Lorain City (part 42 of 77)

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. The 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 established. There was from the first a feeling favorable to the organization of the institutions of religion. Something has already been said of the labors of the first preacher, Rev. Julius Beeman, and a few facts in regard to his son-in-law, Rev. F. R. Freeman, who was a strong and influential minister, will not be inappropriate in this connection. He was born October 6, 1805, in Worcester, Otsego county, New York, and was married, by her father, to Lucy Beeman, in October of 1826. In 1828, 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 tothe time of his departure, Mr. Freeman preached almost uninterruptedly in La Grange,

Pittsfield and neighboring townships. He was one of the seven men in La Grange who voted for Birney, abolition candidate for the Presidency, and was a member of the Buffalo Convention of 1848, whereat was formed the free soil party. Mr. Freeman is the only person living, of all the number who were upon the deck of the first steam packet in the world - the Cleremont - before, during, or just after the great trial from New York to Albany. He was a child two years of age at the time, and was carried on board of Fulton's famous steamboat, upon her arrival at Albany, by his father. Mr. Truman's age is now seventy-four years, and that of his wife seventy. Ilis home, at the present writing, is and has been, since 1850, in Ihinois.

was organized as early as 1828, only three years after the first settler came to the township. It might, perhaps, be called the first fruit of Rev. Julius Beeman's labors. May 13th there assembled eightcen persons who were the constituent members of the church, - Julius and Charlotte Beeman, Charles and Lydia Rounds, Hannah Pearce, Noah Holcomb, Sr., Eunice Holcomb, Polly Hastings, Noah Holcomb, Jr., Alice Holcomb, Wm. Case, Alfred Stilwall, Phebe Stilwall, Laura Herrick, Joseph Robbins, Joseph A. Graves, Jerusha Graves and Asenath Morgan. Deacon Robbins is the only one of the original members now alive. The places of worship were two log school houses, one in the eastern and one in the western portion of the township. Services were held in them alternately for the accommodation of members living in their neighborhood. 'The present pastor of the church is the Rev. S. Jones, and the deacons are Thomas Perkins, Joseph Robbin sand D. L. Gott. Mrs. L. M. Noble is clerk and Mrs. Helen Gott, treasurer. The church building now in use is at the center; it was built in 1850. David L. Gott, W. W. Noble and Wells Chamberlain are the trustees.

A Methodist class was organized in the east part of town in 1833, the members being Stephen Cottrell and wife, Mrs. Bunt, her son and his wife, Peter Gott and wife, and Mrs. James Pelton. Peter Gott was Class leader from the first and for many years, After a time, as the population 'n the settlement increased, it was thought advisable to hold meetings at the center. Mr. Munger's house was most commonly used, but a log school house across the street near where the Woolcott house now stands, was sometimes the place of meeting. Rev. Mr. Morey, a circuit preacher, occasionally was present and gave the little class encouragement. The first quarterly meeting was held in Munger's barn, there being no chyrch edifice at the time and that being the largest building availuble. This meeting, we are told, was largely attended and very satisfactory. It was conducted by a Rev. Mr. Petty. The Methodists began building in 1839, upon a lot donated by Mr. Munger, achurch, which was completed the following year. C. Noble made and presented the sash. Peter Gott, Carey Hastings, Otis Hastings and Nathaniel Smith were the principal 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 Rey. G. L. Hannawalt; stewards, F. V. Sheldon, Geo. A. Whitney, Walter Dale, H. A. Wilcox; recording steward, Henry Wilkins; trustees, R. Knowles, W. C. Butler, E, R. Hulburt, 8. G. Humphrey, R. C. Hastings, E. Blackwell, H. A. Wilcox, F. V. Sheldon, George Smith.

The first protracted meeting was held at Elder Beeman'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.

The Congregationalists

though they were third in the order of organizing a church, built the first church edifice in the township. There is now no church of this denomination in the town. The constituent members of the Congregational church 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. Kells, of Oberlin, was the first pastor. The society built, in 1835, a house which they used alternately with the Baptists until the latter denomination erected achurch of their own which they invited the Congregationalists to share with them, neither church being strong enough to support weekly preaching. This relation continued until the Disciples built, when the Congregationalists purchased a half interest in their meeting house. The old Congregational church was bought by the town in 1853, 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 members who were best able to sustain the church, through their removal from town, and those remaining being unable to keep up the church organization and work, it became extinct.

The Free-Will Baptists And The Disciples

THE FREE-WILL BAPTISTS AND THE DISCIPLES. The Free-Will B yptists and the Disciples have had churches in La Grange, but neither denomination is was Rey. 8. R. Willard. The society built, in 1854, a house in which the Universalists now worship, and in which the Congregationalists still have an interest. The trustees were D. M. Adams, O. Billings, D. Gott, Jr., R. Fulton and H. Freeman.

was organized May 19, 1861, its first officers being the following: Deacons, Elisha Saxton, David Gott; clerk, J. H. Brown; trustees, D. T. Parsons, Horace Sanders, J. H. Brown. The first pastor was the Rev. H. R. Nye. The officers for 1878 'are: Trustees, Allen Sanders, D. H. Gott, J. L. Rowell; clerk, J. H. Brown; treasurer, Maria Hastings. The church has, at this writing, no pastor.

Throughout the Western Reserve the church and the school have been, from the days of the first settlement, almost inseparable, yet distinct in-titutions. They have sprung into being from one mother and one motive - the desire to perpetuate in the west the good influences of the older eastern States. Almost invariably the pioneers have taken measures for the mental advancement of their children at the same time they have established the church in which they shall 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 part of the township. This was in 1828, only three years after the first settler came into the county. The first teachers were Henry Hubbard and Polly Greeves. After them came numerous others of all degrees of ability; most of them, however, but poorly qualified to teach.

A farmer from an adjoining township, anxious to get a school for his daughter, mentioned, as a strong recommendation, the fact that she had been part of a term to a high school. But, im 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 to shoot." Male teachers received from twelve to sixteen dollars per month, and young women three dollars per month.

about 1868, in the establishment of the union school system, which has since been in vogue. A twostory brick building was erected in that year at a cost of about three thousand five hundred dollars, and a small frame building put up in 1877. F. V. Sheldon, Dr. Geo. C. Underhill and Geo. E. Freeman were the members of the school board at that time, and Dr. Geo. N. Snyder was the first superintendent. At present K. 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 departments: the primary with fifty-five pupils, the intermediate with twenty-four, and the high school with forty-four, making a total of one hundred and twenty-three.

F. And A. Masons

La. Grance Longe, No. 399, was organized on the 13th, of November 1867, with the following charter members: Harlow P. Sage, Elizur G. Johnson, Martin Stroup, Orrin P. Robberts, Edson Hastings, Elijah Hastings Joseph E. Hastings, Reuben Curtice, Harvey Bartholomew, Silas Stroup, David L. Gott, Louis L. Crane, George C. Underhill, Albert Foster, George Foster, John B. Hastings and Edward L. Gott. The first officers were: Elizur G. Johnson, W. M; John B. Hastings, 8. W; Martin Stroup, J. W; Albert Foster, Treasurer; Harvey Bartholomew, secretary ; Orrin P. Robberts, 8S. D; Elijah H. Hastings, J. D; George Foster, steward ; Louis L. Crane, tyler. In 1878 the following were the officers: G. B. Chamberlain, W. M; Edson Hastings, 8. W ; George Foster, J. W; H. B. Crozin, treasurer ; D. P. Crowner, secretary; H. J. Wilkins, S. D; J. E. Hastings, J. D; A. Foster, A. W. Nichols, stewards ; S. Stroup, tyler; D. L. Gott, George C. Underhill, 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 1865. Robbins & Gott occupy the lower portion for a store.

The pioneer practitioner 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 Physi- the same State. He came to La Grange in 1826. 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 important 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, 1836 and 1837. In the last mentioned year he was appointed bank commissioner of the State, and in 1843 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 Staten Island, where he died in 1872.

Dr. Spencer was the next physician in town. -He was followed by Dr. Julius Beeman, and then came Dr. Jonathan Gibbs. Other physicians who came at an early day, were Doctors George C. Underhill, James R. Pelton and E. D. Merriam, Pelton remained until about 1870. Doctors Underhill and Merriam are still in practice, as are also Doctors George N. Snyder, - Park, M. W. Ingalls. Charles W. Higgins

Dr. Underhill is the senior physician of the town. He came in 1842, and has been in constant practice in the village ever since, with the exception of two years, when he was in the army as surgeon of the Eleventh Cavalry. He isa native of Vermont, and a graduate of Willoughby (Lake county) medical college. His age in 1878 was fifty-eight years. Dr. Underhill, it is said, was the first physician in this part of the county who used quinine in cases of typhoid fever and inflammation 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.

Calvin Wilcox was the first postmaster. He had the office for about twenty years, and kept 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. Noble, was appointed to the office when he died, in 1873, and is the present postmistress.

Manufactories, Business 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 1846, and Daniel Pelton built another hotel on the north side of the square, still standing but unoccupied. The present proprietor 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 manu. factures into cheese or butter, the milk of about five hundred cows.

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

Statistics

The pioneer practitioner of medicine had many obstacles to surmount and difficulties 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 have been prominent in battling with disease and in the professional care of the sick, none enjoy a better reputation than Dr. Merriam. For nearly thirty years he has steadily practiced the healing art, and durmng that protracted period has met with good general success.

E. D. Merriam was born in the town of Champion, Jefferson county, New York, July 18, 1824. He is the son of Sylvester Merriam, who moved to Ohio, accompanied by his family, including the subject of this sketch, in the year 1826. He settled in the eastern part of LaGrange township, on what is now kriown as the Dean farm. There were then but five families residing within the present limits of the township. 'The first few years of Dr. Merriam's life was spent in agricultural prusuits, and the acquisition of an elementary education at the common schools of La Grange. In 1842, he entered the Oberlin collegiate institute, where he received a liberal literary education, completing which, 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. Returning to La Grange, in the spring of 1851, lie 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 he 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. They removed to Hartford, Washington Co., N. Y., in 1785. April, 1801, gave them a new home at Champion, Jefferson Co., N. Y. Of their early history the writer knows little.

At Hartford, as above, their son, Nathan P. Johnson, was born Jan. 80, 1801; in Champion his early years were spent. Of this early 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 76th Regiment of the New York Militia in 1828, 1824 gave him commission as captain.

In the year 18338, exchanging real estate, he moved into Lagrange, Lorain Co., Ohio, where his remaining days were spent ; days full of work, - work for self and family ; work for cr town, his county ; work for the good and the true everywhere.

On the 20th of October, 1822, Mr. Johnson married Miss Laura Waite, daughter of Dorastus Waite, Esq., of Champion, N. Y., who was to her husband a companion in his every endeavor in the early Lagrange life. She died very suddenly, on the 19th of January, 1846, while her husband was at Columbus, Ohio.

Mrs. Laura .Johnson was a woman of singular merit. With ratefulness do her children - now men and women grown - ook back to her kindly care, self-denial, and example that had

On the 18th day of August, 1846, Mr. Johnson was again a husband, May R. Hart, daughter of J. Hart, formerly of Norwich, Conn., becoming the wife. She is yet living at the old home, hallowed by the memories of the past, and mourns the loss of the fond husband who has gone before her.

Mr. Johnson's early life in Lagrange was that of all pioneers - daily toil. His occupation, farmer. His integrity and large common sense soon attracted attention. Township offices were showered upon him; fidelity in the duties of such offices drew attention to his merits, local respect soon became general, and in the fall of 1844 he was elected to the Legislature of Ohio from Lorain County, and re-elected in 1845. So well were the duties of this position performed that the years 1847 and 1848 saw him a member of the Ohio Senate, from the district composed of Lorain and Medina Counties. Returning to Lagrange, there the remainder of his days were passed, each and every day made joyous to him by the numerous trusts confided to him by his fellow-citizens.

N. P. Johnson was noted for deep religious convictions and for true manhood. Strong and earnest in his feelings, prejudice was but a flitting cloud over his grand, kind heart. An ardent Whig of.the old school, he was never the mere partisan, looking ever for the good. Party was no factor in any moral or political problem to him presented for solution. In 1846, while running for the State Senate, many prominent politicians took open and decided grounds for the repudiation of the State debt. Mr. Johnson took just as decided ground in favor of sustaining the faith and credit of the State. On this issue the people heartily sustained him.

Duty and right being to him the all, he found no difficulty in laboring with voice or pen, as a man and a legislator, for the repeal of iy intiimona Black Laws of Ohio, although temporary odium followed his efforts. Retiring from public life, so far as office was concerned, his voice and trenchant pen were ever found ready to defend and aid that which he considered the right. This was wonderfully true during the dark years of the Rebellion.

Quick in his decisions, of remarkable mental equipoise, Mr. Johnson was noted as a presiding officer. No one during his life was more frequently called upon in Lorain County to preside over conventions, whether religious, moral, or political.

Honored by all, giving always with no grudging hand of his means, and of the rich experiences of a well-spent life, he died Dec. 29, 1874 'True of him is that said of another:

It is not only as a professional man that Dr. Merriam enjoys the respect and esteem of the community, in which he has passed nearly all his life, but also in the many other walks of life in which his general intelligence and rectitude carry him. As a man and citizen, the doctor is held in high regard, and deservedly occupies an exalted social position.

was born in Herkimer county, New York, January 21, 1817. When he was three years of age his father removed with his family to Jefferson county, New emigrated to Canada, residing there until about 1838, when they returned to York State, and continued to live there until 1844, when the subject of this sketch moved to Ohio, and settled in La Grange, Lorain county, whither he was followed by his father in 1846. He was born in Connecticut, and during his last sicknes she resided with and was carefully attended by his son. He died in 1870.

R. B. Monro started in Ohio by working on a farm by the month, which he did four years, during which time he purchased fifty acres of land, paying for it with his earnings. In 1848 he was married to Margaret, daughter of John McGregor. They have one son, James, who resides at home, and also, an adopted daughter. Mr. Monro has held various township offices, among others those of road commissioner and In politics he is a democrat. He is a self made'man, and generally considered a worthy

BRIGHTON consists of tract seven, and portions of tracts six and eight, in range nineteen of the original Western Reserve. It is upon the extreme west of the county, and is bounded upon the north by Camden, east by Wellington, south by Rochester and west by the township of Clarksfield, Huron county. The soil in the northern part is clay, principally, but in the southern portion a gravelly soil is.found. The surface is more uneven than that presented to the eye in most of the southern townships of Lorain county, the west branch of the Black river having cut its way through the territory from a point near the southwest corner of the township to the eastern boundary, where it emerges about one mile south of the Camden line. Its course is very irregular, and its stream has left broad and very fertile bottom lands, which are as good for the general purposes of farming as any .in the county.

of the lands now included in Brighton were Lemuel Storrs, Ephraim Root, James Ross, Peter Brooks, John Call, William Shaw, George Black and Pennewel Cheney. Tract seven, extending through the center of the township from east to west, and containing four hundred acres, was the property of Root & 'Ross. It was by them sold to Harmon Kingsbury and others, and was the portion first put into the market for sale to the settlers. Storrs, the owner of tract eight and the several owners of tract six sold to, or exchanged lands with, Tuckerman Brothers, of Boston, Norton and Stocking of Hartford, Connecticut, Frederick Hamlin of Berkshire, Massachusetts, Deming and Alford. Levi Bliss,of Massachusetts, bought out Tuckerman Brothers. The surplus lands upon the west side of the township were originally owned by Goodrich of Brighton is what is Its name was bestowed by Abner Loveland at the time of organization.

were quite numerous when the first settlers came in and all accounts agree as to their friendliness to, and fair treatment, with few exceptions, of the whites. They were of the Seneca and Wyandot tribes. Before

'the time of settlement, these Indians were in the custom of camping upon what they called the ''big bottom," upon the farm which is now the property of Leonard H. Loveland, but after the first settlers arrived they seldom had an encampment within the territory now included in the township. They traded very frequently with their pale faced brothers, bringing fine venison hams, which they were always delighted to exchange for bread or pork. Leonard Loveland remembers seeing with them, upon one occasion, a very old, though remarkably well preserved man, who was said by the Indians to have seen the sun of one hundred and forty-five summers. It is probable that this was not far from being correct, for events that the Indian spoke of as occurring in the

The pioneer of Brighton was Abner Loveland, Jr. He entered the forest alone in the fall of 1820, with the intention of becoming a permanent resident, and built upon lot one, in tract seven, the first human habitation, save the huts and wigwams of the Indians, in the territory included a few years later in the limits of Brighton. He carried upon his back the poles of which he built his cabin. In the spring of 1821, he started for the east, but a great snow storm made it impossible for him to pursue his journey, and he stopped in Grafton, where he remained until fall, working for various settlers. In the fall he again prepared to go to his home, but, receiving a letter from his father, saying that he had bought land in Brighton and wanted him to begin clearing it, he went back to the place which he had originally selected and prepared for the coming of his father and the family by erecting a log house. In July of 1821, came the father, Abner Loveland, Sr., his wife Lois, four daughters, Sophia, Lovina, Ramelia, Minerva and a son Leonard H. with his wife Margaret Whitlock. They made this journey, with an ox team, in six weeks. The Lovelands were natives of Otis, Berkshire county, Massachusetts. Abner, Jr., the first arrival, made the journey from Brunswick, New Jersey, upon foot. His wife was Paima DeWolf, and he had by her five children, three of whom are now living, Celestia A. in Wellington, Corelia J. (Mrs. D, Reamer) in Oberlin, and Franklin in New York. Abner Loveland, Jr., removed from Brighton to Wellington in 1834, and, his wife dying, he married some time afterwards, Mrs. Anna Kimmel. He is still living, at the age of eighty-two years, being born in 1796. Leonard Il. Loveland still lives upor. lot one, tract seven, a few rods from the site of the first log house built in the township, and is eighty-four years of age. His children, beside Whitlock, who died when a babe, were Cordelia, born November 12, 1823, and died March 3, 1852, and Emeline Margaret, born March 4, 1853. Mr. Loveland, like his brother, is living with his second wife, and he is her second husband. Her maiden name was fanny Allen. She was from Vermont, and her husband facetiously claims that she was a connection of Ethan Allen, "the Green mountain boy." Abner Loveland, Sr., and his wife have been dead for many years. Both were born in 1764.

The Kingsburys' arrived after Abner Loveland, Jr., and before all the others of this family. Joseph Kingsbury was the second settler. He was the father of Harmon Kingsbury, before mentioned as one of the original owners of the land. He came early in 1821, from Otis, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, bringing his wife, four daughters, one of whom died young, and two sons, Solomon and Austin. One of the daughters married Loren Wadsworth, another Eber W. Hubbard, and Louisa A. married Calvin Roice. Joseph Kingsbury settled on lot thirteen, Solomon on lot ten, and Austin on lot nine - all in tract seven; which, as has been heretofore stated, was the only portion of the lands offered for sale. Harmon Kingbury was never a resident' of the township, but was a frequent visitor. Austin Kingsbury reared a family of six children, of whom Mrs. Orrin Hall (Louisa A.) is one. A sister resides in Wellington. William Harvey is in Oberlin.

The next settlers, after the Kingsburys, were the Halls. Avery Hall and wife, and their grown-up sons, Alfred and Orrin, with Selden, who was of age soon after coming into the country, emigrated from Great Barrington, Massachusetts, in 1822. Other children in this family were: Erastus, Sarah, Edwin (now in Elyria), Theophilus (in Litchfield), Julia (in Perrysburg), John and William. Avery Hall, upon arriving, settled upon lot two, and his son Alfred on lot six. Selden afterward settled on the same lot; be married a daughter of Luke Whitlock, and removed some years after to Wellington,-where he died in 1878. Orrin Hall settled on lot nine, where he still lives. Alfred Hall removed to Perth Amboy, New Jersey. Soon after the Halls arrived, a man named Bailey came into the settlement, but made no purchase of land, and remained but a short time. Another squatter came at the same time, but like Bailey left no mark upon the people among whom he had a brief residence, or upon the map of Brighton township.

Horace, John and Joseph Crosby, the latter not of age, and another brother who died quite young, came with their mother soon after the arrival of the Halls, from Tyringham, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, and settled upon lot three. John was married in 1825 to Locitte Sage.

'Luke Whitlock came in the spring of 1822, and his brother John, at a later date. They settled upon lot seven. The Whitlocks were from South Brunswick, New Jersey. 'he family of Luke Whitlock consisted of his wife Elizabeth, a son John, who died early, Ellen, now Mrs. Augustus Fox, residing near the center, and Jane, who married Roswell Smith, and afterwards Selden Hall, now living in Wellington. Luke Whitlock died suddenly and among strangers. He was in Pittsburgh upon his way home and was stricken dead upon the street and buried before his relatives, who left for that city as soon as the sad news reached them, had arrived.

Justice Battle, Sr., and wife, and Justice Battle, Jr., and wife were among the first settlers, but the date of their arrival cannot be definitely ascertained. They came from Tyringham, Berkshire county, Massachusetts and located upon lot sixteen.

first settled in Wellington. On coming into Brighton he located upon lot ten. He married a daughter of Joseph Kingsbury, by whom he had three children, - Boughton, now in Clarksville, Eunice, in Avon, and Sarah.

There were several who arrived in the township soon after the first settlement was made but who could not be called settlers. Among these was Elijah Fox, a worthy man from Berkshire county, Massachusetts, who came in 1822 and boarded for some time with Leonard H. Loveland. He took up land a number of years afterwards. His son'.:S. Fox now resides upon lot eight, in tract seven. David Fox, the aged father of Elijah, was a Methodist exhorter of considerable ability. Daniel Smith came to Brighton in the latter part of 1821 or early in the following year and worked for Joseph Kingsbury.

Of the later settlers we can only speak briefly. After the organization of the township and after the land in tracts six and eight were put into the market, the number of inhabitants rapidly inreased. There being no land but that in tract seven, - the center tract, - offered for sale until 1833, many were deterred from coming into Brighton from apprehension that it would not for many years become a well settled township. It was this fear that led Abner Loveland, the pioneer, to sell out hisland and remove into Wellington. - It was bought by Daniel Clark, of Lit¢hfield, Connecticut. Albert Niles came into the township between the time of organization and the year 1830. He owned altogether and at different times fifteen farms. - Fisk: settled about the same time as Niles. Loren Loveland a brother of Leonard H. and Abner, came in a little later. Dr. Eber W. Hubbard and his father who were among the first settlers in La Grange, were residents of this township for a few years, and resided on the Kingsbury farm. James Whipple, of Whitestown, New York, came and located on lot twelve in 1833. Erasmus Judd and wife settled as early as 1832 on lot six, and brought up a family of five children. They were from Litchfield, Connecticut. Isaac Everson settled in the summer of 1833, upon lot twenty-one. Henry Converse, his wife and five chil dren became residents in 1833, settling upon lot ten. His children were Nelson, Lucinda, Harrison, Maria and Emma (Mrs. Jacob Wheeler, of Rochester). Nelson was drowned in the Black river, having been swept over his saw mill dam in a dug out. He is said to have been a phenomenal swimmer, and his drowning could only be accounted for upon the supposition that he was hurt in some way by his fall. Octavus Gillitt settled upon lot sixteen in the gore, in 1836, and his brother, George, near him soon after. John Dunbar, his son, Simeon, and Harriet, the wife of the latter, came from Wayne county, New York in August, 1835, and located upon lot eight in tract seven, James Humphrey, his wife and three children settled about the same time upon the same lot. They were from Great Barrington, Massachusetts.

Philip L. Goss, a native of Winchester, New Hampshire, settled on lot seventeen, in 1836, coming from Brecksville, Cuyahoga county, where he had resided for a short time. He was one of the substantial, influential men of the town, and always prominent

'in its institutions until his removal in 1878, to Wellington, where he and his wife, Serena, at present reside with their married daughter, Mrs. Dr. Rust. He has a son, Charles P., in Oberlin, and another daughter, Sarah, who married a son of Dr. Beach, of Pittsfield. David Goss, brother of Philip L., arrived in 1842. His sons, Maurice and Otis, reside in Brighton, and his daughters in Ilinois, and Huron county, Ohio.

Smith Stocking and Harry Haws came into the township in 1837, the former settling upon lot fifteen, in the gore, and the latter upon the same lot, a little to the north, where D. Johnson located two years later. Wm. Bunce and Samuel Lamb took up farms about the same time, upon lot one in tract seven, building houses upon the east and west road.

Cornelius Seeley came into Avon in 1821, and originally emigrated from Westmoreland, Oneida county, New York. His wife's maiden name was. Rachel Smith. They had fourteen children, twelve of whom lived to maturity. H. S., the eldest, settled in Brighton, on lots thirty-one and thirty-two, where he now resides. Morrell E., Anna, and Dwight, his children, now live in Brighton, the first named upon the Loveland farm.

The earliest settlers of Brighton endured many hardships. Food was for a time exceedingly scarce, and could only be had in small variety. When the wheat was harvested it was often found full of smut, and as there were no machines in those days for cleaning it, the smut went into the bread, making it so black that the Indians often refused to eat it. The nearest place where the pioneers could get a grist ground was at Clarksfield. Leonard Loveland was once pursued by wolves while returning from the mill in that place. These pests of every new country were very plentiful. They were not usually regarded as a source of danger, but of annoyance. They would often surround a settler's cabin and make night hideous with their horrible howling. Deer were found in the woods in large numbers, and yenison was so common upon the tables at which hard working, hungry men sat down, that it was looked upon with no more favor than pork. As many as fifty deer have been seen in a single herd in Brighton. Knormous flocks of wild turkeys were often met with, during the first few years after the woods were invaded by white men, and all kinds of small game was found in abundance, but most of the pioneers had too much work to do with the ax and plow to spend their time in hunting. There were few who carried the rifle except when the larder was low.

The first death was that of Whitlock Loveland, a nine months old child of Leonard H. and Margaret Loveland. He was born January 2, 1820, and died on the 13th of October. The burial was upon the clearing made by the Lovelands, a few rods south of their log house, and of Leonard Loveland's present home. Other members of the family now lie by the side of the little one for whom the first grave was made. 'The funeral was attended by only two or three persons beside the family, among them being the Rev. Mr. Parmele, a Baptist minister of Sullivan, who spoke the few words of comfort, and offered the prayer at the grave.

Sometime in 1823, Albert Niles, then of Wellington, and a native of Berkshire county, Massachusetts, was married to Sophia, danghter of Leonard H. and Margaret Loveland. The ceremony was performed at Mr. Loveland's log cabin, by Squire Ephriam A. Wilcox, of Wellington, and was witnessed by about twenty or twenty-five persons, or the entire population of the township. In the evening, a substantial supper was served, all present sitting down to the table, which was more sensibly set than those which groan under the weight of modern marriage feasts. 'Steaming meats, home-made bread, and wholesome vegetables were in abundance, but cakes, confections, and ices, with French names, did not have a place upon the board. The young married 'couple settled in Brighton, upon lot seventeen, tract seven, where they remained for a number of years. Both have been dead for some time.

The first school was taught by Paima De Wolf, wife of Abner Loveland, after their marriage, and was held in the log house which they occupied. She gave instruction, to the best of her ability, to about a dozen children, and received therefor the sum of six shillings per week. 'This was previous to 1827. In that year a log school house was built, about three-quarters of a mile east of the center. Polly Warren was the first teacher of the school held in this building. The first frame school school house was built in 1836, - the frame being erected by the free labor of John Dunbar and his two suns, Hosea and Simeon, who took the timber from the woods. It was completed through repeated subscriptions by the citizens, and for several years served as both church and school house, until the Congregational church was built. Brighton is now well abreast of her sister townships in the excellence of her schools, as well as in general improvements.

In the earliest days of the settlement, the pioneers were obliged to go as far as Liverpool to obtain their mail, or to dispatch letters. Afterwards they were able to get their mail in Wellington, and in 1824, or 1825, they had a regular mail, carried by one Bovee. A man by the name of Wyatt carried the first mail that ever went through the township. He came through on the east and west center road on his first trip, March 13, 1821,

Alfred Hall went into service as postmaster at Brighton about 1830. He was only nominally postmaster however, for Ransom Foote, the deputy, had the real work to do, and kept the few letters and papers that came to the settlers at his house near the center, because Hall lived a mile and a half away. Jefferson Whipple is the present postmaster. He was appointed in 1876.

The first store was opened at the center about the year 1839, by Samuel Jones who continued in business some time. A large general store is now kept by Whipple & Hall who are the successors of Richmond & Whipple.

William Battle opened the first hotel in 1850, and kept a well conducted temperance house. George Peasley now offers food and shelter to the wayfarer and the stranger.

The first road of travel thiough the township was the east and west center road. 'This was laid out in 1819. The north and south center road was opened ten or twelve years later, and the various roads parallel to these two were laid out at different times as the number of inhabitants increased, and there was demand for new means of communication.

The township has but one cemetery, besides the several private burial places where were laid the remains of the first few persons who died in the settlement. The town cemetery is upon the west side of the road, just a few rods south of the center. The land was donated by Austin Kingsbury in 1845.

The Lovelands, father and sons sowed the first wheat in the fall of 1821. They put in eight acres, and the next summer harvested a wonderful crop. They also planted the first orchard, the tres in which were started from seed brought by them from Massachusetts. Several apple trees were still living, and bore fruit in 1878.

*'The township was organized at the spring election of 1823. Joseph Kingsbury, Avory Hall and Calvin Roice, were elected trustees; Leonard H. Loveland, clerk; Abner Loveland, treasurer; and Abner Loveland, Jr., justice of the peace. There were twelve electors, just about the number of persons required to fill the offices in those days. The township belonged to Lorain, as then formed, but, with other townships, remained attached to Medina county, until the organization of Lorain was completed."* parents' conversion, and, were we able to trace the sequence, should doubtless discover, in this taking away of life, the initial impulsion in a long series of causes and effects resultant in great good. There is here an illustration of the mysterious means of Providence. Mr. Loveland. and his wife were the first persons to experience religion in Brighton. When their child died they began thinking that they were not good enough to follow him into the.future world, and the result was that they accepted whe teachings of the Bible as their guide, and tried to conform their lives to its precepts. The first religious service ever held in the township was at the grave of the little one taken from these parents. Not very long afterwards meetings were held in the vicinity, and, in 1823, or the following year, what was known as the Black River circuit was laid out and a Rev. Mr. Coston rode through a number of the townships, preaching wherever he could get together a dozen listeners. As the little clearings in the wilderness became larger and more numerous, the need of religious fellowship was felt by several, and hence, in the fall of 1827, it came about that the class was organized which was the beginning of of Brighton. The church was organized by Rev. A. Brainard, and the preaching which its members attended during the first year of its existence was by Rey. Henry O. Sheldon, who was then traveling the circuit which included this point. Meetings were held at Loveland's and at the center, though most frequently at the former place. The constituent members of this church were: Abner Loveland, Lois his wife, Leonard H. Loveland, Margs -2t his wife, Pamelia Loveland, Minerva Loveland, Elizabeth Whitlock, Erastus Hall, Sarah Halland David Fox. Leonard H. Loveland was class leader. As time wore on, the church received accessions, and it was found that the congregation had outgrown the capacity of a dwelling house, and must have a proper place of meeting. Accordingly, a neat but plain structure, the one now in use, was built at the center. The frame was erected in 1850, but on account of sickness of the workmen, and for want of means, it was not inclosed until the following spring; when, by the earnest efforts of T. Hall and E. S. Bidwell and others, the work was carried on to completion. It was dedicated, free from debt, November 6, 1852. The presci . membership is forty-five, and would be much townsnip, of the Methodist denomination, attend the chure': u. Rochester station. The present pastor is Rey. E. A. Warner, and the class leaders, 0. Peabody and William Ward. The stewards are D. M. Hall (recording steward), Freeman Green and H. 8. Seeley. The following are the trustees of the church property: D. M. Hall, Freeman Green, Simeon Dunbar, William Ward and H. S. Seeley.

was organized in 1836, and the first meetings were held in the school house east of the center. The original members were: Justice Battle, and his wife Esther, his son's wife Bathsheba, Selden Hall and wife, Joseph Kingsbury, Austin Kingsbury, W. R. Strong and wife, Philip L. Goss, Serena 8S. Goss and Peter Dickinson. The first regular minister who preached in this church was Rev. Mr. Kellogg, from New York state. Much of the time, the pulpit was supplied by students from Oberlin. The first deacons of the church were Philip L. Goss and W. R. Strong. The society built a church at the center in 1840. The church now has a membership of thirty-five, the only ones upon the roll who were among the first members being Philip L. Goss and his wife. Rev. D. T. Williams is pastor; Lewis Hart and James S. Jones, deacons. The trustees are) J. Bennett, Otis Goss and Mark Smith; clerk of the church, Lewis Hart; clerk of the society, Maurice Goss, who is also acting treasurer.

There is reason to believe that Brighton is at present an unusually healthful place. It has no resident physician. In the past the men of medicine were not numerous. The few who came into the township remained but a short time each, and none of them became so wealthy from their practice as to be able to retire. Dr. Holcomb was the pioneer practitioner, but did not come in until 1848. He was an excellent physician. After a moderately successful practice, extending through five or six years, he moved away, and his place was taken by a Dr. Gilson, who, after a very short time, was followed by Dr. William Elder, whose practice in the township was concluded in about three years. Dr. Cannan, now of Camden, practiced in Brighton for a few months.

Brighton is essentially a farming township. It has no manufacturing interests save those which are commonly found in the townships of Lorain county, viz:

Cheese Factories And Saw Mills

The Brighton cheese factory, owned by Goss & Jones, is located upon the center road, a short distance, perhaps a quarter of a mile south from the center. It receives the milk of about five hundred cows, which is mostly manufactured into cheese. Only a small quantity of butter is made. The factory was first projected by Goss & Company, in 1867, and after running a number of years was burned down. The present factory building was erected in the season of 1874-5.

Horr & Warner, of Wellington, have a cheese factory on the town line road, adjoining Wellington, and nearly a mile from the southern boundary of the township, on lot thirty-one. They receive the milk

The Centennial cheese factory, so named from the fact that it was started in 1876, is the property of Henry Wood, who also owns the farm upon which it is located. This is what is known as a "full cream factory," and the proprietor does not manufacture any butter. Not far from three hundred and fifty cows are milked for this factory. Mr. Wood is a native of Cheshire, England.

The first saw mill was built by a man named Foote, some time previous to 1525, upon the western branch of Black river, and was washed away by afreshet. The next was upon the same stream and was the property of Solomon Kingsbury and Nelson Converse. There is now one steam saw mill in the township, owned and run by Otis Goss. It is located south of the center, upon lot sixteen.

Temperance

As early as 1836, Brighton organized a temperance society, with the usual pledge of total abstinence from all intoxicating liquors (except wine and cider). Philip L. Goss was president of said society. A new impulse was given in the year 1841, under the name of the Washingtonian movement. Reformed drunkards related their experience in the degrading habit of drink, and of their new life in reformation, inspiring with hope the fallen, declaring total abstinence from all intoxicating drinks the only safeguard of sobriety. First among this class of reformers was one Captain F. Turner. Deacon Philip Goss was president. At the next annual meeting John V. Whitlock was elected. president. In the summer of 1843, the county quarterly meeting was held at Brighton, Mr. Cheney, of Elyria, president. 'I'he Rev. Ansel Clark, of Huntington, and Mr. VanWagoner, were the principal speakers. At the close of the lecture, Mr. VanWagoner gave a description of how a person would act in a fit of delirium tremens. At the next election, in the year 1845, H. B. Dunbar was elected president of said society. He served five years, and obtained four hundred and thirty-seven signatures to the pledge. Deacon Eber Jones was next president of the society; and ever since, there has been, and is now, a temperance organization in Brighton, Although it has not been able to entirely suppress intemperance, yet its influeuce has kept the township free from the unmitigated curse of a saloon or place where intoxicating liquors, with the exception of cider, could be bought. The selling of cider was born in the town of Pomfret, Windham county, Connecticut, March 16, 1811. His father, Charles Whipple, was born at North Providence, Rhode Island, April 28, 1779. His mother, Harriet Whipple, was born at North Providence, Rhode Island, November 14, 1786. In the year 1807, they moved to Pomfret, Connecticut; and in 1815, to Westmoreland, Oneida county, New York., where they resided until death. Charles Whipple died January 16, 1866, aged eightysix years. Hannah Whipple died December 6, 1863, aged seventy-eight years.

In the 22d year of his age, May 24, 1833, James Whipple came to Brighton, Lorain county, Ohio, having first bought in Brighton one hundred acres of land, known as the Loomis farm. He has at present over two hundred acres. He was married to Melinda Dunbar, November 13, 1839; she was born at Sandy Lake, Rensselaer county, New York, September 6, 1819. Her father's name was John Dunbar, who was born at Bridgewater, Norfolk county, Massachusetts, June, 1777; he was of Scotch and English descent. He lived with his parents at Bridgewater until he was sixteen years of age; then he moved with them to Grantham, Sullivan county, New Hampshire; and in 1800, he married Sally Annadown, daughter of Joseph and Dorcas Annadown, of Southbridge, Massachusetts; she was born September 29, 1776. He resided at Grantham until February, 1818, and then removed to Sandy Lake. From there, he removed to Ludlow, Windsor county, Vermont, in 1820; and in 1831, he removed to Minerva, Essex county, New York. He came from Mernava to Ohio, the latter part of. May, 1835, and located in Brighton, September, 18385, where he resided until his death, January 18, 1838, aged sixty-one years. He was a farmer, and his farm lay about three-fourths of a mile north of the center. Sally Dunbar, wife of John Dunbar, died September 22, 1854, aged seventy-eight years. Melinda was sixteen years of age when her parents removed into Brighton. She had acommon school education: Since her marriage she has always resided on the same farm where they now live They have had four children, as follows: Jefferson C. Whipple, born August 18, 1841; Anzonette Whipple, born February 8, 1851; Emma Whipple, born April 2, 1857; Manette C. Whipple, born October 31, 1861. Emma died June 12. 1859, aged two years, two months and ten days, Anzonette died June 17, 1859, aged eight years, four months and nine days. The homestead is situated one and one-half miles from Brighton. The owner early identified himself with the religious and political interests of the town, bearing his share of the common burdens, and sharing in its general prosperity.

Leonard H. Loveland

was born in Southfield, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, October 3, 1794, and lived with his father, Abner Loveland, until he attained his majority. His education was confined to that of the common schools, but by studing at night, while others slept, he qualified himself for the honorable calling of teaching, and for two years taught school, with marked success. He then married Margaret V., daughter of Luke and Elizabeth Whitlock. She was born in Connecticut, June 25, 1794; and died August 18, 1855. This union resulted in three children, one son and two daughters, namely: Abner, born January 2, 1821, in South Brunswick, New Jersey; died October 138, 1821. Cordelia, born November 12, 1823, in Lorain county, Ohio ; died March 23, 1852. Emiline M., born March 4, 1833 ; died October 30, 1874.

Abner Loveland, father of him of who we write, was born in Connecticut, April 18, 1764. He was married to Lois, daughter of Benjamin Hodge. In 1821 he removed with his family to Ohio. There were six children, namely : Dolly, Lovina, Parmelia, Minerva, Luman E., Loring, Luther, Leonard H. and Abner. At Buffalo they took a sister of Mr. Loveland's in their wagon. The brothersand sisters are all deceased, the last brother dying at Wellington, Ohio, March 2, 1879. Abner Loveland died September 6,1847. He was aman of many excellent qualities, and his death was a sad event in the then rather thinly settled country, where he settled, labored and died.

On the 18th, of August, 1855, L. H. Loveland sustained the loss of his wife. which was a sore bereave- _ ment to him and the children. For his second wife he married Mrs. Anna Rulison, widow of James Rulison, and daughter of Moses Allen ; a lady very generally esteemed by her acquaintances and friends. Mr. Loveland has followed farming nearly all his life, and has attained the dignity of being considered one of the best practical farmers of Brighton township ; as he is also one of its most substantial citizens. His unswerving personal integrity, and the general rectitude of his life, have gained for him an enviable reputation in the community where he is best known, and where his many qualities of head and heart are duly appreciated.

Avery Hall, father of Selden, came to Brighton, Lorain county, Ohio, in the year 1823, being among the pioneer settlers of that town. He was married in Meriden, Connecticut, December 24, 1800, to Miss Sarah Foster. She died in 1803. He was married a second time in Woodbury, Connecticut, September 1, 1805, to Miss Lucy Bacon. She died October 28, 1852. A few years after, he married, for his third wife, Mrs. Leach, - she only living three.years after this marriage. He died at the age of seventy-four, and was buried in Brighton. He had two children by his first wife, viz: Selden, born September 19, 1801; Alfred born May 21, 1803. His second union was blessed with eleven children, viz: Erastus, born July 28, 1806; Sarah, born November 11, 1807; Edwin, born April 9, 1809; Avery, born February 28, 1812; Lucy, born April 12, 1814; Orrin, born April 5, 1816; Julia, born April 19, 1818; Theophilus, born May 15, 1821; John W., born August 26, 1823; William, horn April 11, 1825; Clarissa, born August 22, 1829.

Mr. Selden Hall was born in Meriden, Connecticut, September 19, 1801, and died November 28, 1878. In 1822 he, in company with his brother Alfred, traveled on foot from Meriden, Connecticut, to Brighton, Lorain county, Ohio, preceding his father and family by a year. When they reached their destination, they found but four white families in the township to bid them welcome to an unbroken wilderness, where marked trees were the only guides to distant thoroughfares. He had come for the purpose of farming, and soon settled on a piece of ground onehalf a mile west of the center of the town, built a substantial log cabin, and in 1828, he was married to Miss Emily A. Smith, who lived with her widowed mother and brothers on the old Smith farm, on the town line between Wellington and Brighton.

Under the management of this stirring pioneer, and his worthy wife, this forest home began to put on the look of a thriving homestead. They were the parents of five children, viz: Fidelia N., the eldest, born June 11, 1829, was married December 10, 1846, to Jason W. Gillett, the eldest son of Octavus Gillett. He came to Brighton with his father's family, when a boy of twelve years. The fruit of this union was three children. The eldest, Anice M., was born September 12, 1847, and was married on the twentieth anniversary of her mother's wedding day, December 10, 1866, to Howard H. Hall, the second son of Avery Hall. He served his country for more than two years, during the late rebellion, enlisting im the Twelfth Ohio volunteer cavalry, October 13, 1863, and mustered out with the regiment December 15, 1865. 'I'hey have one child, Charlie M., born October 21, 1870. The second daughter, Minda J., was born August 28, 1851, and was married November 10, 1875, to Robert D. La Dow, youngest son of Abraham La Dow, of Camden. One daughter came to bless this union, - Maude A., born June 22, 1878. The third child, Octavus M., was boru March 3, 1853, and was married December 10, 1874, to Miss Mary L. Griggs, youngest daughter of John 8. Griggs. One daughter was the fruit of this union, - Kda B., born August 6, 1876. The second daughter, Augusta M., was born February 14, 1832, and was married May 4, 1858, to James M. Jones, formerly of Pennsylvania. She died May 14, 1864. At the time of her death, her husband was fighting for his country, being in an engagement on the day of her death. He was a member of the One Hundred and Third regiment Ohio volunteer infantry, served three years, and was mustered out with the regiment in June, 1865. She left two boys, - Willie W., born March 3, 1859, and Frank S., born May 8, 1860. The third child, Lorenzo J., was born February 3, 1836, and was married November 25, 1862, to Miss Redia Griggs, eldest daughter of John S. Griggs. He died December 29, 1866, leaving one child, - Horace E., born September 29, 1864. The fourth child, Louisa C., born March. 26, 1842, and was married November 29, 1866, to James M. Jones, the former husband of her late sister (Augusta), They have one child, Emily A., born June 27, 1875. The youngest child, Selden S., was born March 26, 1843, and was married May 9, 1866, to Lorinda M., only daughter of Theophilus Hall. He also was a faithful soldier of the rebellion, receiving a severe wound in the shoulder, at the battle of Resaca. Notwithstanding this, he served his three years, and was honorably mustered out with the regiment. He was in the One Hundred and Third Ohio volunteer infantry, a regiment whose record Lorain county may well be proud of. Two sons blessed this marriage, - Eber W., born March 21, 1868, and Eddie E., born February 28, 1871.

On April 24, 1867, Emily, wife of Selden, Sr., died from that dreaded disease, cancer, after protracted suffering for more than a year. April 29, 1868, he married Mrs. Roswell Smith, of Wellington. From that time until his death, he resided at the Smith homestead. He was a faithful husband, a loving father, a warm friend, and a good neighbor. Many an orphan in need has had reason to remember him with gratitude, for his kindly deeds and fitly Early in life he made a profession of christianity, and for the past fifty years he has tried to be a faithful follower of his Master, and died with the full assurance of a glorious immortality, retaining his consciousness to the last. 'The thanksgiving he had planned to keep with dear ones at home, was spent with loved ones gone before.

AMHERST is township six in range eighteen; lies in the northwestern section of Lorain county, a distance of threc miles from the lake, and is bounded on the north by Black River, on the east by Elyria, on the south by Russia, and on the west by Brownhelm. Its surface is moderately uneven, and it is traversed from east to west by three ridges which run the entire length of the lake, the ancient beaches upon which old Erie's waves spent their force in ages of which no man knows the beginning or the end. It is principally in these ridges, the north, middle and south, that the Ohio sandstone which has made the name of Amherst world famous, is found cropping out or coming so close to the surface as to make quarrying practicable. In some places along' the north ridge, the rock rises in mounds or ledges. These elevations, undoubtedly, were once bare, bleak islands in a vast inland sea - fortresses of rock which have withstood the fierce onslaught of the north winds' advancing hosts of waves, through centuries. In some places the effect of the wave washing can be clearly seen.

The only streams of water in the township are Beaver and Little Beaver creeks, so called, because the early settlers found in them large numbers of beaver. Both streams are small. They run a northerly course through the township, and are nearly parallel.

Amherst. was drawn by Martin Sheldon, Calvin Austin, Oliver L. Phelps and Asahel Hathaway. Tract number two consisting of four thousand acres in Black River, was annexed to equalize it. In connection with the present townships of Black River, Brownhelm and Russia, Amherst was in 1817 organized into a township under the name of Black River. This was by order of the Commissioners of Huron county, issued in February of the above year. The organization was effected in the following February. Brownhelm was detached and incorporated as an independent township in 1818, and seven years later the territory, now included in Russia township, was separated. From that time until 1830 the present townships of Amherst and Black River were included in one under the latter name.

When the first settlers came into the township, Indians were quite numerous. They looked upon the whites as an enemy, but the exhibition of ill feeling was not decided or bold. There was never any serious trouble between the pioneers, and on the contrary there was an occasional interchange of kind civility. George Disbrow, one of the early settlers of the South Ridge, says that he often had dealings with the Indians, and was on very pleasant terms with some of them. He never drew a rifle upon an Indian but once, and then was not obliged to fire. There was among the whites general a feeling of distrust to ward their nomadic fellow human beings, and they never felt perfectly secure until the last red man had removed from their vicinity.

Ezekiel G. Barnes, a pioneer and celebrated woodsman, relates an incident that occurred as late as 1826. There was at that time a growing dislike for the Indians among the young hunters, caused, perhaps, by the fact that the former killed too many of the deer, which the whites regarded as exclusively their own. Young Barnes came to the conclusion that something must be done to cause the Indians to clear the country. He thought the matter over and decided to go to. them, tell them in a friendly way of their unpopularity among their white brethren, and drop a hint as to the nature of what might occur if they remained longer in the vicinity. He accordingly went to their encampment and advised the Indians to journey toward hunting grounds farther west, adding that there was such a feeling among the whites that they would be in danger of their lives if they longer remained here. The Indians listened stoically to the story, and Barnes went home to await develcpments. A few days afterward, learning that they still remained in their camp, he got together six or eight young men living within a few miles of his home, and, late at night, the party started into the woods,

Barnes was captain of the attacking army. He desired a-bloodless victory, consequently he had all, except one man in whom he had plenty of confidence, load their rifles without ball. He put lead as well as' powder in his own gun, and thus forearmed against the savage dogs, of which the Indians were known to bark structure that they could almost touch it with their long rifles. All was as still as death. The Indians slept as soundly as only people of clear conscience are popularly supposed to. Suddenly, however, they were aroused from oblivion, and rudely, too. The silence of the forest was broken by the sharp crack of eight guns, and eight flashes of fire leaped out against the bark wall of the hut. The little party of adventurers then filed back to their starting place as silently as they had come, and dispersed to their homes in the firm belief that the Indians had been so frightened that:they would leave the country; and they judged correctly, for, on the following day, the camp was deserted. The Indians firmly believed that the attack had been made by men who wished to take their lives, and it was no more than natural they should have thought so, for they found, as they declared, holes in the side of the hut made by rifle balls. They left for Sandusky, but threatened, before they went, to return with all of their tribe they could get together in that vicinity, and scalp every man, woman and child in the settlement. It was feared by many that the savage threat would be carried out; but the party never returned, and but few Indians were afterward seen in Amherst township. These Indians were of the Seneca tribe, and belonged to the Sandusky branch. Some time before the occurrence related, Mr. Barnes and another young man drove out a small party of Indians, following them several miles rifle in hand.

The first settler in the territory now included in the bounds of Amherst township, was Jacob Shupe. He came into Black River in the year 1810, anda year later moved to a point on Beaver creek, about a mile and a half north of the present village of North Amherst. He was of Dutch or German descent; was born in Pennsylvania in the year 1778, and consequently was thirty-three years of age when, in 1811, he made the first clearing inthe township. He built, in 1813, the first millin the county of Lorain. Previous to this time the settlers in Black River had been compelled to carry their grist, either to Chagrin Falls, forty-eight miles distant, or to Huron River, thirty miles west, in either case making a journey of three days' duration In1815 Mr. Shupe started the first distillery, and was quickly followed by some of the other settlers who came into the neighborhood. Mr. Shupe was the father of cleven children, who were born in the order in which their names are here given: George and John, who died very young; Louis, also dead; Peggy, wife of Stephen Gann, of Michigan; Polly, Betsy, William and Catharine, all dead; Ann, now a resident of Grand Haven, Michigan; Harriet who is still living in* Missouri, and Isaac, fifty-four years of age, at the present writing a resident of Ambherst village, in which (lot twenty-five) he ownsa farm of forty-five acres. Jacob Shupe, the pioneer, was a somewhat peculiar man, very active in his habits, energetic and untiring. His life was cut short by accident. Whenhe was fifty-four years of age, he was killed, while engaged in repairing his mill, by the fall of a heavy stick of timber. This was in 1832, His wife survived him until 1870, dying in her ninetyfirst year.

Reuben Webb and family came in the year 1814 or 1815, and settled in the locality now knownas Webb's corners, but for some time lived near Jacob Shupe's for the sake of society. Adoniram Webb was a son of Reuben, and he in turn had a son named Reuben, and a daughter who married George Bryant, a native of England, who came to this country in 1830, and, settling in Amherst, took a farm upon the south ridge, or what is now knownas the telegraph road. Reuben Webb died in 1820, and Adoniram not many years later.

Chiliab Smith, of Tyringham, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, arrived in Amherst in October, 1815, bringing his wife and five children. He had three sons and two daughters, Warren, David, Sylvester, Lucia and Florinda. They are all dead but Sylvester, who lives at Council Bluffs, Iowa, and the only descendants of the old pioneer living within the county, are three children of David Smith, Mrs. Wm. Annis, of South Amherst, and L. B. Smith and Miss. L. EB. Smith, of Elyria. Chiliab Smith, on coming into the township, settled on the south ridge road, about four miles west of Elyria, and there kept the first tavern in the vicinity. He died in 1847, 'and his wife in 1824.

Roswell Crocker came from Oneida county, New York, and settled on lot number forty-four. He had three sons and five daughters, all of whom, with the exception of Eliza Ann, afterwards the wife of O. © while the family were on the road, in New York State, only one day's journey from their starting place. Mr. Crocker lived in the township for twenty-seven years, and then went to Lake county, where he died in 1868, aged seventy-one. His sons, Alonzo and Lorenzo, are now residents of the township.

Caleb Ormsby came from Becket, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, in 1817, or the following year. He built a log house at the corners, now North Amherst, upon the exact spot where now stands the residence of J..M. Worthington.

Stephen Cable came also in 1815. He had been living before that in Ridgeville. He took up the land lying about the corners, at one time known as Hulbert's corners, 81x miles west of Elyria. He kepta log tavern which afforded a temporary home to many of the settlers who came into the county later.

The Oustines, - father Federick, and seven sons, Daniel, Frederick, George, Henry, John, Michael and Philip, - arrived at about the same time as the above amed settlers. from Buffalo, but were originally from Canada. They left that country to avoid impressment into the army, and abandoned a property of considerable value. Several of the sons went into the United States' army, and in consideration of their services the family was granted by Congress a tract of land lying in -the northwest part of the township, and consisting of nine hundred acres. This action on the part of the government was suggested by Mr. Whittlesey, then a congressman.

The Oustine family burying ground is-upon a sandy knoll at the end of a rocky ridge. Here are buried a number of the family in surroundings fit to guard the long last sleep of the pioneer. The place is lonely and romantic. All about seems serene and stately, and no sound is heard but the laughing of the wind in the ancient trees that overshadow the little group of graves. ,

Ezekiel Barnes, of Worcester county, "Massachusetts, came to Amherst township in 1817, with his wife, a son-in-law, and eight children. He settled on lot forty-three, and afterwards bought a portion of lot forty-four... He was born in January, 1770, and died in his ninety-first year, 1860.- His children were Ezekiel G., Sardius D., Palina, Fanny, Amanda, . Lovina D., Juliette and Charlotte. Palina married Roswell Crocker, and is still living. "Fanny married David Smith, son of Chiliab Smith. She is the mother of three children, L. B., Livonia, and Lovira E., the latter now in Elyria. Livonia married William Annis, a son of Stephen Annis, and is the mother of six children; Adelbert, living on the farm adjoining his fathers', and five daughters, two of whom are married. Amanda Barnes married Warren Smith, who afterward joined the Mormons and was killed in the raid on Nauvoo. She is now living in Salt Lake City.

Ezekiel G. Barnes, born in 1799, is still living. He has resided on lot fifty-seven, on the middle ridge, for forty years. Mr. Barnes has four children living in Amherst: Gilbert H., Louisa, (Mrs. J. Gawne), Gardner Monroe, Henry, and 8. N., the latter on a fine farm in lot forty-five, middle ridge road. Mr. Barnes was, in his younger years, a great- hunter, and was known through a wide stretch of country as ''Nimrod," more people probably recognizing him by that title than by his name. 'The first season that he began hunting he killed, beside small game, eight or nine deer. The next season he had so improved in woodcraft and marksmanship that eighty-three were brought to earth by his rifle, and the third season he killed, incredible as it may seem, one hundred and twenty-five of these animals.

The most notable man who arrived in 1818, was Josiah Harris. He was a remarkable and truly great man - great not alone in ability, tact and enterprise, but in justice, purity and honesty. Much of that which is admirable in the institutions and the people of Amherst, is so from the result of his labor and example. His history is written upon the township, and his strong personality seems still to pervade the scenes among which was passed his busy, manly life. He was, during a long life, the object of universal respect, and his memory is revered by all who knew him. Noman in the township exerted a wider or more potent influence for good; no man was more active in promoting the best interests, material and moral, of the community. No man was longer or more closely identified with its growth and improvement, and no man, living or dead, has a larger share of the popular appreciation and admiration, than Judge Josiah Harris. He was born in Becket, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, November 30, 1783, and died March 26, 1867, aged eighty-four years. He made journeys to Ohio in 1814 and 1815, purchased land, and in 1818 came to Amherst, arriving July 2, and immediately began the work of building a log hut upon Beaver creek. Mr. Harris was elected justice. of the peace in 1821, and served for thirty-six years. He was the first sheriff of Lorain county, served seven years as associate justice, being appointed in 1829; was a member of the general assembly of Ohio in 1827, representing Cuyahoga county; represented Lorain and Medina counties in the House, and afterwards was elected to the State Senate from the same district. Judge Harris was probably the oldest postmaster in the United States: He was appointed by Postmaster-general Meigs, back in the twenties, and held the office continuously to the time of his death, (over forty years) except when in the legislature. Judge Harris assisted in various ways the development of the country. He was agent for a number of eastern land owners, and in this capacity he was enabled to do many a kind turn for the new comers. He gave them the best terms that he couid, aided them in selecting good locations, and was liked by all, because every purchaser knew that he was in no danger of any oppression in default of payment on account of sickness or misfortune, as long as Judge Harris stood between him and the owners. As a magistrate he urged the settlement of suits, and through his counsel parties litigant often left the court with all ill feeling removed, and their cause amicably adjusted. The children of the Judge were four in number. Josiah A., the eldest, who was for many years the editor of the Cleveland Herald, is now dead; Loring P. isin Texas; Milo is a leading - and influential citizen of North Amherst, and Emeline ©. is living in Philadelphia. A notable fact in regard to the Harris family, is that three of its members have held the office of sheriff of Lorain county. Judge Josiah Harris was the first sheriff; his son, Josiah A., held the office at a later period, and Milo Harris was sheriff in 1861. Eliphalet Redington, or Captain Redington as he was generally called, came to the township in February, 1818, became widely known, took a prominent part in many public affairs ; led an active life and exerted a strong influence in the community.' He was a native of Berkshire county, Massachusetts, but came to'Amherst from Trumbull county, where he had resided for a short time. He was one of the committee appointed by the legislature to locate the road leading from the Miami of the lake road to Elyria, Eliphalet Redington settled on the South Ridge road. He had four children, Myra, now dead, who married Thompson Miles; Ransom, also dead, who married Pamela Manter ; Tersa, who married Addison Tracey, and A. H.,whose wife is Jane Bryant. Mr.A, H. Redington's home has been most of the time in South Amherst, though since 1875 he bas been a citizen of Elyria.

Stephen Johnson and his sister Abbie, also came into the township and settled in this locality, not far from the time of the above named pioneers. Among others who came in the same or following year, may be named Israel Cash, Thompson Blair and Jesse Smith, Elisha Foster and his.sons Elisha and Leonard, and Daniel Cornwell,

He bought land in the locality now known as Foster's corners. Klisha, Jr., took up one hundred and twenty acres near his father, and Leonard took the farm now owned by Ephraim Towne. Daniel -Cornwell bought a farm now owned by James Nichol. He was undoubtedly the first shoemaker in the township. Jesse Smith remained but a short time, and then moved into Russia township, where his son Loren now resides.

Jonas Stratton came in 1819. He was born in New Hampshire in 1791. He settled near Webb's corners. His children were H. Dwight, Lemuel B., Amanda and Lucy. Dwight married Pamela C. Bryant, and Lucy became the wife of H. B. Bryant, and thus was formed the association of families which was really the beginning of a partnership which became celebrated through the length and breadth of the United Sates. Bryant & Stratton's commercial colleges and their system of book keeping are kuown every where.

Nathaniel Bryant, senior, was born in Eastington, Gloucestershire, England, in the year 1749. He came to America in 1829, and settled in South Amherst with his son, John Bryant, in 1830, He died in South Amherst in 1835. His children were John, born in Sussex, England, in 1789. Mary (Mrs. Gilman), born in Coventry, Warwickshire, England, in 1795.° Robert (Rev. R. Bryant), born in Coventry, England, in 1797. Nathaniel, Jr., born in Coventry, England, in 1799. John Bryant was married to Pamela Collins in King Scanley, Gloucestershire, England, in 1813. Pamela Collins, wife of John Bryant, was born in King Stanley, Englaad, in 1787, and was the daughter of John Collins. She died in Amherst, August 24, 1864, John Bryant's children were: George, born in King Stanley, England, November 1, 1814; Jane, born June 1, 1816; Ann, born in 1819; John C., born in December, 1821; Henry B., born in April, 1824; Pamela C., born in 1826. This family came from England to America, in the fall of 1829, and remained in Philadelphia during the winter. Moved to Norwalk, Ohio, in the spring of 1830, and thence to Amherst in the fall of the same year.

Elias Peabody settled in the extreme southwestern corner of the township in the year 1819. He was born in 1791, in Middleton, Massachusetts, and is still living, being in his eighty-seventh year at this writing. His residence is now in Russia township.

Ebenezer, Joseph L. and Daniel G. Whiton all came to the township before 1820. Ebenezer and Daniel settled in 1817, and Joseph &., though buying in 1818, did not come to reside continuously until 1832. The farm which he purchased was in lot forty-seven, which is.to-day the only undiyided lot in the township, and the property of his son, Joseph L. A daughter, Mrs. M. W. Axtell, is also a resident of Amherst. Joseph Lucas Whiton was born in Lee, Massachusetts, in the year 1799. His wife was Lovina Wright, of Springfield, Massachusetts. Mr. Whiton was one of the prominent men of the township and county. He served seven years as an associate judge; was a justice of the peace for twelve years, and was a member of the legislature in 1851 and 1852.

Ebenezer Whiton came to Amherst in 1817, the month of June, and removed to Elyria in 1824, in which year he was appointed clerk of the court. He served in this office and that of recorder until his death in 1834. Mr. Whiton and wife, Samantha, were both from Lee, Berkshire county, Massachussetts. Mrs. Whiton died December 13, 1878, aged eighty-four years. She died in St. Charles, Minnesota, of which place she had been a resident since 1855.

ing Rocky river, on the way to Amherst. Oné of the wagon wheels went off the bridge, and the sudden jolting movement threw the baby from the wagon. The shawl in which it was wrapped fortunately caught upon some blackberry bushes, and the little one was thus saved from being dashed to pieces in the bed of the stream below. Redington was a justice of the peace from 1822 to 1845, and the docket kept during the early years of his service shows that people were not more slow then than they are now in going to law. Sums of less than one dollar we frequently sued for. There are some entries, however, of a nature not usually met with upon justices' records in late years. For instance, the ancient docket shows that complaint was made by William D.

was born in Westmoreland Co., Pa., July 17, 1823, and is the second son of John and Nancy Kendeigh, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, as also was the grandfather' of Samuel, Henry Kendeigh, who was born in Lancaster County, in that State, in January, 1796, and died Aug. 13, 1836. The name as formerly used in Pennsylvania was Kentisch or Kintigh, and is of German origin. _

In the year 1824, Henry Kendeigh, the father of him of whom we write, emigrated to Ohio, and settled in the town of North Amherst, Lorain Co., in the spring of that year. The farm upon which he located was situated about four miles southwest of Black River. He remained there about three years, and then moved on to the place now occupied by or 1836. Samuel Kendeigh spent the early years of his life as a mechanic, aiding in the construction of buildings in the vicinity of his former home. On the

27th of January, 1854, he was married to Jane C., daughter of John R, and Esther Strickler, of Fayette Co., Pa. Six children have been born to them,

Lula, and Lottie (the last two being twins), all living. Shortly after marriage he purchased a farm containing one hundred and fifty acres in Henrietta township. Upon this he remained about seven years, clearing the land and making improvements. He subsequently exchanged the farm for mill property in North Amherst, which he owned and managed for about eighteen months with reasonable success, and then traded it off for the well-known Younglove farm in Elyria township. At the expiration of a year and a half he sold out and moved to North Amherst; and from thence on to the Peter Rice farm; and from there to his present farm, which is "pleasantly located about seven miles west of Elyria. His place is a very comfortable one, and has commodious and well-arranged outbuildings, as shown in the illustration of it on another page of this volume. Mr. Kendeigh also owns a farm of ninetyseven acres (adjoining the famous quarries of Haldeman & Son), which, owing to the superior. quality of grindstone and building rock, is very valuable. He also possesses a farm of one hundred and thirteen acres in Russia township. Mr. Kendeigh is a selfmade man, and the very fact of his accumulating so extensive a property as he at present owns, speaks well for his enterprise and business sagacity. The aggregate of his landed possessions foots up three hundred and thirty acres, including some valuable village building lots.

Edson against Asahel Crandall and Mr. Lambert for profane swearing. Another entry shows a fine of two dollars imposed for Sabbath-breaking. The family of the Redingtons consisted of ten children, as follows: Nancy (Mrs. John Frost), Ransom N. (on the old homestead), Lorinda (Mrs. Wm. Hurlburt), Louisa (Mrs. Brundage), Harmonie (Mrs. Nowh Eldred), Henry H. (in Cambridge, Iowa), Myra (who was fatally injured by a fall), Terrissa (Mrs. Joshua Simmons, of Iowa), Mary Ann (Mrs. Westley Morris, of Illinois), and Alfred J. (of Camden township).

Jesse Cutler came into the township: about 1820 and settled on lot forty-two, but remained only a short time. Eli Wallace and G. Gillett arrived about the same time.

Joseph Quigley came in 1822, purchased Jand in lot four, taking a deed' of the pioneer Shupe, and immediately erected a log house, where the present stone residence of his son George W. now stands. He was from Washington county, Pennsylvania, originally, but had been for eleven years a resident in Black River. He was born in 1777. His son George W., and wife Anna W., with three children, are resident.at this writing upon the old place.

Abram Rice, of Fayette county, Pennsylvania, came into the settlement in the fall of 1822, and took up one hundred acres of land now owned by Benjamin Hildebrandt and Conrad Hageman, but a year or two later removed to a farm a half mile north of Webb's Corners. He had seven sons and seven daughters - Daniel, Samuel (dead), Mary (Mrs. O. P. Kilner), Ann E. (Mrs. Hiram Wilbur), John &.,

Induced by his brother-in-law, Abram Rice, John Kendeigh, Sr., and wife Mary, came from Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, in 1822. He made the journey of three hundred miles in fourteen days, driving a flock of sheep. He purchased north of the corners and east of Shupe's mill, but afterward went to the southern part of the township, where he purchased land in lots ninety-one and ninety-two, upon which he resided to the time of his death.

Henry Kendeigh, Jr., arrived in 1823, and after a short residence in the northern part of the township, purchased one hundred and three acres of land at Kendeigh's corners, for which he paid three dollars per acre. His son John was three years of age when he came into Amherst. The father died in 1836, leaving his widow, Nancy, seven children to provide for. She brought up the family, and died, at a ripe old age, in 1871. Samuel Kendeigh, his wife Jane C., and six children, now live on lot sixteen. His father settled on lot ninety-five.

George Disbrow and his wife Caroline, came from Greene county, New York, in October, 1824, and took up their residence upon lot ten (South Amherst).

Mr. Disbrow brought with him two ox teams, and though well prepared to begin life as a pioneer farmer, he chose to follow his trade, which was that of a blacksmith. He was one of the first trustees of Russia township. George Disbrow and wife were both living in 1878, aged respectively seventy-eight and seventy-three years.

Nicholas Stanton and wife, Jemima Traverse, born in Becket, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, were among the arrivals of 1824. They settled upon the west side of Beaver creek, but afterward sold out to one of the Oustines, and bought east of the present village of North Amherst.

Freeman Richmond settled in Black River in 1824, or the succeeding year, but the date of his settlement in Amherst was considerably later. George Dudley and Roswell Cune were in the township by this time, or soon after.

Royal Barney, wife and family, of Ellisburgh, Jefferson county, New York, settled on lot forty-five in 1825, it having been purchased the year previous. Upon their arrival, they were welcomed by Judge Harris, and the tanzy bitters bottle was brought forth to cement the newly formed friendship. The Barney family lived in the log school house, near the corners, until they could build a house upon their own land. The sons were Orimel, Edson and Royal. Orimel is still a resident, and a respected one, of North Amherst, where he has been.engaged in various callings and enterprises. He was station agent wpon the Lake Shore.and Michigan Southern railroad for twenty-one years. In 1834, he married Eliza A. Crocker.

Salmon Johnson came into the settlement in 1827, first taking up his residence upon lot seventeen. His son, Alvah T., one of the prominent men of the township, now lives upon lot sixteen. Addison Tracey settled upon the South ridge in 1826 or 1827.

Captain Stanton Sholes, born in Groton, New London county, Connecticut, in 1770, also settled in the town in 1827. He had been a captain upon the sea and in the war of 1812; had kept hotel in Pittsburgh, Akron, Medina, Elyria and Black River; and was quite a man of affairs, active and somewhat eccentric. He purchased fifty acres of land in lot twenty-three, and becoming a citizen, took a prominent part in the public and social life of Amherst until 1833, when he removed to Rock Island, Illinois. He died in Columbus, Ohio, in 1865.

Ephraim Towne, a native of Massachusetts, but for twelve years a resident of Willoughby, Lake county, Ohio, with his wife, Almira Mitchell, settled on lot forty-three, taking seventy-five acres, in 1828. The 'Townes, with several of their children, are still residents of Amherst at this writing.

about one hundred and forty acres, in lots ninety-four and ninety-five. Mr. Rice is a descendant of the old stock, his parents coming into the town in 1829. John B. and Peter Rice were also early settlers. A Mr. Norton came either in 1828 or the following year.

In 1830, the settlement began to increase quite fast, and so many families came in that it is impossible for the historian to present a record of them all. Among those who arrived about this time may be mentioned Orlum Winton, Eli L. Seeley, Willis Potter, John and Horace Steele, Homer Tyzell, Wesley Perkins, Benjamin Bivens and Irad Aiken. Tyrell was a native of Massachusetts. He settled on lot fifty-six, but afterwards removed to the village of North Amherst, where he remained until 1875, when he went to Cleveland. Eli L. Seeley came from Connecticut. Benjamin Bivens was quite a prominent man in the community. He served for quite a time as justice of the peace and in other official capacities. A son, Lyman, still lives in the township. Wesley Perkins was born in 1805, in Orwell, Vermont, and, upon coming to Amherst, opened a shop, in which for many years he pursued his trade of wagon making - also spending much time nursing the sick.

Willis Potter was a native of Providence, Rhode Island. Hetvok upafarm adjoining that of E. Towne, inlot forty-two. His family consisted of himself, wife and thirteen children. Three of the five who are still living reside in Amherst: W. P., Sylvester, and Elizabeth Moore. Among those who came soon after 1830, were the Beldens, M. B. and Hiram. They were born in Berkshire county, Massachusetts, and came west at the solicitation of their uncle, Captain Stanton Sholes. Hiram came to .North Amherst, home, and did not come with intention of permanent residents until 1832. He purchased lot forty in Brownhelm, but Captain Sholes made him a present of fifteen acres of land in lot ninety-seven (Amherst), on condition that he would build and live thereon.. Later he moved into the village of North Amherst, His: children living are Lucy, Mattie J., Ellen C., Hattie S., Hiram and Halsey. M. B. Belden came in 1834, and took land on lots ninety-seven and ninety-eight. He has four children living: Eliza A. (Robertson), Prudence A., Rollin B. and Clarissa. John B. Robertson was a prominent arrival in 1834. He was born at Ballston, Saratoga county, New York, in 1797, and came to Ohio in 1826. On coming to Amherst he settled on lot seventy-seven, on the middie ridge, where he resided most of the time until his death, which occurred in 1875. He was a politician of considerable influence; democratic in principle. He was a member of the first. legislature of Nebraska, in 1856, and in the following year was appointed by President Buchanan as agent among the Omaha Indians. In 1859 he returned to Amherst. His family consisted of his wife, Temperance Foot, of Berkshire county, Massachusetts, and five children: Sarah M.,

Theodora H., (died in 1874, near Omaha), John B. Jr., who was a farmer until 1865, and for the past six years has been marshal of North Amherst village, Frank Nelson, and M. L., now the wife of Parks Foster, of Elyris

Among those who came at a still later day than those settlers who are named in the foregoing, we mention Elam Fairchild, of Connecticut, who settled in South Amherst in 1841; E. P. Frink, whose mother came with six children, in 1832, from New York State. They owned land, first in the Shupe farm, then in the Oustine tract, and E. P. and his wife, Aurelia, now live on lot sixty-three.

Godfrey and Sarah Fowle were early settlers upon the south ridge, or telegraph road, on lot eighty-seven. They had nine children: Henry, Elizabeth, Catharine, Sarah, Margaret, Godfrey, Jacob, Mary E., Philip J., and George. Jacob now lives on lot seyenty-three, and Philip J. on lot eighty-eight.

Lyman Cole took up his residence on lot ninety-one in 1854, and Henry Robinson several years later, on lot ninety-two. Both were from New York.

Joseph Trost, a native of France, came in 1852, and has been, since 1865, foreman of the Wilson & Hughes stone quarry. We mention him as a representative foreigner, and one of the very few of his nationality resident in the township.

An application was made to the legislature for the separate organization of Black river, in 1829, and on the 12th of January, 1830, an act was passed incorporating the township, and the act further provided that township number six in range eighteen, should be detached, and remain separate from fractional township number seven, and be known as Amherst.