Lorain City (part 49 of 77)

"Mrs. Jabez Burrell died August 26, 1831; Esc]. Burrell married again in June, 1833, and died September 25th of tlie same year. Of their eight children, six survive. Julia (]\Irs. Humphrey) and Sarah 31. (Mrs. Knapp) live in Windham, Portage county; Robbins on the old farm, Lyman J. in California, Jabez L. in Oberlin, and Eliza (Mrs. Whittlesey) in Cleveland; Saloma (Mivs. Warner Strang) tlieil in October, 185G. Mary Ann (Mrs. Jiol)ert E. Cillett) died July 31, 1837. Solomon Weeks lives in Allen Township, Allen county, Indiana. Ariel Moore died February 10, 1824; Mrs. Moore removed to Fredonia, New York, where she died a few years since. Lorinda (]\Irs. Norman Bedortha) and her sister Lovina live at Saratoga. Abigail (Mrs. Burgress) went on a mis.sion to India, and died there. Nathan Stevens and wife died in Michigan. Henry Austin and wife went back to tlieir native town in 1820, and are both living.

"Davis Heeoek and Erastus Ilecock left their river farms and located in the southwest part of the town. Davis died October 18, 1858. Erastus is a resident of Siieliield. James Burrell died September 2i), 1855. Mr.s. James Burrell died July 6, 1862. Harriet (Mrs. John B. Garfield) is the only survivor of the family. Cyla died March 20, 1818. Almoran died December 28, 1841, and Alva J. died June 20, 1833. Arnold Burrell and wife live in the townsliip of Elyria.

"Isaac Burrell died March 12, 1860. Mrs. Burrell, the last of the pioneers who came into town with a family, died December 17, 1864. Their six children all survive: Eunice (Mrs. Era.stus Ilecock), Hiram, on the old farm, Jane (Mrs. Butman) and Augusta (Mrs. Wm. Day) live in Sheffield; ]\Iai'y, in Elyria, and Charlotte (]\Irs. Amanda IMoore) on Put-in Bay Island."

Judge Williiim Iliii't of Saybrook, (^otinceticiit, bouglit (lie Townshij) of Shel'lield, with the addition of 1,500 aci'cs in Ileni-ictta, for .+30,^62. It is not known what Jabez Buri-ell and John Day agnted

111 the fall of 1816, within a few weeks of tlie eoiiiiii<j of the Burrell and Day families to Sheffield, Avork was begun on a saw-mill on Freneh Creek on what is now the James Day farm. Jabez Biirrell, John Day, and Mr. Deland seem to have been partners in this mill. Mr. Deland never lived in Sheffield, but came in the fall of 1816 while they were working on the mill and brought a millwrigiit witli him. Four men, Jabez Burrell, John Day, Joshua Smith, and the man who eame with ]\Ir. Deland, worked two months or more on the mill in the summer of 1817. Can we not pause a moment to think of the pieture of these men cutting down trees, drawing them together with o.\en, digging in the banks and working in the bed of the creek in the water to lay the foundation of their log dam deep and strong - tlie dense forest all around them and the days growing shorter and coUler ' They worked until Xovemlier 21st. Tlie average jiriee of a day's work in 1816 was 6 shillings per day, but Joshua Smith received $58 for fiftyeight days' work on the mill in 1816 and $25 for twenty days' work in ]817. There is no account of sawing until April, 1818.

The mill would no doubt be considered very pi'imitive now, lint it was of great value in those early days in sawing lum])er for the new hou.ses and barns; also lumber for making new furniture to replace that left in Massachusetts. Black cherry was often used for the purpose. There are still highly prized bureaus and tables in Sheffield made in those days.

In the summer of 1819 John Day built a large frame house not .standing now, perhaps the first in town. It .stood on the lirow of the hill between the liouse and the barn of AVilliam S. Day. Tlie great ambition of the early .settlers was to build for themselves and families houses as large and comfortaljle as the houses left in New England.

In the fall of 1823 Charles Cheney Imilt a dam to obtain power for a grist and saw-mill on thi; I'iver at what is now known as Day's Dam. This (lam went out in a Hood Ixd'orc tlic buildings wvrv, erected. Later, in 1821, lOrastiis Ihtcock and Davis llecock became partners with .Mr. Cheney, ])ut in a new dam and built a grist and saw-mill. Before the mill was e(iiiiplcled tile llecock brothers buiight out Mv. Cheiiew

Oiie-lialf of this mill changed hands many times until 1847, when Ei-astus lleeoek and Mr. JJresser .sold to William Curtiss and Wilbur Cahooii. Jt was bought by William Day and son Sunnier in 1862. Tiiis grist mill must have been hailed with joy by the young boys as well as their mothers, tor it had been the custom to send small boys long distances on horseback with a Ijag of grain on the horse with them to null. They were often gone two days. William 11. Jtoot and James Day, in later life, enjoyed compai-ing their experiences on such trips in their boyhood.

There was a steam sawmill at Globesville that sawed ship plank and a sawmill on the river opposite the island known as the Birmingham Mill. The mill on French Creek, after about ten years, was not used until about 1840, when it was rebuilt and ship ])lank for the Cleveland market was sawed.

Jabez Burrell, Issiac Burrell, Samuel B. Pitch and John Carficld built bi-ick houses; all of tiiem large, comfortable homes now, after nearly KM) years. They nuule their own brick and the houses testify to their good workmanship. The Jabez Burrell house was built soon after lioI)bins Burrell brought his bride to Sheffield from New Marlborough, Massachusetts, ]\Iarch 1, 1825. It has been stated that there were only twenty families in Sheflield at that time. The Henry Root frame house was prolnibly Iniilt in 1826.

]\Iilton Garfield was married May 4, 1820, the couple living in a log liouse until they built the large pleasant home now occupied by their daughter, Mrs. Julia Root. IMilton Garfield walked from Tyringham, ]\Iassachusetts, with his ax on his shoulder, to Sheffield, in 1815, trapping and liunting; then went back to ]\Iassachusetts, coming again in 181G in th(( sanu' way. When lie came up the river and reached tlie ridge, he heard someone choj)ping and said to iiis companion, "Go see what fool has settled in Ibis duck pond," as the woods were a swamp. It proved to b(( his cousin, John Garfield.

(liiT'ctioiis and everything in the liouse was saved, even to the doors, uiii(h)\vs and tlie iiiaiitcis of the lii'ejihiees. Some ol' the old hi'ick walls Wire icl'l when the house was iclMiilt and ai'c slill in good condition.

Jalu'Z Burrell, Isaae Burrell and James Burrell were 1)rothers, three out of a family of thirteen ehildren. Tiieir father was Abraham liurrell. Three Burrell brothers eanie over from England. One froze to death, one went baek to England, the thii'd was ancestor of the Sheffield Burrells. Two children of James Burrell died unmarried. One daughter married John (Jartield. One son, Alva, died at Green Springs, Ohio, in 1833, leaving a son, Alva, who died in Elyria a few years ago. He was the last of the male line in the Burrell family.

Isaac Burrell had only one son, Hiram, and Hiram Burrell had only one son, who lived to manhood, Isaae ]3urrell, who died in Lorain, the last in the male line in the Isaac Burrell family. Eunice, daughter of Isaac Burrell, married Erastus Ilecock. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, enlisting when a boy from Salisbury, Herkimer County, New York. Mrs. Ilecock received a pension for many years after his death. Mr. Ilecock was captain of state militia, then colonel. They removed to the .southwest part of the town and built a line home. He met a tragic death August 23, 18G6, while riding with a friend. Both were instantly killed by a train when crossing a railroad track at Carlisle.

There were two brothers of Davis and Erastus Ilecock, who came in early times to Sheffield, Rufus and Harry. Rufus was drowned in Black River when their boat overturned, and was buried in tlie old graveyard on JMr. Reid's land beside the river. Harry Ilecock married Jane, daughter of Isaae Burrell. Ho died with fever in a few years, leaving two daughters, Hannah, and Iluldali, who married Lewis Woodruff.

Those who lived on the lots .selected for them until their deaths were the Burrell bi'others with their wives, John Day and wife, Samuel B. Fitch and wife, John and Milton Garfield with their wives, Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Moon, Henry Root, Joshua Smith and Ariel Moore. Douglass Smith left the farm where his father settled, and moved to the ridge, whei'e Ik; lived the rest of his life on tlie farm now owned by ]\Ir. Minai'd. i\Irs. Mai'tha Hoggs, of Las Animas, (.'olorado, is the only remainini' child of Mr. Smith.

Ilirani Buri'ell lived all his life on the farm to which he came as a boy, and Kobbins Burrell was oidy absent from Sheffield a few years in Oberlin and Elyria.

John and Cornelia Day lived nearly all tiieir married life on the farm across the river from the James Bnrrell place. Norman and Julia Day settled on a lake shore farm soon after they were married, and tliis was their lifelong home with the exception of a few years in Elyria.

Kellogg Day went as a teacher in 1840 to the Dwight IMission among the Cherokee Indians in Indian Territory. Jn 1841 he came back ajid was married in the State of New York. He I)rought his briiie to Sheftield for a visit and then they continued their wedding journey from Cleveland to Cincinnati b}' canal, then down the Oiiio and Mississippi rivers and up the Arkansas to Fort Smith; thence, the last sixty miles to iJwiglit, on horseback, joining the mission family, four months after their mari'iage. In KSaO they left the mission foi' Deinnark, Iowa, making the journey in a "prairie schooner" so that tiiey neeel not travel on Sunday. The journey of four weeks was delightful, in the beautiful October weather. Denuuirk became theii- permanent home.

The James Austin (Senior) family moved from Sennet, New York, in 1834, and settled on the farm across tlie river where the tul)e mills were built a few years ago. This farm and tiie farms where the Ilecock brothers first settled are now of great value. The Hiram Burrell farm is covered with railroad tracks and three high-level bridges connect it with the City of Lorain.

Mr. and Mrs. Arnoki Burrell lived in Sheffield when they first came, but removed to Elyria Township. They always attended the Sheffield Churcli. ^Ir. Burrell was a nephew of the Burrell l)rothers. When the ehurcii moved into their new building in 1852 all the families were assigned seats which they retained, with a U'W changi's, for many yeai's. At this time there was, in atldition to the families already mentioned, many others, among them the Randall, Chapman, Reeves, L. T. Parks, Woodruff, Carter, Austin, Belden, Swan and Mallory families. Tht; church was well tilled.

Liitlicr Hcdortha \v;i.s in Slicriicld as early us 1K2:{ and lived on wliat was alterwai'd llie Caiij; lai-iii and is jiovv the; 'J'roxler jjlaeo. His brother, Hiram Hodortlia, lived on tliu Kiden i'anii. lie was in Slieifiekl as late as 1845, but both families had probably moved away before the chufeh was built.

iMr. and ]\Irs. Jolin Carter came from England as young people, were married and lived oji the Robbins Burrell farm for live years, and then bouglit the farm where they lived for nuiny years, now owned by Frank Caley.

George Crehore, Sr., and his brother, Asahel, came from Survey Townshij), near Keane, New Ilami)sliire, to Sheffield. Asahel Crehore died with fever, but the George Crehore family became permanent residents.

The ]\loore, Faragher, Irish, Case, Podley, Lliller and Hill families have long been residents of the lake shore. The Caley, Taft, Kane and Kinney families settled near the center. Daniel Caley and his wife with six children, tiiree sons and three daughters, came from the Isle of Man in IHIJO in a small sailing vessel, making tiie pasjsage in five weeks and three days. They bought a farm in Sheffield, west of the river, paynig .$7 an acre. This property continued in the possession of the Caley descendants nearly sixty years, when it went to the Sheffield Land (/Omi)any.

In 1854 or 1855 a farmer's club was organized in Sheftield, with Richmond Baker, president; L. T. Parks, treasurer, and Lewis Woodruff, secretary. This clul) lu'ld several unsuccessful fairs on William Day's Farm.

The Lorain ship i)lant has been oidy the continuation of an old industry. There were several boats built at the Ciirti.ss Mill by .Mr. Curtiss and ids son-in-law. Captain Dull', one The Alu-v Duff and one liiat went down tlie St. Lawrenec to the ocean. They were talo'ii down the river during a flood.

Globe, gave the place its name. Five boats were l)inlt in Sheffield on the lake shore; The Juno, at the Wolcott place; The Gladiator and Forest Maid, at, Lewis AVoodruir's.

Shel'fiehl furnished a nuiaber of lake eaj)taiii8 in early times. Captain Itoot sailed the lakes ami also crossed the ocean to Liverpool. Frederic 0. Day was one of his crew. Richard crossed the ocean in 1858 with Captain Smith Moore on the first lake schooner to go through the canals to the ocean. In 1859 he crossed the ocean from Savannah to Liverpool as captain, the boat being sold in Liverpool.

Captain Winthrop Randall was a trusted lake captain until his death. He was taken sick on board his boat and only lived a few days after reaching home.

Solcn Burrell, oldest son of Robbins Burrell, went on a whaling voyage to the Pacific Ocean in the early '50s. He was gone several yeai-s. Soon after his i-eturn, while walking along the street in Milwaukee, a brick fell on his head from a building in the course of construction, and caused his death. He was brought back to Sheflield and his funeral held from the church in October, 1854, the same day that the funeral of Mrs. John Day was held in the church.

Several "Forty-Niners" went from Sheffield to California during the gold rush - William JMallory from the Sliore, who never came back except for visits; Henry Garfield, who came back to the old home on the Ridge, and Wilbur Gaboon, who never came back to Ohio.

Joliij L. Day went to Tike's Peak in .search of gold in the latter part of the '50s. He returned for a visit and then in 1864 went across the plains to Helena, I\lontana, accompanied by Henry Fitch, Orville Root, Daniel Mallory, James Faragher and Charles :\Iaddock. They all returned in a few years except Henry Fitch. He died in Sheridan, ^Montana.

After John Day died with fever in 1827, his oldest son, William Day, who had just returned from New .Orleans wheiv he had spent seven years, went to (loiineelieut on horseback (o see Mr. Hart and get iiim to lake back the unsold land in the townsliip, which he did, a])pointiiiK William Day as his land agriit. l''or lliirly yciii's after this .Mr. Day was active in selling tjiis land, the Germans buying land together in the oast part of tlio township. Judge Hart died soon after he took liack tile land and his two (huighters, Miss Hetty B. Hart and Mrs. Jai'vis, were his heirs.

AVilliaia Day kept a stoek of goods in the Hecoek mill at one time and later had a store on the hill near tlie east end of the bridge at Thirty-first Street. In 1849 he was associate judge with Hon. Philemon Bliss.

Alonzo Parks, a brother of L. T. Parks, kept a country store at the Center, near Hiram Burrell's, for a short time. He married a daughter of John Garfield. They soon moved away. The L. T. Parks family came from Dalton, Mas.sachusetts, where he was a merchant. They were related to the Chapman and Randall families.

Sheffield furnished her full quota of men for tlie War of the Rebellion. Among these were Lewis Burrell, Horace Pitch, Simeon Kane, Alfred Day, Edgar, Stephen, Jackson and Giles Irish, John and Antone Youngbluth, Prank Deidenck, Isaac and Joseph Taft, the Ilyland brothers from the west part of the town, and John Bacon. Joseph died with measles. John Bacon was killed on the battle field at Resaca, Georgia. Edgar Irish was among the missing. Six of the Ilyland brothers were killed or died of disease during the war. Edward Root and Prederic 0. Day served through the war in Illinois regiments. Dwiglit R. Burrell was a member of the Ohio National Guards and saw service at Washington, D. C.

For several years before ]\Iilton Garfield was married, he and his brother Elijah kept bachelors' hall in a log house across the road from the later home. One night the two brothers heard a knock, and when the door was opened two Indians stood there. They asked to come in and dry their clothes. They staid all night, sleeping on the floor before the fireplace. They said they had killed a i)i'ar on the knoll of the flats and had left it hanging there. This knoll on the old Taylor place is still called the "Bear's Knoll." The next day the two Indians hunted in the North woods, killing two deer and coming l)ack to i\Ir. Garfield's to slay the second night. Tin; two brotlu'i-s helped them shoulder tiie deer next morning, l)ul, they wondered how they were to carry the bear, as they said they were going I'or it. Tlie Indian eam^) was at Indian Hollow.

]\Ir. Garfield hrouglit from iMassachiiselts in a small box slips of liell pear, Cantield and I5ow ajjples. lie grafted the IJell pear on a thorn hnsh. All of the slips lived and there ai-e two trees of Bell pear and a nnnd)er of the Bow apples on the Kidge now. Mrs. (larfield nsed the small tin box for her tea. Elijali Garfield went ])aek to iMassaeluisetts, married and died there.

For the first part of our last fifty years Sheffield seems to have dwelt peacefully and serenely, each one treading llie path of hard work and duty, paying off mortgages or adding more acres to the few just ])aid for. The large and growing families were to be cared for and their education and careers planned. Schools were just about the same, except for now and then a teaclier with a new vision and once iii a great while a .school director l)road-minde(l enougli to let them try it out. Our easy access to Oberlin lias brought many teachers and iireacliers of greater ability than is probal)ly allotted to most townships, although file dear old .saints tired often of being Olierlin's "call' pasture."

At the close of the war, i\laria Hoot and Delia Day left their homes to give themselves as leachers to the work of the Freeilmen's Bureau, working at IMacon, Slilledgeville and Andersonville, veritable pioneers in the great home missionary work of the South, which has grown all these years into a factor of untold influence.

In 1872 came the C. L. & W. Railroad, cutting off oidy a small portion of the township, but giving to Sheffield residents, as well as Black River, the vision of a large city, where little Black River then stood.

In 1878 was recorded the death of Robbins Bnrrell. In the winter of 1S2.'i-24 he taught the only public school then existing in tlie city of Cleveland.

History Of Lorain Coijxty 155

In 1884 the Lakeside KSunday school celebrated its silver anniversary. The Center School was invited. Rev. E. C. liarnard gave tiie address, iMrs. J. Austin a history of the school. The superintendents had been Win. Day, Sr., jMr. Felch, Mr. Root, Mr. Chapman and .Mr. Austin. This Sunday seiiool was supported until in 1895 the corporation of Lorain took in the land upon which tlie schoolhou.se stood and the buiUling was torn down.

In 181)1 Edward Burrell of tlie third generation in pos.se.ssion of this si)ot, met with a fatal accident. 1 quote from an article by his brother, Howard Burrell, wiio said, "lie had lived on this farm thirty years, lie was a 'doer of the Word,' just, humane and charitable. The Sunday morning before the funeral was touching. With the death of the elders of the community, and the emigration of the childi'en, the Congi'egational church had dwindled down to six families. Only twenty-three were out that morning. They could not afford a jiastor and for two years Edward had read a printed .sermon tiiere to keep up a service and bind np the remainder."

January 2, 1894, ]\Irs. Henry Studley entertained the North Ridge and Center Sunday schools at a Christmas tree festival at her summer iioiiie on the (ilobeville road, and little ilid they realize then that never again would it l)e a jdeasant place for ])icnics and outings, but I'ather a liive of industry and iiianufa('ture. In June of tiuit year iiundreds of men went into these woods and in nine months, by* April 1, 1895, luul transformed them into a .steel plant of innuense pi-oi)ortions.

The next important event to tlie Shore, espeeially, was the running of the short line street car, which started Fehruary 4, 1896. The first car left Lorain at 7 :10 a. m., with sixteen passengers and made the trip in lOVli minutes. Twenty passengers enjoyed the trip back. Walter Root acted as conductor. For nineteen years this little "dinkey" has served as a i)lace to lace shoes and adjust collars and ties for belated sul)ur]janiles, carried flour, provisions and lumber when mud was knee deep, and served us at weddings and funerals.

In October, 1897, was run the first car over the Lake Shore Electric, prolialily bringing to tlie Shore, if not to all Sheffield, the greatest convenience in llie way of travel it had ever had, and its Soutli Lorain spur, coming in 1!)()G, was a still greater boon to Shcfliehl Center.

In 1898 was celebrated the eightieth anniversary of the Sheffield Congregational Church. Some of the dear pastors who ministered to Sheffield's spiritual life have been Reverends "White, AValker, Gough, Wright, Shaffler (who thanked the Lord always for his right reason), Delong, Baldwin, Barnard, Deidrich, Kelsey and Iladley, who was the last minister to live in the ])arsonage. Others, Oberlin students, came over on Sunday to preach, but had no continued pa.storate. Tiie last service held in the old church was in 1903, that of the funeral service of one of Sheffield's sweetest and fairest maidens, Edna Crehore.

There had been for many years a Sunday school at the Ridge schoolhouse, with Mrs. Garfield, Robert Eberhard, Hubert Day and ]\Iiss Jessie Garfield as superintendents. Just as the Shore and Center schools were merged into North and South Lorain Congregational churches, so this liecanie a part of what is now known as Vincent Church.

Russell Walker, besides being a pioneer mail carrier and playing an iinpoi'tanl pai'f in IIk; life of Sheffield, is beli(.'ved to be the originator of tlu! rural \'rvt'. delivery now in universal use tlii'ou[,'liout llie IJnilod Slates. After carrying tiie mail to Crandall, .ShelTiidil, Avon Lake and Lake iin^eze for many years, Ik; ])roi»os(td to the farmers to deliver tlie mail at their door three times a week for the small sum of $LUO per year. Tliis mel, with approval and was tried and later hrought daily free delivery, it was first established February 15, IDOL To the later marine interests and life, Sheffield has contributed Mallonej's, 1^'araghers, .Woodruffs and Cases.

In 1S94 Jessie Garfield, in au article for the Day-Austin reunion, foretells a great and glorious future for Sheffield as a manufacturing place, the old church getting so crowded another would have to be built and electric cars running aci'oss town in all directions, etc. Her dream as to railroads has very nearly come true. Just at the top of the hill as you used to go to Day's Mill across the river is the high level and fill used for road traftic and the Lake Sliore Electric bridge also. Farther to the north is the bridge of tlie Lake Terminal, the entrance! to llie tube mills, the Lake Shore and the Lorain & West Virginia railroads. These lines meet just north of the old Carter home, the West Virginia line crossing the river at the Ridge and curving around by the Kinney places.

A paper of 1904, at the time of the launching of the sliip Wolvin at Lorain, says: "It is a long way from the canoe of the Indian and the 'General Huntington' of 1819 to the 'Wolvin' and it is a still longer way from these simple craft to the Steamer 'Trimble,' 605 feet long, carrying 12,109 tons of ore to the steel plant dock and unloading it in seven liours, approximately handling three tons a minute, and this in old ShetlHeld.

"Most all of Lorain's groat industrial jilants stand on land that was formerly Sheffield, but we would not wish it back to lay idle, for tiirough these mills, she is giving to thousands a ciiance to earn a better living than tliey ever had before, and to educate tlieir chihlren and nuike of tliem splendid American citizens. ]*rol)ably one-third of Sheffield's population is foreign, and 1 mean by tiiis, those from Southern Europe, not on I' (Jei'man ncigIiI)ors, with whom we have gi'own up."

Oraiidrtia Ifandall probably lived to be tlie oldest of any resident of Sheflield, being ninety-seven years, six months old when she died in 190G.

The golden weddings celebrated by Sheffield couples were William Day and wife, Asel Taft and wife, Mr. Jacob ]\Ieyers and wife of the Ridge, Mr. Jacob IMeyers and wife of the German settlement, Lewis Woodruff and wife, James Austin and wife, and Frank Diedrich and wife, the last occurring July 25, 1915.

Of the articles brought from Massachusetts in 1815 by these pioneers some things of value and interest remain. A blue silk dress is at the home of Arthur Austin, a white dress at the home of Professor Wi-iglit, a mug at the home of Everett Day, the old Day Bible, publi-shed in 1813, at Sumner Day's, and the old red paeony at the home of William Day, Jr., and a part of that also at the Artliur Austin home in Lorain, a writing desk of Mrs. Mertou's, an account I)Ook of John Day's and a telescope at Dow Day's home, while many choice relics are at Shirley Burrell's home, brought by Abraliam Burrell.

Of the boys and girls l)orn and brought up in Sheffield, Katherine Schnitzler has become an actress; Peter Ikmgart has become an expert in the collection of fossils and has a position with a Canadian company which is in search of geological and museum specimens. ]\Ir. Bungart collected and .sold many valuable specimens from our own Black River banks. This work was started first in Sheffield by Jay Tyrrell, who built and lived at th(! Lake Breeze; hotel, now known as llii! Lake Bree/.o dairy farm.

tlie latter clays of the war, but rcsii^'iu'd beeause bis boaltli was shattered. Jle wa\s a great I'catler aiul read hundreds of books eaeii year. Of Hlieftield's d(!seeudeiits, Burrell lleeoek, son of Anna Bell Burrell and Harry Heeoek, of Cleveland, is reeoguized by the world as one of its greatest heroes, sacrificing his life trying to save a man and wife froui drowning at Niagara i"'alls in February, 1912. Prof. G. Fi'ederiek Wright has done much writing of books and is an authority on scientific geological research. Helen Cogswell has been an actress of note; E. Dana Durand, census enumerator of the United States, while many others of Sheffield's sons and daughters have given time and talent to social service, philanthropy, litei'ary club work and different lines of church activities.

^Irs. Cuddeback closed her interesting historical outline with a charge to the younger generation present. She advised them to take up the prol)lems of this and the next generation in the same spirit of selfsacrilice as ditl those men and women of a liundi'ed years ago.

"About 1840 the Germans began to emigrate to the Western Reserve. They were young and ambitious people, but not largely blessed with earthly goods. Their coming into a strange country, the language of which they knew not, and being handicapped with attacks of fever and ague, maiie the prospect anything but alluring. In all their hardships they Were kindly helped by their English neighbors, who were ever ready to help the newcomers. There were people from all parts of Germany, speaking various dialects, but nevertheless trained to one language at school. Now, most of these i)eople have l)ecome Anglicized and speak the English language.

"St. Theresa's Catholic church of Sheifield was organized in 1845 by Rev. Peter Greiseh, its first pastor, with a membership of thirtythree. At the time of organization every member paid one dollar, with which total amount an acre of land was purchased. Upon this was l)uilt a log eliurch, 24x;]0 feel, which was occupied until the fianie one was built in 1H47 at a cost of .$1,500. 'J'he land was bougiit from (Japt. Aaron K'oot, with the understanding that if he sold the farm lie would give the purchasers another acre, which he did. Tiie jii-st trustees of St. Theresa's cliuri'li were -Tolui Miller, Christian i\Iarck, Peter L(tu.\ and

"Early in March, 1908, the frame church was destroyed by fire just as plans were l)eing made for a new editice. On the following Christmas tlic liist .services were held in the sul)stantial brick church, which had been completed at a cost of $15,000. The present membersiiip comprises forty-five families. The people have tlirived, and while the number of residents is much smaller, the farms are larger. The good people who came first and laid the foundations for our present homes are gone. They braved the ocean's storms and the wilds of the forest that we might enjoy the' fruits of their labor. May God bless those who helped to prosper our German people and make Sheffield one grand home, for the present generation."

The celebration of the Sheffield Centennial occurred on August 11 and 12, 1915, at the home of Mr. and INIrs. Harry Burrell. The program began on the former day with a launch ride from Lorain, up the Black River to tlie landing near the Hyer Farm, some seventy-five or a liundred people enjoj-ing the trip. At the top of the hill, jitney buses met the people, taking them to French Creek Hollow, where the program was to have been carried out. The rain in the afternoon prevented the carrying out of part of it, and all were taken to the old church. The basket picnic was the first thing on the program, 100 or more enjoying this feature. ]\Ir. Orville Root called the assembly to order. By the light of one lamp the following exercises were carried out :

I'rom Howard Burrell of Iowa, read by Mrs. Tempa Burrell. Sliort addresses were made by luaiiy of tlie old time friends, telling of many tilings of interest which lia2:)pened in those pioneer days. Mrs. Celia Durand read a paper, ''The Pioneer Women of the Western Reserve." j\Ir. Asaph Jones sang, "One Hundred Years from Now," thus closing the first day's exercises.

Thursday, August 12th, the friends assembled on the spacious lawn of the old Robbins Jiurrell home, where the time was spent in visiting aiul recalling old time experiences. Six long tables seating fifty each had been arranged on the lawn and were soon filled by the many people in attendance. Three hundred were seated at the first tables, while many others waited their turn. The chicken pie dinner, with all the other fixings was very much enjoyed by all present. After dinner the company again assembly.! at the old church, where the afternoon's program was carried out, Mr. Root acting as chairman. Ray Cogswell gave the first fifty years of the history of Sheffield, Avhieh had been i^repared by Norman Day. He spoke of the coming of the first settlers, Capt. Jabez Burrell and Capt. John Day, from Connecticut in 1815, and the purchasing by them of the townsliip from Gen. Wm. Hart of Saybrook, Connecticut, and later the coming of Captain Smith and his son Douglas from Massachusetts by ox cart. The families of Freeman Richmond, Henry Root, Oliver ]\Ioon, Milton and John (jiarfield, A. R. Dimmick, Henry Austin and others arrived, some coming by boat as far as Niagara Falls and then by stage, others by ox carts and many walking. At the end of the first year in Sheffield the population of the first settlement was fifty persons. The first white woman to settle was Mrs. Freeman Richmond, wiio came in Fobruaiy, 1816. Nathan Stevens was the first magistrate after the town was organized and Captain Smith was tlie first settler to die, his death being caused by ague and fever in 1817. Mrs. Isaac Burrell, one of the last of tiie settlers, died in 1860.

The history of the second fifty years was given by j\Irs. G. L. Cuddeback. Other articles from histories were read by Messrs. Chas. Crehore ami Louis Bacon. Short addresses were made by Mr. Jesse Lang of Oberlin, who is now eighty-nine years old, and who taught the fii'st school in Siicfficld ; Everett Day, Walter Austin and others. Mr. Siiii-ley .Burrell of Lorain read an excellent pai)er telluig of the first newspaper, j)riiit('(l July 24, LS2i), wiiich was known us llie Lorain (lazetlc, and its snbsci'iption price was $2.00 a year, 'i'liis closed tiie pi'ogram lor the afternoon. Adjournment to the Burrell Farm again took place, where

All intcrestiiif^ j^iait(; was th(- mifio room, aiwanj^cd in the J'foiit i)ait of tlie JUirrt'U llonu'stead. Aniony the ivlies were a shawl owned hy :\lr.s. 11. C. Jiurrell, wiiieh was worn l)y Capt. John Day's wife, when she eauie to Sheffield, lOU years ago; Jolm Day's silk hat and Judge Day's silk hat, a bundle of flax, which grew on the Day Farm seventy-tive years ago; a iiuip of Connecticut, dated 1790; a scarf worn by Leonora Burrell seventy-live years ago; a dress made in 1790 by Mrs. John Day; a dress worked by lihoda ]\laria Day in 1811, and a yarn weaver made by the Shakers and sold to Ilalsey Garfield fifty years ago, and many other curios.

The pageant which was to have taken place Wednesday evening was carried out Thursday evening, and began by a dozen little fairies appearing from a distance, dancing to the music of a graphophone. Then the music died away and tlie Indians appeared on hoi-seliack. Halting they started a fire and began getting their vvcjiing meal. Soon afterward a covered wagon drawn by two horses was seen coming down the road. It represented the coming of the first family to Slieifield. The camjifire was started, lighting the whole Hollow. Dancing by many of the younger and .some of the older ones followed, with music by Mr. Clark Cox and Mr. Boyd, two of the old tiddlers. This was one of the happy features of the evening's entertainment. Mr. Jones sang "The Perfect Day," wiiich closed one of the most successful and interesting gatherings tliat Siiellield has ever witnessed.

On Tuesday, August 10, 1915, Huntington held a home-coming celebration that was attended by nearly 1,000 ])eople. Those who had moved away, members of families who were among the first settlers, mingled again with those who had elected to remain in the community. It was a happy reunion time, old acquaintances being renewed and other days lived over again. The weather was ideal and the hospitality of Huntington's citizens unbounded. For the time-being, those who had wandered afar, wondered why fate had taken them away from old-time associates and associations.

The celebration was held on the grounds of the (central School Building and at noon a basket dinner was .sc^i'ved. There was, however, ample and generous provision for all liome-comers and visitors. Housewives vied with each other in adding sul)stantials anil delicaeies to the family

Following (liuuer tliei'e was a program oi' addresses, the first being liy lion. Myi'on 'l\ liei'riek, i'oniier ainliassador to l<'ranc(;. Huntington is i)rou(l to eiaiiii Mr. ll(;rriek as one of its own. lie was born tiiere and his boyhood days spent in a eonununity tiiat promised niueli in the early (lays. ^Mr. Ilerriek's acUlress was largely of the character of personal reniiniseenees. lla recalled the men who were prominent in tlic place when he was a school boy, sj)eaking in an appreciative way of wliat it jiieant to Huntington or any other community to have such men sot the standards. His boyish feeling of tiiem being great men had not been outgrown. Among them were cultured men from tlie East, such as Kev. Ansel Clark, that time pastor of Huntington's Congregational Church. Otiiers were referred to as shaping the eonununity by the influence of their unswerving character. ]\lr. Herrick, in speaking of modern conditions, said that "modern motles of travel had made of the world a m-ighborhood and that it was up to us to nudic it a brotheriiood. "

Hon. J. T. Haskell, of Wellington, was unable to be pix'sent, but Rev. Mr. Willard, of the .s.ime i)lace, was secured in his slead. Kev. J\li-. AVillard was for three periods pastor of the Baptist Church of Huntington but is now living in retirement in tiie nearby town. He, too, recalled many pleasant instances of liis earlier life in the community, saying that he liked it so mucli that lie came back of his own free will the second time, and that the community lik<'d him so well that it insisted upon him coining hack the third time.

I'rof. F. 1). Ward, of the faculty of Baldwin Wallace University, Herea, and a former resilient, spoke with love for and priile in the eai'ly inslitutions of Huntington. He especially referred to the simple directness ol' educational iiu'thods ('mi)loyed by some of the teachers after tiie Civil war. He also spoke of some of the old families. I'rofcssor Ward has (piite recently fitted up the old home in JIuntington, wilh 1lic idea of uifimately returning lo it.

Before tiie close of the afternoon, plans for organization for the celebration of Huntington's Centennial were discussed. The centennial will occur in 1918. -

Not all of the home-coming as enjoyed by Huntington residents had to do with the past. Old residents, old times, the good old days were enjoyed in reminiscences and story, but there is another side to the ali'air. Like many rural communities, Huntington has seen larger jjlaces profit because of the city-ward trend. Perhaps like many other rural communities, Huntington has been napping, a little, satisfied that certain things were inevitable. But when a few years ago a very sul)stantial centralized school building was erecteil at a cost of more than $12,000, tliere was an unmistakable sign tliat Huntington was stirring herself. Of cour.se there were those who could not sec the necessity of abandoning .schools already built, and the suliject is still a tender one with some tax payers. The other side to the story as developed at the home-coming is that Huntington is slated for progress, and when l!il8 arrives, tliere is going to be a i)roud recounting of what of the vision has come to i)ass.

The ])r()gram of the hoiiie-coiiiing eiiuiiiei'ates the lollowiiig desirable things ol' the pa.st and the future: Huntington is making pi'Ogre.ss. We have centralized schools. We have some stone roads. We will get more stone roads. The value of property is increasing. We are harvesting bumper crops. We want an up to date high school. AVe will have a modern country chui'eh. We want a grange. We are having \isi()iis of an ideal community. Our aim is to realize these visions. Our motto is "Kverybody Boost." Wateli Huntington make progress.

At the evening meeting held at 8 o'clock, there were talks l)y okl seltlers, music by a mi.\ed (|uai'tet, and a short address by Rev. A. H. liapking of the IM. iO. (!liurcli on "The Future of lluiitiiigton." liis talk embodied the principal it^ms as enumerated under Huntington's progressive i)i'ogi'am, and tended to unite the whole eomiiiuiiity in a plan for better things. He spoke of "Wellington as having rested upon

Tile centennial coniiiieniorative of the Battle of Lake Erie, Septeiiilier ]1), 1S1;{, generally known as the Perry Centennial, einbraet'd ten states of the ninon and especially appealed to the pati'iotism and enthusiasm of the lake i)orts. Lorain Perry lIom(! Week, from .July Lith to the 20tii, inclusive, will long be reniend)ered as one of the most successful public celebrations wliicli lias l)een interwoven with the history of tile county.

As early as 1911 the (iencral Assembly of Ohio took llie initiative toward a Perry Centennial, and was followed in the movement by the legislatures of Pennsylvania, jMichigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, New York, Iiliode Islaiul (the native state of Oliver II. Perry), Kentucky, IMinnesota and Louisiana. Commissioners were ai)i)(iiiited by the stales, and by President Taft, for tlie United States, and together they were organized as tile Inlerslate lioard of Perry's Victory Centennial (!ominission, witii iicadquarters in Cleveland and Ccorge II. Wortliiiigton, of that city, as president-general.

In the meantime at a cost of over $70,()()0, Perry's second flag-ship in the Battle of Lake Erie, was raised from the bottom of ^Misery Hay near Erie, where it had lain for a century and restored to a replica of what tlie ship was as she went into the memorable battle 100 years ago.

Oidy the keel, about half the ribs, and three or four "courses" of tlie original planking remained as a starting point for the reconstruction work. Naval experts, assigned to the task of superintending the restoration, conned histories and the navy dei)artment records for data upon which to work. Old "tar.s," veterans of the days of the.sciuare-rigger were ((uestioned. When the work had been completed, the Niagara, down to every pulley block, almost to every spike and nail, was just as she liad been when she turned defeat into victory 100 years ago.

July IStli was the great day of the week, as it marked the demonstration of welcome to the restored Niagara, and strikingly typified the heroism of tlie younger days of the Republic and, by contrast, the "bigger Ihings" of the ]>resent. The Lorain Times-IIerald issued an elaborate "Pci'iy edition" on the Ifitli, from which the following inteivsting paragraphs are extracted:

"Web'omed by the din of whistles and by the clieei's of the thousands that lincil the wharves of the river and lake, the Niagara, second flagshij) of Commodore Perry in the battle of Lake Erie, entered F^oi'aiu harbor at sboi'tly aftci- -I o'clock ycslerday afternoon.

"A wliite-ehid iiiai'iiie l)aiid on the (h-ck of the fainons shi|) phiyed pati-iotic airs as she warj)ed to her moorinjr at tlie city dock. Tlie landing dock could not hold all of the throng that had a.sseriihled to sec and welcome the floating relic of the national triumphs of another day. Erie avenue iiraul)ridgo along its northern rail was a living ma.ss of humanity. Along the docks on the opposite side from the landing place, spectators formed a .solid line. Bi'oadway at its lower end and water works i)ark each held portions of tiie overflow of crowd. As the band struck up its stirring lilt, the thousands that watched hurst into checr.s. Hats and iiandkerchiefs waved a givat welcoming salute.

"On hoard the Niagai'a as she entered the port and docked, was an official rece])tioii conuiiittec, representing the city ami the Lorain Perry Home AVeek Association. As an ad.iunct to tlie reception committee, and adding a touch of historic color, tii(?re was on hoard, also, a band of Lorain Red IMen, arrayed in full war regalia. Immediately after mounting the Niagara's rail as she entereil the piers, the Red Men were taken 'prisoners' by the reception committee, and were still in humorous bondage when the dock was reached.

"The rece])tion committee included W. N. Little, ])resident of the celebration association; IMayor T. W. Pape ; Capt. Richard Thew, chairman of the reception committee; IMajor ('. F. Cramer, Dr. A. T. Crills. Holdeii AVood, J. E. ]\Iooney, R. 15. Patin, Chas. A. Iloyt, C. E. Krantz, L. A. Dawes, Custer Snyder, AValdo Purcell and C. L. Corts.

"]\Iayor Pape, Major Cramer and xAIcssrs. Purcell and Corts had constituted a committee that went to Cleveland early yesterday morning and joined the flotilla when it passed that i)ort enroute from Fairport to Lorain. The remaining meml)ers of the reception committee l)oarded the Niagara outside the harl)or mouth here before her entry into the port.

"Towed by the Wolverine, the Niagara arrived outside the mouth at about 1 p. m. liotli ves.sels anciiored, awaiting tlie coming of the Essex, which had stopped in Cleveland. ^Members of tlie reception committee Avho had remained in Lorain were placed on board the Niagara by the tug E. i\L Pierce. The Essex, upon iu-r arrival, also went to anchor. The Lorain City Hand alioard the Kssex g.ive a eoiiecrt as the boat w;;:i being docked.

"At 4 p. 111. the flolilia got under way. As the entry was made, the Niagara, towed by the tugs E. M. Pierce and Sui)erior, came first,' and was followed by the AVolveriiie and the Kssex in the nvAi'v named. The vessels were doeked in the order in wliieli lliey entered. After tlio landiug liad boon ott'eoted, gang-planks wore put out from tlio Niagara and tlio oagor spoctators allowed to go aboard for a tour of inspoetion. President Little, aceonii)anied by the inendjers of tbe reeoption committee and the war-paintod Red Men, boarded in turn the Wolverine and Essex and formally extended the city's welcome to the respective coramanders, Capt. W. L. Morrison and Capt. A. P. Nicklett.

The Niagara, throughout her cruise of lake ports, is in the command of Ensign G. M. Lowry, U. S. N., who has been specially commissioned to the assignment. Captain Lowry is in charge of the historic relics the Niagara has on board.

"The relics mentioned were the battle flag carried by Perry in the battle near Put-in-Bay and Ijcaring the motto 'Don't Cive up the Ship'; the sword which he wore; his duelling pistols; his commission as captain in the United States navy, and the sword of ^Midshipman A. Perry, the fourteen-year-old brother of the commander, who accompanied the commoilore wlien the colors were transferred to the Niagara. The famous battle flag is about nine feet sipiare, with a background of closely-woven, dark blue muslin. The flag was made in the liomo of Thomas Stuart at Erie, Pa., by Margaret Forster, wife of Thomas Stuart, who was an officer of the Pennsylvania troops, with the assistance of Dorcas Bell, wife of Capt. Wm. Bell, Elizabeth Rachel, Mary Theodosia and Catherine Arn, wives of officers of Perry's tleot. AVhile the vessels of tlie fleet were being built at Erie, the officers used to visit the Stuart home and on one of these visits asked Mrs. Stuart to make a flag for them. The words 'Don't give up the ship,' were uttered by Capt. James Lawrence as he fell, mortally wounded on the deck of the frigate Chesapeake in the engagement with the British ship Shannon, on June 1, 1813. The flag flew at the masthead throughout the Battle of Lake Erie.

"Perry's duelling pistols are now owned by the family of the Late Gen. James Alexander J'erry, U. S. A. They were loaned by the family for exhibit purposes.

"The commodore's sword is the property of Hon. Perry Belmont, of AVashington, D. C. Pen-y's commission as ca])tain, signed by President James Madison, is owned by August Belmont. JMidshipman Perry's sword is the property of the family of the late Gen. Jas. A. Perry."

At First, No Educational Fund - Legal Comi^ensation in 1803 - Actual Land Grant in 1834 - The Western Reserve School Fund - Progress op School Laws to 1834 - Foundat.k)n op Present System - The Akron Law and Free Graded Schools - Teachers' Institutes - Pioneer Schools and Teachers - Mrs. and Mr. Bron- SON - Schools Founded in 1810-20 - The Strut Street School, Brownhelm - Pioneer Schools in Elyria and Wellington - Russia Township Schools - Huntington and Amher.st - First School in Penfield Townshii' - Present Status of County P^DUCATioN - The County Infirmary - The County Home for Children - Superintendents and IMatrons - Aim: To Provide Permanent Homes - Buildings - Tntellectual and Moral Training - Past and Present Management - The County Agricultural Society - First Agricultural Society - Town Fair at Oberlin - Origin of Good Roads IMovement^ - County Society Founded in 1846 - First Fair - Lecturers Appointed - Ladies' Horsemanship Introduced - Pure-Bred Cattle - Star Farmers - First Election - Improvements of Grounds - Early Premiums Dropped - Later Hi.story of the Society - Population of the County, 1830-1010 - , Townships and Corpor.vtions, 1010, 1000, 1800 - Electric Iinifica- TioN IN Lorain County.

The liistory of pui)lic education in tlie Western Reserve is distinct from that of otlier poi'tions of the Nortluvest Territory covered 1)y tlie provisions of the Ordinance of 1787; that is, for nearly half a centnry it did not enjoy the benefits of the educational fund created l)y tliat instrument, for the reason tliat for more tlian a dozen years after it went into force those who controlled it refused allegiance to the General Government whicli hehl jurisdiction throuj,'h tlie ordinance named.

The explanation and outcome of this complication - this first serious conflict. l)etweeii localized and centralized govcriimeut - is lliiis de- scribed hy Judf^o Boyuton : "Hy tlie ordiiiaiii-c of ('oii<rr('ss of 1785, it wiis (Iccliircd tliiit Section 1(5 ol" eveiy towiisliip sliould lie I'eservcd lor tile lUiiinleiiaiice oL" jiiililic schools in tlie township. The Ordinance of 1787 rcallirnied the i)olicy thus deciai'ctl. The jjrovisions of these ordinaiices, in this respect, were not applieal)le to, nor operative over, the rejjion of the Keserve, hecause of the fact that the United States did not own its soil ; and although the entire amount paid to Connecticut by the Land Company for the territory of the Jiciserve was set apart for, and devoted to tiie maintenance of public schools in that State, no ])art of that fund was appropriated to purposes of education here. Here was an inequalit}' of advantages between the people of the Reserve and of the remainder of the State, in that respect.

"This inecjuality was, however, in a measure, removed in 1803 by an act of Congress, wiiich set apart and approi)riate(l to the Western Reserve, as an e(|uivalent for section IG, a sul'licient (luantity of land ill the lliiiled States Military District, to com])ensate for the loss of that .section to school purposes in the lands lying east of Cuyahoga. This amount was equal to one thirty-sixth of the land of the Reserve, to which the Indian title had, before that time, been extinguished.

''The Indian title to tlie lands of the Reserve west of Cuyahoga not then having been extinguished, the matter seemed to drop from puhlie notice, and remained so until 1829. At this date the legislature, in a ]\remorial to Congress, directed its attention to the fact that l)y the Treaty of Port Industry, concluded in 1805, the Indian title to the land west of Cuyahoga liad lieen relinquished to tlie United States, and l)rayed in recognition of the fact that an additional amount of land lying within the United States Military District should be set apart for the use of the pulilic schools of the Reserve, and ecpial in quantity to one thirty-sixth of the territory ceded to the United States by that Treaty.

"The Memorial ])roduced the desired result. In 1834, Congi-ess, in eompliance with the i-e(|uest of the Legislature, gi'anted such additional amount of laml to the Reserve for school purposes as to equalize its distribution of lands for such purpose, ami in furthei'ance of it.s object to cari'y into efl'eet its determination, to donate oiic thirty-sixth part of tile piihlic! doiiiain to the purposes of education.

"The lands first allotted to the Reserve for sueh purpose were situated in the counties of Holmes and Tuscarawas, and in 1834: were surveyed and sold, and the proceeds arising from their sale, as well as the funds arising- from the sale of those subse(iuently appropriated, were placed and invested with other school funds of the State, and constitute one of tlie sources from which the people of the Reserve derive the means of supporting and maintaining their common schools. This fund is called the Western Reserve School Fund."

In tlu; meantime, great progress had been made in the establishment of a real system of public education, not depending on the uncertainties of private subscription and voluntary sujjport. That the schools were maintained as well as they were in the struggling days of pioneer settlement was highly credital)le to the intelligence, and often generosity, of those wlio l)rought their families into the western wildei'ness, or reared them amid such surroundings. The State Constitution of 1802 rcjieated the educational clause of tlie Oi-dinance of 1787 aiul made it the duty of the Legislature to carry out its intent. At first the school lands were only leased, and many abuses and scandals arose tlu'reliy. In 1821 tlie iirst law was passed levying a tax for the support of the public schools; authority was given, but the levying was not made obligatory until 182.5, which measure also provided for the appointment of school examiners. The law of 1821 also authorized the division of townships into school districts and the election of district school committees who miglit erect schoolhouses. In 1827 tlie state abandoned the policy of leasing the school lands and made provision for selling them and investing tlu! proceeds. As fast as the lands were sold, the ])roceeds were paid into tlie state treasury and the state pledged itself to pay 6 per cent interest perpetually, such interest being annually distriliuted among the vai-ious townsliijis and districts for scliool purpo.ses; as a matter of fact, 1lie fund is borrowed by the stat(? and tlie aniuuil interest is raised by taxalioii under tlie law of 1825.

'IMuis file iirojjer machinery foi- the- founding of a system of ])ublic ediieation was beinpf provided, luit, as a wliole, Ihe Western Reserve was not placed on a par as to jiarliciijatioii in tlie j)ublic school fund until

18;U. \jy 1838 the state eominoii school fund had reached $200,000; was mliiwd la $150,000 in 1842; raised to $300,000 in 1851, ami abolislicd in 18r)3, wiieii tlie entire systi-ni of j^eiiei'al taxation i'or seliool ])uri)Oses was revised and tlie loundation of the present plan adopted.

In Lorain County, as in other progressive sections of Ohio, the system of free graded schools developed from the famous measure known as the Akron law of 1847. Througii its provisions that town was organized into a single school district controlled by a board of six directors, who were authorized to establish primary schools and a central grammar scliool and take all the practical steps to employ teachers, erect buildings and purchase api)aratus. In 1848 the provisions of that comprehensive law were extended to otiier incorporated towns and cities. A general law was passed in 184i) ena])ling any town of 200 inhabitants to organize as under the Akron law. It furtiier provided for the establishmejit of an adeciuate numl)er of pi'imary schools, conveniently located; a school, or schools, of higlier grade or grades; for the free admission of all white children, antl that the schools nuist i)e kept open not less than thirty-si.x weeks in each year. The general law of 184i), growing from the Akron measure of 1847, founded tlie .system of free graded sciiools for every county in Ohio.

In 1845 the first Teachers' Institute was held and in 1848 a state law was i)assed providing for the appro[)riation of money in each county for the purpose of having such institutes conducted. In Decend)er, 1847, was organized tlie State Teachers' Association, which has held annual meeliiigs in Lorain' County as follows:

As a rule, the people who first .settled in Lorain County wen; men and women with children, or, at least, potential parents, and the pi'imitive log selioolhouse, or the little class of scholars gathered in the cabin lioiiie, followed closely tlie eoiniiig of the pioneers. Cliiireli and sc'hool and home were the solid triangle of the New Lngland civilization which they brought with them.

The first school in the county was tauglit in the sunnner of 1808 by ]Mrs. Bela Bronson, wife of one of the original proprietors of Columbia Township, who, with her husband and child, and three others of tlie Waterbury (Connecticut) Colony, journeyed from Cleveland during the previous year and had just commenced family life in a brand new log liouse. Two other fainilies had arrived witii several children of scliool age and tlie young teacher had every reason to believe that moi'o would follow. This Hist school in the Jironson shack was conducled with comparative comfort in suninier, but in the winter of 18()'J-10 Mr. JJronson decided to take a hand himself as an educator, and taught a class in a blacksmith slio]), with all the heat the woril implies.

Jscuouls Founukd In 1810-20

In the fall of 1810 a colony of about twenty people migrated from Waterbury into Kidgeville and not long afterward a log schoolhouse was Itiiilt near the center of the town. There the children of the settlement were taught until the building was burned, in 1814.

Sheffield and Grafton filled up quite rapidly during the early years of their settlement, and schools were taught as early as 1818. iMiss .Mary Sibley, the pioneer teacher in (irafton Township, gathered a class during that year in a log cabin built for the purpose near the residence of Capt. William Turner, who had come into the township in 1817 among its pioneer settlers.

A schoolhouse was also built near the center of Avon Township, in 1818, ami Larkin A. Williams, the townshij) elerk, was the teacher. It was then Troy Township.

To this period, or a little later, lielongs the la])ors of i\Irs. William Alverson, wife of one of the men who accompanied Col. Henry J^rown from ]\Iassachusetts to Brownhelm Township, in 1816. About three years afterward Mr. and Mrs. Alverson were living in a house of their own, and a number of families, comprising the usual large quota of children, had located near them. So the hou.sewife gatliered the children of the neighborhood and oi)ened the first school of the township in her own house.

In llie fall of 181!) (|iiile a sizable log sclioolhouse was built on Iho brow of the hill in the Hrownhelm settlement; the sti-uctiire was IS by

22 tVet. lint it was so pretentious that tlie thoroughfare on whicli it stood was (liil)h('(l Strut Sti'cct and retained tlie name for many years, (ii'andison l-'airchild taut,'lit the school the iirst two winters, reeeivin(^ his tuition in elioj)j)iiit,'. Money was very seareci in those days, labor and produee being usually employed in the exehange of values. I\lr. Fairehild eouki teach better than he eould chop ; as he )ieeded some chopping done, and could not get money with whieii to hire choppers, he acted aecortiingly.

The first school in Flyria was organized in ]81!J in a log house on the hill, on the ea.st side, and in 1827 the well known Yellow Schoolhouse was built on the site of the present opei'a house.

In the spring of 1820, Caroline Wilcox, daughter of one of the original colonists who came from Berkshire (Jounty, -Alassachusetts, to settle on the site of the future Village of Wellington, opened the first school in the township in the house of John Clifford, a fellow pioneer. She continued to teach until a log schoolhouse was ei-ected on the site afterward Occupied by the American House. The school was closed with a grand exiiibition, said to have been the first entei'taimnent of the kind given west of the Cuyahoga.

Mi.ss Julia Joimson, daughter of Phineas Johnson, one of tlie first settlers of Carlisle, was a ])ioneer teaciier in that township, as well as in JOaton and Elyria. She sub.se(|uently became the wife of Edmund West and resided at Elyria. She taught .several years during the early '2()s.

The early settlers of Russia Township, from 1817 to 1822, located in its northern, especially its northwestern, sections and not long after they colonized, sehoolhouses were built near the houses of Eber Newton and Alonzo Wright. Settlement in the southern i)ai't of the township and the founding of Oberliii College came a iunid)er of years later.

Tluntingtoii, in th(i far southei-n i)art- of the county, was early entered in tlie list of seliool communities. ]ii 1822, during the year of the township's formation, a schoolhouse was built and during that scjisoii Miss Lovinia jjoveland taught foiu'teen scholai-s, some coming a distance of two miles tliroiigh the woods. \Ui{ lliaf was nolliing unusual; tlie boys and girls of those days had to work liard for their education, as did tlieir elders for everything of value wliieh they eaiiie to possess. Sehooliii}^ was a foretaste of Uiose liardcniiij,' times during winch nothing eaiiie easy.

Sehoolhouses were huilt at an early date in both the north and south parts of Amherst Township. ISophronia JJlair taught a i)ioneer class on the south ridge, and there was another early school just beyond the corporation line of the present village, but then known as the Corners. Miss Fannie Barnes, later ]\Irs. David Smith, taught at the latter school in the summer of 1823, and afterward Miss Philania Barney, who became j\Irs. S. N. Moore, was a teacher in the same log building.

About tlie time that these first Amherst schools were coming to life, Pentield Township families were subscribing for the services of JMiss Clarissa Rising as a teacher of their tender offspring. Calvin Spencer, one of the first land purchasers, who first came with Peter Penfield on a prospecting tour in 1818 had erected a house in 1821, and donated it to tile community and to Teacher Rising. Therein the first, school in the township was opened, and in 1828 a special log house was erected for educational purposes. The winter term in the new building was taught by George R. Starr.

Many years ago the schools of the county outgrew the primitive sehoolhouses, apparatus and methods of teaching wliieh were prevalent in the da^'s when such faithful men and women as those mentioned labored in the field of pedagogy, -^'illage, townsiup, city and state have all combined to give Lorain County all that is modern and progressive in educational forces, from the elementary schools to the high schools' and colleges. Among the higher institutions of learning and moral uplift, Oberlin and IMount Union colleges will compare favorably with any similar institutions in the state; so that no student need go outside tlie limits of the county to acquire a thorough, safe and lilieral education.

county board, of which he is the chief executive: Enrolment in the county system, 5,]4r); numhei- of school buildings, 122; value of school I)i'oi)(;i'ty, jfi-'jOO, ()()() ; iuiml)cr of teachers, 200; number ol' distfict supijrintcndcnts, 8.

The Lorain C^ounty Teachers' Institute is conducted under the auspices of the County Board of Education. The instructors of that held in the fall of 1915 were Dr. S. C. Schmucker, of the State Normal School, West Chester, Peiuisylvania ; ]\Iiss Edna Joseph, East Liverpool; Griffith J. Jones, Lorain, musical director; Laura Krautter, Lorain, pianist.

The teachers of Lorain County have been holding an annual Teachers' Institute for many years past. The 1915 session was held August 28-September 3, 1915, in the auditorium of the new technical iiigh school building, Elyria, Ohio. This was the first ses.sion of the institute held since the new high school building was completed. The institute enrolled To men and 367 women, making a total of 440. Tiiis was the largest enrollment in the history of the county. This was pronounced one of the best institutes which the teachers of Lorain County ever enjoyed. The institute for 1916 will l)e held in Elyria, August 28th-Septeud.)er 1st.

The Lorain County Infirmary is a large modern building erected and developed for the care of the poor, its founding and expansion covering a period of fifty years. The institution, with its grounds of over a quarter section, is located in Carlisle Township, two miles west of Elyria.

The infirmary was founded under tiie following circumstances: On March 17, 1866, Tabor Wood, George Clifton and Reuben Eddy, county conunissioners, purchased of Joseph Swift, Jr., 170 acres of land in Carlisle Township for an infirmary farm, for which they paid $10,500. On January 8, 1867, the contract for the erection of a suitable building was awarded to John Childs, of Elyria, and Samuel C. Brooks, of Cleveland, for the sum of $37,500. The structure was accepted by the commissioners September 10, 1868, and the builders, on account of extra work, were paid $1,000 above the contract price. As completed, the main building was 123 by 46 feet, three stories high, and in its center and rear was a wing, 32 by 75 feet, two stories high - the entire structure containing 120 rooms. Althougli tiie first inmate was i-eceived on December 1, 1868, the origiiud buildings were not entirely completed and furnished until thi'ec! years had passed.

The growth of the county's po|)ulation and the increase in the number of the ])Overty-striekeii seeking admission, forced an extension of accom-

Tile county iiilii'iiiai-y, as it stands today, is rcpi'eseiited Ity a substantial, modern and well-l)uilt jtlant, loeateil on a liij^li ;nid dry site. The fai'in is all tilled, and, with buildings, stock and machinery, is valued at ovei- $97,000. The water supply and means of fire protection are furnished by a water tower eiglity feet high, with a capacity of 15,000 barrels. Fire plugs are distrilnited throughout the grounds. Electricity sujiplics the lights aiul power for laundry machinery cream separator, etc. There are about 100 inmates at tiie infirmary, three-fourths of whom are men.

The first superintendent of the Lorain County Infirmary was Tabor Vincent, wlio served until his death in ]\Iarch, 1S7G, when he was succeeded by Iliraiu Patterson. He was followed by Levi JMorse and Addison Blanchard, each of whom served three or four years. The definite records commence with C. E. Cooley as superintendent, who had active charge of the infirmary from June 1, 1889, to November 1, 1893. His successors were Dell Johnson, who .served from Novend)er 1, 189.'J, to l\larch 1, 1908, when the jjresent superintendent, Judson (i. Starr, took oflice. His wife, Sadie i>. Stan-, is matron, and \)v. C. E. French is physician.

Iifstory Of I.Orain Coiinty 179

Tlic Lorain County Cliildrcn's Home, in the eastern edge of Oberlin, wliich cares on an average for sixty dependent cliildren under eighteen yeais of age, is an institution wliicli is an honor to the founders and the inanagciiicnt. Prior to the hegiiniiug and organization of an institution for tlie care of dependent children in Lorain County, philantliropic residents of the county iiad conferred together frc(|Uently respecting such an undertaking, and finally tlirougli tlie earnest ell'orts of Rev. F. C. KIdred, of Klyria, tlie (|uestioii came before the voters for tiicir opinion, and (he movement was endorsed at a special election held in Aj>ril, 1H!).S,' hy a majority vote of U.'!, thus giving the county conniiissioncrs power (o j.rocccd with locating and building a county children's lioine.

Col. J. W. Steele, of Oberlin, took up the matter of location for the home, and ])rought it before the people of Oberlin through the board of commerce, who .secured from the Village of Oberlin certain concessions should th(! home be located there.

The board of conuni.ssioiier.s, consi.sting of A. 15. Hayes, F. K. Criffin and IL A. Durkce, had several i)ieces of i)roperty otfeivd, and aftci- due consideration selected the present site, one mile from the center of Oberlin Village, consisting of fifteen acres on the extreme eastern villa-'c line of the town, and boumled by College, Crosby and Lorain .strc.-rs, with a street to be opened on the western side of the grounds, giving amj)le room foi- buildings, play grounds, lawns and garden. The ovUmrdl eo.st of the land was $;:l,67r,. The architects .selected were Lelimairaud Schmilt of Cleveland, and their plans were ado])ted and the contract for the buildn.g of four .separate brick houses was given to a Columbus contractor, who faded before completing the buildings. His bondsman Robert McClure, continued and finished the work in lS!)i) The entire cost including grading of grounds and drilling for gas, amounted to

^Ir. and Mrs. II. 1'. Kennedy received their ai),)ointments as sui)er- >"<-'"l''"t and matron, rcspectivly, before the buildings were completed or furnisla.d; they began their service July 1, l!)()(), continued it tor live years and four months, when they were sucre,.led by the presimt ".eumbents, Mr. and Mrs. (.'corge A. Moslu-r. The (iisl endeavor of the managt'ineiit was to get the rooms prepared for the reception of children, wliicli was doiu', teiuporaiiiy, permanent acconmiodations l)eing afterward jxTfcclfd. The iiist inmates wei'e three chihJren committed Ity the inlirmai-y directors, who came on Ani^ust -i, 1900. The first year fiftyone ciiihiren were received, and during the period of Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy's incnmhency, 201 ciiildren were cared for. JMost of those had Ijoth parents living, a few were half orphaJis, and eight only had lost both l)ar(iits. (jicncrally speaking, the division of labor between the superinti'udciit and the matron is that the former regulates the conduct of the inmates and instructs tiiem in out-of-door work, wliile the matron keej)S them clean, looks after their food and health, teaches them tlie domestic virtues; in fact, mothers tliem, which carries to all a world of meaning.

From the first it has been the aim of the management to provide the ciiildren with permanent homes as soon as those can lie found adapted to individual temperaments and wants. In tlie meantime tliey are fed, clot lied, educated and trained to be a credit to any households which may ado])t them. "Where there are persons who have a legal right to the possession of a child, they are re(iuired to sign a paper giving the trustees of the home entire control until the child reaches the age of eighteen. The children are placed on trial for two or three months. Jf, a Tier such a test, the child gives satisfaction and if the home proves to be such as the child needs, the stay is made permanent, by adoption or otherwise; but if all is not satisfactory, the home recalls the child.

'i. That they be kindly treated, comfortably clothed, given medical attendance \vhen necessary, and be protected from evil examples and immoral influences.

4. That they be given not less than five months' schooling each year and that they be )'ci|iiiiT(l to attend church and Sabbnlli school when possililc.

(Jliiklren may bi; visited onee a year or ol'tener by some one authorized, and the riyiit ol' recalling' a child at any time when its welfare demands it, is reserved.

The majority of the inmates of the Lorain County Children's Home are of foreign nationality, principally Poles, Hungarians, Slavs, with a few Irish, English, German and. Americans, including colored. They are sent largely because of the drunkenness or inlidelity of parents; some because of the death of father or mother, or both, and others on account of sickness, i)overty and want of employment. They come largely from Lorain and Elyria, a, few from Oberlin and Wellington and fewer still from the surrounding country. No child is accejited who has not resided in Lorain County for at least a year.

In the cai'rying out of this most commendable work ade(iuate and tasteful buildings and beautiful grounds have been provided. Tiie main building is a two-story, pressed brick structure, the front of wiiich is used for trustees' office, and the su])erinten(lent 's home; in the rear are the dining rooms for children and family, as well as the kitchen and ])antry. The nursery dormitory and sleeping apartments are on the second floor, with a large attic over entire building. The two siile buildings, connected with the main building i)y ai'ches ai'e used for ilormitories; the one on the west of main building for girls and on the east for hoys. There is sleeping room for about sixty-five children in the three dormitories. Both buiUlings are conveniently arranged with toilet and bath rooms. A room for school purposes is located in the boys' building and a similar room for kindergarten work in the girls' building. Large attics ovei' both are used for play rooms in .stormy weather.

A i)rick .structure for laundry j)ur])Oses is located in the rear of main building. With two gas wells the i)lace is furnished with light and gas enough for cooking and laundry work, and also for partial heating. The main heating is by furnace and steam. Obei'lin Village furnishes water and sewer privileges without charge. The grounds ai'e attractively adorned with handsome shade trees, shrubbery and flower beds with fine lawns, a lily jxmd, a fountain, stone walks and drives.

Outbuildings consist of barn, carriage and tool house and j)oultry houses, 'j'he garden furnishes vegetables in season including most of the potatoes used. An acre or two of ground has been planted with fi'uit trees consisting of apples, pears, j)lums, peaches aiul cherries, with small

Iiistouy Of Lokaix Coijxty 183

A school was started and a teacher employed in liJOl. This continued until the fall of li)(.)8, when it was deemed I)est to send tiie childivn to the Oherlin schools, where they have advantages which cannot be given them in an ungraded scliool. It also gives them the opportunity to mingle with other children in study and play as eciuals, thus breaking up their in.stitutional life.

School work for the youngest children is i)rovided through the Kindergarten Association, who sentl their nonnal students during the college year to instruct anil anuise them.

A Sunday school at the home is mainfained and cared for by the Y. 'M. v. A. of the college and has been of much benefit. The children are taken to the Oberlin cluirches fretiuently.

The trustees appointed by the conunissioners have been : J. AV. Steele, of Oherlin; S. B. Day, Elyria ; W. J. Krebs, Pentield ; A. II. Bahcock, Lorain; O. F. Carter, Oberlin; Frank Young, Lorain, and J. F. Randolph, Oherlin. Of the trustees mentioned, IMessrs. Steele, Carter, Babcock and Day have died during the life of the home.

The Oberlin champions do not deny that tlie first fai^, largely a stock sliow, was held early in 1S3S on the eoiiiinon just oast of tlie Beebe House, on tlie ])res(!iit site of lOly Park. They also admit that $00 was awarded as ])i-ejiiiums upon cattle, horses and articles of various kinds upon that occasion, and tiiat several fairs might have been held at the couuty scat before any were organized at Oberlin.

On the otiier hand, the first formal organization of those intei'ested in things agricultural in Lorain County Avas the society formed in 183'J by the faculty, students and colonists of the Collegiate Institute and the Village of Oberlin ; the time, about five years after the founding of both. The society held weekly meetings at which essays were read and discussions arranged on various subjects pertaining to agriculture for not only residents of the village, but tile management of the college had a ])ractical interest in the sul)ject, as the very existence of both, in tlie earlier years, depended largely on the successful tillage of the soil.

For many years town fairs were also held at Oberlin. In a small sheet called the People's Press, issued from the college town in October, 1845, is published an account of the fair held that year. There was an address by Professor Kirtland, of Cleveland, and in the evening Dr. N. S. Townshend, President Malum and Professors Cowles and Fairchild, of the college, delivered speeches. The opening address by the president of the society is given entire in the paper. At tiiis meeting a plowing match was held, and cattle and other stock competed for premiums. Professor Cowles was chairman of the committee on plowing.

Largely through the efforts of the Oberlin Agricultural Society and the i-egular county organization ])eri'ected in lH4fi, the roads between the college town and the county seat were iiiaile passable at (piite an early day. M'lie movement for good roads originated in the $:{()() subscribed by the Oberlin colonists and the $400 raised l)y the faculty and students to imi)rove them. On a certain day, recitations being suspended, all turned out and worked on the road leading to Elyria. The young ladies provided the men with a bountiful dinner. So that, in

The final movement which resulted in a county agricultural society, however, centered in Elyria, and to Dr. N. y. Townsiiend, of that place, is given the largest share of credit for its establishment. On April 21), 1846, nearly sixty residents of the county intei^ested in the enterpri.se met in Elyria to organize a county society, under the act for the encouragemejit of agriculture pa.ssed by the State Legislature on February 27th of that year. Judge Josiah Harris, of Amherst, was called to the chair and Doctor Townshend was appointed .secretary. As eightyeight names were enrolled as applicants for member.ship and $80 subscribed for current expenses, an organization was legally effected by the election of the following board of directors: Joseph Swift, president; Daniel B. Kinney, vice president; Artemas Becbe, treasurer; A. H. Redington, secretary; Henry Tracy, George Sibley, Edwin Byington, D. T. Baldwin and T. W. Osborn, managers.

Two members from each township wci-e appointed to solicit subscrii)tions and to generally promote the society, and as they were the representative farmers of that early period their names are given: H. Jirownell and J. C. Bryant, Andierst; Uriah Thompson and Elah Park, Avon; C. Read and Samuel Stocking, Black River; Hosea Dunbar and P. S. Goss, Brighton; C. L. Perry and Jolni Curtiss, Brownhelm; Hiram Allen and Gideon Waugh, Camden; R. Gibbs and C. Prindle, Carlisle; S. Reed and B. B. Adams, Columbia; James Firlas and 6. Spei'i-y, Eaton; D. Ncsbitt and Festus Cooley, Jr., Elyria; A. S. Root and Thomas Ingersoll, Grafton; Hervey Leonard and Levi Vincent, Henrietta; Henry Tracey and IL P. Sage, Huntington; N. P. Johnson and H. Hubbard, Lagrange; William Andrews and Lewis Starr, Penfield; P. lAIcRoherts and E. Matchem, Pittsheld; Otis Ik'ggs and L. Beebe, Ridgeville; John (Joiumt and M. L. Blair, Rochester; H. C. Taylor and Doctor Da.scom, Russia; William Day and AVilliam H. Root, Sheffield; Harvey Grant and J. AVad.sworth, AVellington.

Tile next meeting' was held at Oherlin August 2U, 1S4G, and it was resolved to offer premiums amounting to $117 for the fair of September ;«)th following. Tiiey were for herds of eattle, not less than fifteen head, owiied by one farmer, and for flocks of sheep, not less than twenty-five head eaeli.

At the election for officers of the society, held November 20th, no changes were made in tiie presidency, vice presidency, or secretarysiiip, but John II. Faxon succeeded Arteraas Beebe as treasurer, and the following were elected nuuiagers : Edwin Byington, II. C. Saff'ord, ^V. X. Eace, A. W. Whitney and Benjamin C. Perkins. At a meeting of the hoard January 28, 1847, Mr. Iloltslaiuler was elected manager to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of William N. Kace.

The first four fairs were held at Elyria, the fifth at Oherlin and the sixth, at Wellington. There was (|uite a contest for the 1852 fair between Elyria and Wellington, the 01)ei-lin people usiudly supporting the county seat location, as the roads were in Ijetter condition north of llieir town than south. Elyria finally outbid AVellington, j|<100 to $52, and the sixth fair was held at the county seat October 6 and 7, 1852. A small sum was also spent on buildings and grounds dui-ing that year.

Ladies' IIousEMANsiin' Tntkoduced The premiums became moi-e and more liberal, and new features were introduced into the progranunos from year to year. At the ninth fair,

Previous to tlie tentii fair very few, if any, pure-hred cattle had been exhilnted, with the exception of Aston and Humphrey's Ileret'ords. The rei)ort, as to that feature ol the exhibition, was as follows: "During this year (,1854) Ileman Ely purchased several llerd-lJook short-horns - the hull, Sir Humphrey, 974, and a fine cow and heifer bred by ileber and Kutz, Fairtield county, Ohio. These aninuds made a good showing and were adunred by the visitors. Al.so, the lamented Charles Arthur Ely had purchased a tine herd of pure Devon cattle. These, too, were on exhibition, and were of great excellence. ProbaJjly Ohio has not exhibited finer .specimens of the Devon up to this day. The fine old Bull, the Duke of I)e\on, was in every point a lirst-class animal. E. I\Iatchem exhibited Devons anil owned some thoroughbreds."

At the early meetings of the .society much interest was taken by the memhei's in the premiums awarded for the best cultivateil farms in the county. in 1847 do.seph Swift, of Henrietta Township, took first premium in that class, and Alonzo Gaston, of Russia, second ; in the following year JMr. Gaston was first and N. Jackson, second, and at tiie fifth lair, held in 1850, E. Clark took first premium and Mr. Claston, second. In 1856 I\Ir. Gaston again took first on best cultivated farms, Pitt \V. Hall, second, and D. B. Kiiuiey, third. Altogether, Alon/.o (Jaston seems to have been the star farmer in the early years of the society 's contest.s.

Josej)h Swift, of Henrietta, mentioned as carrying off the first premium in 1847, was president of the society during the fir.st three years of its life. 1). B. Kinney succeeded him in 184f), continued for two terms, and was followed in 1852 ])y B. C. Pei'kin.s. N. B. Gates served from 185;{ to 1H57; Edwin Byington during the succeeding two years; Dr. N. S. Townshend in 185;)-G0.

The election of officers did not take place on the la.st day of liie fair in 18fi() owing lo a regulation issued by llu; Oliio State Board of A-ri-

For several years after 1852 the old fair grounds at Elyria, were imj)roved in a snuili way, as they were leased and not tlie property of the society. In 1866 active steps were taken to raise a fund for the purchase of grounds and their proper improvement, which inchuled a Jcfjuest to the county commissioners for an appropriation. In 1867 land was finally purchased of Ileman VAy, heing lots 112 and 113 west of the river and comj)rising over eigiiteeii acres. The okl huildings on the oi)poHite side of Black River were taken down hy an organized "Bee" and transferred to the new grounds. The new era was also signalized hy a vote aggreeing to pay the secretary and treasurer for his oi'ticial services.

During tlie year 1867 the work of improvement progressed liriskly, file grounds were fenced, new huildings erected, a trotting course constructed and everything made ship-shape for the fall fair. The huikling of the new hridge over the river added to the conveniences of the fair management and llie attendants. A hirge dining hall was (i-ected ni tlie foHowing yt'iiv and tlie h'loral Hall was added to the sulistanlial im|)roveiiicnfs ill 1S71. The latter was used for tlic display of domcslic, oi'nniiicntal, tloral and artistic articles.

The fairs continued to be held at Elyria, that of the Centennial year being arranged for July 4tli. The board decided to erect a "log cabin" on the grountls, and members of the society were requested to contribute a log each for building material, and to be on hand early to throw up the structure.. The logs were promptly on hand and the building commenced, but a deluge early in the day drove away tlie laborers. But a large procession was formed and paraded in the rain. The clouds lifted in the afternoon and enabled Judge W. W. IJoynton to deliver that historic address on the "Early History of Lorain County," which has become sucli a local clas.sic. Afterward the log cabin was finished in a substantial way and used by the keeper of the grounds and his family.

One of the early presidents of the society, R. Baker, in an extended historical review, has the following: "In the opinion of the most thoughtful, it would liave l)een better had the society conformed to the requirements of the act passed in 1846 for the encouragement of agriculture. For years the society offered inducements for improved plowing. Tlic last contest for best plowing was in 1860. Here was tlie fir.st great mistake. Also, encouragement was given for the best cultivated farm. This was dropped in 186:3. The offering nuule for the best crops of grain have been discontinued since 1873. All these, I think, should have been continued, and should have formed a prominent part in the premiums offered by the society."

A eompai'i.son by townships and iiicorjjoratcd cities and villages is also presented, the Clovernment census figures for 1890, 1900 and 1010 l)eing presented for that j)urpose. It should be understood that as the cities and villages, althouL-li they are given se])arately in the tables, are

Tlu' recent unification of tiie power i)lants, substations and transmission lines serving Lorain, Elyria and otiier points in the eountj-, is of siuli \vi(lesj)read scope and importance that a desci-iption of it in detail is inserted at this place. The late George E. ^Milligan and R. E. Burger were ehietly instruiiieiital in this consolidation, anil its i)reliiuinai'y operations have heen described by the latter. One j)erliiu'nt change in the text of the article a.s i)repared by him in 1914 is to substitute the naiiio of .1. 15. John.son for that of R. E. JJurgei-, as agent or manager of the lOlyiia and Lorain electric pro])erties. In the summer of 1!)15 ]\lr. IJni'ger sevei'ed ins connection with the Lorain Coiiiity enterjii'ise to assume a I'esponsiiile position with the Toledo Railways and Lij^ht Company.

"In the fall of 1912, Mr. Ceorge E. Milligan, acting for II. L. Doherty & Co., who o\v;n and operate a number of Pul)lic Utilities in various parts of the country, purciiased the electric lighting and power business of tlie tliree companies who previous to this time had been operating in Elyria. These companies were the Ely Realty Co., The (.'itizens Gas & Electric Co., and the Elyria jMilling & Power Co. Eacli of these comjianies ojjcrated a separate plant and maintained its own distributing .system. The new owners immediately began the construction of a modern central station .system with a view of giving the public l)etter .service at lower rates, furnishing tlie various manufacturing plants witli a reliable and efficient source of power for less than the factories themselves could produce it and by offering cheap and efficient power to new industries help to induce them to locate here and thus build up the comnninity realizing that anything which benefits the community benefits the (Central Station furnishing that connnunity.

the requirements of the situation, the company purchased the large power plant which the Baltimore & Ohio R. R. Co. had a short time previously erected in Lorain and proceeded to install additional equipment of the most modern design and to build transmission lines from this plant to the various communities to be furnished with electric service. At the time the B. & 0. plant was purchased, a contract was made with the railroad company to furnish them the power required for operating their shops and ore docks at Lorain and at about the same time contracts were made to furnish electric service to the Citizens Gas & Electric Co., of Lorain, the Cleveland Stone Co. quarries at South Amherst and Berea, the Municipal Electric Plant at Amherst and the village of Olmsted Falls. The present organization operating for the time being under the name of R. E. Burger, Agent, is now furnishing power to all of tiie above towns in addition to Elyria and at the present time is preparing to also furnish the village of Ridgeville. By reducing the number of plants from eight small plants to one large plant the company has been able to effect operating economies from which the public are now reaping tlie I)enefit.

"Since the reorganization some of the former generating stations have been rehabilitated while the operation of others has been discontinued, new sub-stations and transmission lines have been erected and every effort made to deliver efficient and reliable service to the company's patrons. Although the company has yet to complete the first year of its existence, rapid strides Imve been made in l)uilding up a lighting and industrial motor load on tlie system.

"Pending the completion of plans for reincorporation now l)eiug prepareil, the system as al)ove noted is being operatetl umler the name of 'R. E. Burger, Agent,' under which style all transactions have been carried on since the sudden death recently of Mr. Geo. E. Milligan. Later it is expected that the name 'The Lorain County Electric Co.' will be adopted.

"The Ore Docks i)lant at Lorain is now the main generating station, all of the power being generated there except in emergencies. Tliis i)lant is a large brick and concrete Imihling of i)leasing arcliitecture. In the boiler room are located 8 large boilers wliicli carry 175 11)S. per S(|uare inch steam pressure with 100 degrees superlieat. These boilers are hand lired and equipped with rocking grates. Tliese boilers are of sufficient size to allow the entii'i; load of the plant U> be carried on live oi' tlirm giving at all times thi'ee boilers in I'escrve. Tlii^ \\-v{\ water piniips, etc., are also located in the same I'ooin and these are ail in (lu|>lieiite so that there are always reserve pumps ready for instant use, oiiyiiie il liven generators wliieli ordinarily are used Tor supplying power to tlie ore ilocks and one 2,50U KW steam turbine driven generator which ordinarily supplies the remainder of the system. Between the turbine and the engine driven generators are located two motor generator sets of 8U(J KW capacity so arranged that alternating current can be furnisheil to the transinissiou lines from the engine driven generators tiirough the motor generator sets or direct current furnished the ore docks from the turbine. The turbine is operated condensing and some idea of the high grade of apparatus that has been installed from the fact tiiat tlie vacuum is kept within 3-10 inch of perfect. The switchboard exciters, etc., are also located in this same room. This switchboard is complete in every detail. JMeters on each circuit measure the exact amount of power lielivered to each part of the system, and the highest gratle of switches and instruments have been used throughout. In the engine room are also located recording instruments which keep an accurate record of the amount of draft under the boiler and also the amount of CO. in the flue gases showing how nearly tlie efficiency of the boilers is kept up to standard.

"On the west end of the power plant a step-up sub-station has been built. The turbine generates current at a pressure of 2,200 volts. This current goes through the switchboard to the step-up sub-station where tlie voltage is stepped up to 22,000 and fed to the transmission line at this higii voltage. The highest grade lightning protective apparatus is installeil in this sub-station to protect the station apparatus from line disturbances due to lightning.

--The double 22,000 volt line leaving the ore dock plant follows the B. & O. right-of-way to South 22nd street, Lorain, where the step-down sub-station for the city of Lorain is located. The current for Lorain is taken from the main transmission line at this point and stepped down to 2,-2()0 volts by means of a sub-station of 1,050 KW capacity. This current is tlien delivered to the switcliboard of the Citizens Gas & Electric Co., who distribute it throughout the city of Lorain over their own distribution lines. This sub-station at Lorain is typical of all the substations on the system. The building is a .small two story one of brick, concrete and steel. - The first floor contains the transformers for changing the voltage of the current and the second floor contains the lightning protection apjjaratus and high tension switches. At South 22nd° street" Lorain, is also located the plant foi'inerly operated by the Citizens Gas & Klectri(; Co. Tliis phmt contains gas engine driven generators of 500 KW capacity. This ai)paratus has been put in first class operating condition and while not operated is kept in instant readiness to be started up as a generating station sujiijlying current to the system in ease of necessity. fSwitc'lu's are provided lit this sub-station so that any local ti'ouijle can lie isohited witliout clTectinf^ tlie I'est of tlie system. There is also a switch in tliis suh-station controlling the line to Amherst and South Amherst so that trouble on that section can be cleared up without interfering with the rest of the system.

"At 36tli street, Lorain, the main transmission line branches into two parts, one line going to Amherst and South Amherst, and the other line going to Elyria, the line to Olmsted Falls and Berea branching ofl" from the Elyria line a sliort distance from Elyria and being controlled by a switch in the Elyria sub-station.

"At Amher.st the municipal plant has been shut down and converted into a sub-station, the transformers, lightning arresters, and switching apparatus being located in the building formerly used for the j)lant. ('uri'cnt is sold to the city by the com])any and tiie city retails the service to their various (-ustomers. The municipality has found that it is cheaper to buy their curi'ent than to make it and in fact have been able to reduce tlieir rates considerably since shutting down their own plant. They are also able to fui-nish their customers 2-1 hour service now instead of 12 hour service as heretofore. This has been the means of increasing the city's business as several industries in Amherst have recently contracted with the city for their j)ower requirements at a saving to the factories and a gain for the city.

"At Soutli Amherst is another step-down sub-station installed for the Cleveland Stone Company's (juarries at that point. Approximately 1,0U0 IIP. in motors are supplied with power from this sub-.statiou and it is expected that this will be doubled within the coming year.

"The sub-station at Olmsted Ealls is a small one of the out door type and is of 5U KW capacity. Cui-rent li-om this stntion is sold to the municipality who in turn retail it to their customers for lighting and power as well as use it for street lighting. Olmsted Falls has iiever before had electric service and. they are very enthusiastic about it. The iiuuiieijiality built and owns all its own disti'ibuting lines and simply buy their electricity instead of making it.

"The sub-station at Berea is of 450 KAV capacity and is similar to the other stations previously mentioned. Practically the entire operation of the quarries and mills at Berea is electric, there being over 1,000 TIP of motors in use in these quarries.