men had more to do in the healthy moulding of Lorain County than the Hon. N. P. Johnson, of Lagrange. He was of New England stock, his parents having been born at Old Haddam, Conn. The\' removed to Hartford, Washington Co,, N. Y., in 1785. April, 1801, gave them a new home at Champion, Jefl'erson Co., N. Y. Of their early history the writer knows little.

At Hartford, as above, their son, Nathan P. Johnson, was born Jan. 30, 1801 ; in Champion his early years were spent. Of this earl}' life meagre are the details. However, such opportunities as he had for education and for self-improvement must have been eagerly embraced and worthily used. Ere he had reached the age of thirty he served his fellow-citizens at Champion for three years as trustee, and for five years was elected as justice of the peace; commissioned a lieutenant in the TGth Regiment of the New York Militia in 1823, 1824 gave him commission as captain.