Rootstown Township

Rootstown Township

ROOTSTOWN was originally the property of Ephraim Root and John Wyles, Root being the principal proprietor, and owning, in addition to the land here, a great deal of other property on the Western Reserve. He was a native of Coventry, Conn., and a lawyer of some note. He was also agent for a number of other land owuers, and paid at least one visit a year tothis section after its settlement till about 1811, when the Indian troubles and the war of 1812 had the effect of keeping him away. He died in 1825.

In the spring of 1800 Mr. Root, in company with a young man named Harvey Davenport, paid his first visit to the township. He employed Nathaniel Cook to survey his property, Town 2, Range 8, into forty-eight lots of vari- ous sizes, commencing with Lot 1 in the southeast corner, then running north, then south, and so on, ending with Lot 48 in the southwest corner.

The first death of a white person in Rootstown was that of the young man spoken of above, Davenport. He had over-heated himself and lain down on the damp ground, whereby he took a violent cold, that in a short time caused his death. He was buried near where he died, on Lot 7.

In the spring of 1801 Mr. Root returned, he having gone back to Connecticut the fall previously, and this time brought out his brother David. They commenced improvements on Lot 6, which Ephraim Root reserved for himself, as it touched upon the portage between Pittsburgh and Cleveland. Here the Roots put up a two-story log-cabin near where Campbellsport now stands. Nathan Muzzy, who came out about this time, was engaged to do the carpentering. Muzzy was a graduate of Yale College, and bad been a very able and promising young minister in Massachusetts, but meeting with disappointment in a love affair, a screw became loose in his mental machinery and he wandered away to the West. He always carved the name " Emma Hale " on all buildings and gates he constrvicted. He discovered the little lake in this township which has ever since borne his name. The poor old man died many years ago, and was buried in Palmyra by some friends who took pity on his lonely and decrepit old age, and removed him from the county poor-house to their homes.

The first crop of wheat was put in during the fall of 1801 by the Roots, who then returned to their homes in the East, but David came out again in April of the following year and settled upon the place they had inJjDroved, afterward removing to Lot 7, where he lived till his death.

In 1802 Henry O'Niell and Samuel McCoy, natives of Ireland, who had a lived in Pennsylvania awhile, moved in and settled on Lot 3. O'Niell had a family of children, mostly grown; McCoy had only a wife. Together they put up a cabin, but McCoy afterward moved to Lot 28, and put up a cabin by the well-known "McCoy Springs." He was a man of very little education, but could, in the language of the old English tar, "play the fiddle like a hangel! " Mr. O'Niell was well educated, and in 1806 was elected Justice of the Peace for Franklin, which at that time comprised what is now Franklin, Ravenna, Rootstown, Atwater, Randolph, Suffield and Brimfield. O'Niell erected the first distillery, a small affair, but enough to supply the wants of himself and McCoy and their families, and a few friends in the neighborhood. He remained Justice for four or five years, but his magisterial career was cut very short just before he left in 1811. He had offended some person by one of his decisions, when that person went to the Irish Justice and asked him to show his naturalization papers. Being unable to do so, he was informed that he was liable to prosecution for illegally exercising the duties of a magistrate without being a citizen, and that if he did not immediately " git up and dust," he would be arrested. He left, and the township lost one of its best residents.

Epraim Root gave notice that he would give to the first child born in the township fifty acres of land, and John McCoy, son of Samuel McCoy, won the prize. This event happened in August, 1802, and was the first birth in the township. It is said there was considerable competition between the mother of this little land-winner and the wife of David Root, whose son, Solomon, came in second-best; time, about twenty days behind McCoy's "W. C. Johnnie.

In the fall of 1802 Michael Hartle and Frederick Caris came in and settled the first on Lot 42, on the east side of Muddy Lake, and Caris on Lot 43, on the west of the lake. They were originally from Northumberland County,

Penn., but had been living on the Ohio River about thirty miles below Pittsburgh. In January, 1803, John Caris, a son of Frederick, came in, and with him Arthur Anderson, both of whom wei'e engaged by Root to clear land. In April following John Caris, a brother of Frederick, with his wife, came and settled at Muddy Lake. Anderson returned to Pennsylvania, married, and then lived in Ravenna awhile, but finally came to Rootstown.

May 2, 1803, Ashur Ely, of Deerfield, was married to Lydia Lyman, who lived in the family of David Root, at whose house the ceremonies were performed by Squire Hudson, of Hudson Township, he being the nearest official capable of tying the knot.

In 1804 a large number of persons came in, among whom were Frederick Caris, Sr. , father of Frederick, Jr., and John, and in the fall of this year Thaddeus Andrews, Nathan Chapman and his son Ephraim, Jacob, Charles and Abraham Reed, and Hannah Russell, a sister of Mrs. Andrews, all from Connecticut. Those who came in the fall remained at Root's place till they erected cabins, which they did during the following winter. Andrews selected Lot 21, the northwest quarter at the Center, but did not move on to the same till a year or two afterward, as he was engaged by Root to keep his tavern near the corners of the four townships. The Chapmans settled on Lot 4, and put up a cabin. Ephraim soon afterward moved to where he resided for many years, a highly respected citizen. He drove the first team from Rootstown to Ravenna. Jacob and Abraham Reed settled on the south west corner of Lot 15, but Abraham afterward moved to the southwest corner of centfer Lot 22, where he kept a tavern for many years. Charles Reed lived with his brother till he was married, when he moved onto Lot 16. This year, 1804, Ml-. Root erected the first frame barn in the township, which stood a little north of his house. David Wright, of Ravenna, hewed the timber, and Nathan Muzzy framed it. The lumber was obtained at the little McWhorter Mill, in the southeast corner of Ravenna Township.

In the fall of 1805 Beeman Chapman, a brother of Ephraim, arrived with his w^ife and brother Nathan; the latter, after a year passed at Root's settlement, moved to the south part of Lot 4. Stephen Colton and family also came in from Connecticut and settled on Lot 21, but afterward moved to Lot 14. In May, 1806, Gersham Bostwick moved in and settled on Lot 8, in a cabin he had built the fall previously. With his family came Edmund Bostwick and his wife, the parents of Gersham. Edmund died in 1826, aged ninety-six years. When past eighty years he made a trip on horseback from Rootstown to Philadelphia, and thence to Vermont, and back again to Rootstown. Calvin Ellsworth, from Ellington, Conn., came in July, and settled on Lot 28. In November Alpheus, a twin-brother of Thaddeus Andrews, and their brother Samuel, wuth Martin Bissell, came in with their families. The Andrews settled on Lot 23, but Samuel soon after moved to Lot 21, where he erected the first frame house in the township. Thaddeus having exchanged land with his bi'other Samuel, moved to Lot 14. Bissell located on the west side of the road, on the south part of Lot 22. Samuel Andrews afterward moved to Franklin Township, and Alpheus was one of the first settlers in Brimfield. With the Andrews brothers came a niece, Miss Mary W^hituey, and a teamster, Gersham Norris. This year also came Mother Wai'd, but she did not bring her husband along with her. She located on Lot 18, and the pond at that point was named for her. She was a remarkable woman; could split rails, lay a fence, and plow as good as any man. She walked one day from Poland to Rootstown, a distance of forty miles. She was married twice, separating from her last husband when she came here. Benjamin Simcox, noted as being the first person to be tried by the County Court in 1808, after organization, also came.

In February, 1807, Hiram Roundy, his wife and their adopted son, G. H. R. Prindle, came in, and about the same time Heman Bostwick, who, however, did not stay long. Titus Belding came in with Bostwick, and in 1809 married Miss Lucy, a daughter of Gersham Bostwick, and settled on Lot 17. Robert McKnight also came this year, and settled on Lot 10. He had been oat the year before, purchased 300 acres of land and set out a nursery. His family consisted of his wife, his mother and an only son, Robert, Jr. William and James Alcorn, Irishmen and bachelors, came with McKnight.

The first school that was open to all children was taught by Samuel Andrews in the winter of 1807-08, in a cabin at the Center, which was soon after burned down, and another built, which for many years was used as a schoolhouse, meeting bouse and town -house. Miss Polly Harmon, sister of the late John Harmon, taught after Andrews. Three or four years previous to this time Mrs. Ephraim Chapman had taught a few children at her house, but it was not a school for the public. A number of the Rootstown children had attended the school kept by David Root, on the road from Ravenna to Campbellsport, about 1805. The school statistics are: Revenue in 1884, 14,975; expenditures, $3,412; number of schoolhouses, 10, valued at $6,500; average pay of teachers, $35 and $20; em'ollment, 193 boys and 187 girls.

In 1808 Ebenezer Bostwick and his family came, and settled on Lot 17, where not long afterward he started a pottery for the manufacture of earthenware. About this time Ephraim Root put up a saw-mill on the creek north of the Center. Also came Philip Willard and Valentine Coosard, the former settling on Lot 42, and the latter on Lot 41. In tbe summer of this year Ariel Case and John Wright cleared a piece of land on Lot 10, and sowed it to wheat.

August 31, 1809, Nathan Chapman died at the age of fifty-one years, and was the first person interred in the first burial ground. The body was carried by hand to the grave, there being no road from Beeman Chapman's, where the father died. In this year came Israel Coe, who settled on Lot 5; also William and Cbauncy Newbury. William located on Lot 27, and Chauncy, who at the time was single, lived with his brother till his marriage, when he settled on Lot 28. In 1810 Merriam Richardson and David Parker arrived in the township with their families, Richardson settling on Lot 33, and Parker moving into the cabin built by McCoy. Also came Daniel and Reuben Hall, and their sister Eliza, w^ho married Gersham Norris, and moved to Canton. In 1811 Samuel B. Spellman and Asa Seymour came from Massachusetts, and Asher Gurley, from Connecticut. Spellman settled on Lot 21, Gurley on Lot 9, and Seymour returned to the East. In August, 1811, Robert J. Collins, Sr., and his thi'ee sons, Robert J., Jr., David and Daniel, with their families, arrived, Daniel locating on Lot 28, and the othwrs on Lot 20, on the Center road. In 1819 James Wright settled in the township, and January 28, 1821, was appointed first Postmaster. William Huffman, Thomas Hayden and others came in about 1819. Wright held his position for twenty years. Mr. Wright married a daughter of Abraham Reed. He was succeeded in office by Otis Reed, his deputy. He, also, for nine successive years, was Justice of the Peace.

Until the year 1806 the Indian title to the lands west of the Cuyahoga River and Portage path had not been extinguished, and some uneasiness was felt by the settlers on these lands for fear that their title might not be as perfect as they could wish. On Mai'ch 5, 1805, Ephraim Root wrote to Elijah Wadsworth that measures were pending for the extinguishment of these claims of the Indians, and stated that a treaty would shortly be made with them, and, accordingly, a Treaty Council was held at Fort Industry, and the titles of the lands obtained, but the measure had yet to pass the Senate. It came before the Senate, that body ratified the proceedings of the Council, and the claims of the aboriginies were forever silenced.

On the 16th day of August, 1810, the Rev. Giles H. Cowles, a missionary from the Connecticut Board of Home Missions of the Congregational Church, organized the first church society in Rootstown. It was composed of the following persons: Samuel Andrews and wife, Alpheus Andrews and wife, Thaddeus Andrews and wife, Israel Coe and wife, Mason Richardson and wife, Michael Hartle and wife, Oliver Dickinson and wife, Mrs. Lois Chapman, Mrs. Ephraim Chapman, Mrs. Nathan Chapman, Jr., and Mrs. William Newbury. Samuel Andrews was chosen Deacon, and his brother Thaddeus succeeded him. In 1829 the congregation built a very neat edifice for the times, which was 36x46 feet, and various pastors have filled the pulpit of the church. This society reorganized under State law March 27, 1861, as the First Congregational Society of Rootstown, with Erastus Seymour, President, and A. H. Barlow, Clerk; J, Seymour, J. S. Austin and Gideon Seymour were elected Trustees.

In 1814 Rev. Henry Shewell came to Rootstown and settled on Lot 12. Shortly after coming Shewell formed a class, and in 1815 organized the first Methodist Episcopal Congregation in the township. Meetings, for a number of years, were held at the house of the minister. The church belonged to the Warren District, and the circuit was 400 miles in extent. Rev. Ira Eddy was the first pastor of the Rootstown charge.

The first election held in Rootstown as an organized township was September 10, 1810, when Gersham Bostwick was chosen Chairman and Samuel Andrews and Jacob Reed Judges of the Election. The following are the only names that are now remembered as appearing among the ofiicers elected at that time: Trustees, Gersham Bostwick, Frederick Caris, Jr., Thaddeus Andrews; Clerk, Alpheus Andrews; Samuel Andrews, Justice of the Peace. The oldest records of the township, of date March 7, 1812, give the following ofiicers: Trustees, Stephen Colton, Thaddeus Andrews, Frederick Caris, Jr. ; Clerk, Alpheus Andrews; Supervisors, Israel Coe, Ephraim Chapman, Philip Willard, Stephen Colton.

In the very early days a man named Robert Wright, a member of a family which bore a bad reputation, was found on the banks of Silver Creek with his throat cut from ear to ear. Family trouble is supposed to have been the cause.

In 1815 Robert McKnight and his son Robert, Jr., and a boy cut a bee tree, which in falling struck all thi'ee of them, injuring the elder McKnight and the boy, and killing Robert McKnight, Jr., instantly. He left a wife and four children.

March 4, 1834, the dwelling-house of Hawkins Clark was burned to the ground and his two daughters, Louisa and Henrietta, were consumed in "the building before they could be rescued. It was one of the saddest occurrences that has ever visited the county. A building that occupied the same spot in 1868 was also destroyed by fire.

In 1845 an epidemic called the black erysipelas prevailed to an alarming extent, and seemed to baffle the skill of the best physicians. About onetwentieth of the inhabitants of the entire township fell before the almost irresistible plague, for it was so virulent as to deserve that title.

One of the most singular cases in the annals of surgery and disease occurred about ten years ago. Mrs. Mary C. Burnham had been afflicted for about twenty years with throat afi'ections, which gave her great annoyance, and in 1874 whilst eating dinner was taken with what appeared to be a choking spell, and in her efforts to dislodge what she supposed was a piece of meat, threw her tongue out of her mouth. She lived till 1876, when death ended her suflferings. Various theories were advanced by physicians, some attributing the disease to cancer, others to catarrh, others to something else. ' For some time before it fell out her tongue was paralyzed, but she learned to talk intelligibly with her lips.

Mrs. Gurley, who settled here with her husband in 1819, had a singular adventure with a bear. Her husband brought two young pigs to the township in 1823-24, which were placed within strong pickets. One night in 1824 she heard the squeals of the pigs, and rushing out saw what appeared to be a large dog within the pen. On the approach of the woman this supposed large dog turned toward her, and as he looked over the fence, Mrs. Gurley struck him in the head with an ax. By this time she realized that her battle was with a bear rather than a dog, and ran toward the house. Some friends there at the time ran forth to continue the battle, when, to their surprise, they found the bear dead.

Rootstown Protective Association was organized three years ago. In January, 1885, the following officers were elected: G. W. Bow, President; H. M. Deming, Vice-President; H. O. Reed, Secretary; C. H. Bradshaw, Treasurer; David Bogue, Homer Chapman and Elam Underwood were elected Directors.

The affairs of the association are in a very satisfactory shape. The amount of risks in force at the end of last year was ^480, 963, an increase dm'ing the year of nearly $60,000. The losses during the past year have been $16.76 or about 3J cents upon each $1,000 insured. The association has been in operation nearly three years. The average annual cost of insurance has been about 70 cents per $1,000.

The school biiilding at Rootstown was erected in 1884 at a cost of about $3,400. This is a two-story structiu'e, slated; close to it is the Congregational Church. The old Methodist Church here was restored about ten years ago. The only mercantile house at the Center is that of G. W. Bow. At New Milford a general store is conducted by L. F. Pike. At New Milford or Rootstown Station, a grist and flouring-mill was founded years ago. It is now operated by F. P. Root. The capacity is about seventy-five barrels.

Rootstown is one of the best townships in the county, and is populated by a thrifty, industrious class of citizens. The soil is very productive, and in addition to the usual farm crops considerable dairying is done, and its cheese interests are gradually growing in importance. The country is well watered, having besides the numerous small streams, several lakes, or large ponds. Two of the larger, Sandy and Muddy Lakes are favorite resorts during the summer season. Muzzy and Ward's ponds are the other two. The township is well supplied with schools, and the standard of education of the citizens is much above the average. The Center is a very thriving little village, and considerable business is transacted there, but it lies about one mile and a half west of New Milford, the station of the Cleveland & Pittsburgh branch of the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad, a portion of the great Pennsylvania system of railroads. During the struggle for the maintenance of the Union, Rootstown sent to the front fifty-seven of her best sons, eleven of whom were either killed or died in the service.

Source changes here: from 1922 Portage County High School Yearbook, by Portage County High School, published 1922; 282 words in this source stream.

Rootstown Township

Although we have put in a year of hard work and study, we also have had our fun and kept up school spirit. About the first of the school year the "Country Gentleman" man came along and put be fore the High School a fine proposition. We chose sides as was suggested and soon made it a paying proposition. As it was the Hallowe'en season the losers favored the winners with a masquerade party at the school auditorium,

Class parties were enjoyed by all the classes; the Junior Senior affair setting the ball a-rolling with a weiner-marshmallow roast at Muzzy Lake the second week of school.

As early as possible a Girls' Glee Club was organized with our principal's wife, Mrs, Gilmore, as leader. The Club has appeared in public on numerous occasions, and has been congratulated on good work, so that we feel that our efforts have not been in vain.

The H. 8. was called upon to give the third num ber of our Lyceum Course. 'The first half of the program was given by the Glee Club, after which the play entitled, "Married to a Suffragette" was given. Judging from the applause the evening was indeed a success.

The officers of the Boys' and Girls' Club work should feel encouraged that they have at last succeeded in creating an interest in this work here. A large class in each of the three divisions is being organized and are about to begin work under their several leaders.

Our four contestants in the Distriet No. 4 Literary-Musical Contest again brought B. H. $. to the front by carrying away three firsts and a second as their spoils for the evening.

Source changes here: from 1927 Portage County High School Yearbook, by Portage County High School, published 1927; 554 words in this source stream.

Rootstown Township

The attendance was small because the bus drivers woro not hired, but after that the attendance increased. In September the first school orchestra wae organized, and the Girls' Glee Club was reorganized under the supervision of Miss Nash. The Athletic Association was reorganized. The continuation of the Friday morning programs by each class was begun by the Seniors the third Friday in September. 'This plan, suggested by Mr. Smith, has been successfully used by the High School for two years.

The first monthly tests came the last week In September, and of cours» everyone was enthusiastic over their first testa of the year. By the second month of school everyone was used to their new studied and schedu.e and there was some real studying done.

Our social season started with class parties at which all had a joliy good time. The "Deep Sea Revel" and the Christmas party were later enjoyable events.

"The football season started with a practice game with Brimfield here, which ended a tie, 6-6. Although our boys did not win every game, they did well, and were rewarded with a Football Banquet at which time they received their letters,

Our sate of Lecture Course tickets was a great success. A few pupils earned tickets for themselves by selling tickets, All who attended the performance of "The Griswold Duo," "The Knox Conrt Company," heard Glen Morris' lecture, and the other numbers were delighted with them all.

When Thanksgiving came we were all pleased because it brought with it a two day's vacatio No one seemed to have euffered from too much turkey because everyone was back in school on Monday.

"The basketball season started in December when the boys and girls had their first practice. We played. Deerfield on December 17 and won both games.

About the second week in December everyone began looking forward to Christmas vacation. A few were exempt, but the rest, individually and collectively, enjoyed (?) the pre-Christmas exams,

G. N. Converse

After vacation school started with a boom. A few courses were changed, but by the second week everyone was down to work again. The basketball season started in earnest and ended quite successfully for the boys, who won 13 games out of 18 played. As our school had joined the State Athletic Association, our boys, having emerzed victorious from the Elimination Tournament, went to the Sectional Tournament at Kent. We lost the County Championship to Atwater,

Everyone belonging to the Athletic Association was invited to a Basketball Banquet on March 22, which was postponed until April 1, because of Mr, Smith's enforced absence.

We are looking to the school play, "All a Mislake," the Junior-Senior banquet, and Commencement, all of which are scheduled for some time in April,

In the course of the pest year the ex-Senior Class members have been engaged in various occupations, Several have entered college. Evelyn Smith is attending Kent State College, and Carroll Dundon is in Wooster College, where he was granted a schol- Arthur Kepler and Ora Smith, both farm boys, are engaged in that work; Arthur is also studying Forestry. Paul Holsler is working for his father, and is taking a special French course, preparatory to College entrance, Lester Sabin is at home helping his father. Mary Kuhar, who procured work in Ravenna early last spring, still occupied there.