Sharon Township

Sharon Township

a leak when on the eastern coast of South America, and was there abandoned by the crew. He returned home, and, watching for another sea-faring voyage, his wishes were again gratified, by going on board of a vessel as a common hand. By degrees he rose from the station of a common hand to that of commander, and next, to being part owner of the vessel. For many years he sailed, to the West Indies and other ports, where commerce seemed to invite ; yet he never crossed the Atlantic. Upon his return from sea, after having been absent some months, he learned that his kind companion had died on the 7th of April, 1825, leaving a family of nine children, the eldest onlv nineteen years old. All desire to leave his young family ceased, and duty and* affection prompted him to extend to them that aid which none but a parent can bestow. Therefore he remained a widower, and in company with his young family spent many years of pleasure.

In May, 1833, he removed to Sharon township, while it was still a wilderness, and settled down. Having long since lost all anxiety to travel, in search of some easy way to gain a livelihood, he willingly and profitably devoted his time and energies in opening up and improving a farm, and, by careful and proper culture, gaining a full share of the comforts of life. Having, in former years, tasted the advantages resulting from a thorough, practical education, he strenuously urged the formation and elevation of common schools, and schools of a higher order ; fully convinced that they were the nurseries of Republican institutions, intelligence, morality and religion.

Contrary to the faith in which he had been reared, and the earnest remonstrances of many friends, he was a strong advocate of Jefferson's political views, and a irra supporter of his administration. Often would he repeal the saying of Jeffferson - "thai one class of men are not born vvitli saddles on their backs, and another rtass booted and spurred, by (lie grace of God, to ride them."

Jackson \s policy and administration were fully endorsed by him. He was often heard to say that "the iron will and determination of purpose that Jackson exhibited, wore traits of character calculated to challenge the highest admiration. ,:

In middle life he had joined the Congregational Church, and had been a consistent member until 1840, when, becoming convinced of the fullness of the grace of God, as revealed in the bible, he united with the first Universalist Society in Sharon, continuing his membership with that body until his decease.

Although a sea faring man, and commander for many years, his most intimate friends never heard him use profane or obscene language ; or, when relating an anecdote, in which he often practiced, no words were used that could offend the moral or the religious taste. Moving in the society and in the times that he did, the use of spirituous liquor was generally practiced ; yet he was at all times, and under all circumstances so fully master of his appetite that alcohol, not himself, was the servant. When among the young he always advocated total abstinence, and urged them to practioe it ; yet he was frank to acknowledge that, owing to his training for many years, the jacket was rather straight for him to always wear. Outliving most of his children, he died at the residence of his son, on the third day of May, 1860. In death, as in life, he was calm, hopeful. patient, and resigned.

N'Abrative By G. A. B.Oot

For a number of years previous to its settlement, the township of Sharon, or "Hart & -Mather's," as it was then called, was noted as a common hunting-ground for the settlers of* surrounding townships. As there were no settlements in this township for a considerable time after those in townships adjoining, all kinds of wild game were here found in abundance, and furnished an inducement for the visits of numerous hunting parties.

This state of things continued uninterrupted until the arrival, in 1816, of Mr. David Point, who settled on the farm now owned by Jacob Rudesill, in the north-east corner of the township. The township at that time was called, after its proprietors. Hart & Mathers, a firm, the members of which lived in Saybrook, Connecticut. Mr. Point is a native of Orange county, New York, and was born in 1786. In 1814 his father moved to Bath, in Summit county, where Mr. Point married a daughter of John Dunbar, and removed to Sharon, as above stated. He yet resides near tr e scene of his early labors in the settlement of the township, having reared to manhood and womanhood a family of nine children, besides losing five others. During the first year of his stay in the township, Mr. Point, besides building his house, cleared six acres of land, and sowed the "girdlings" with grain.

The first marriage that took place in the township, was that of Joseph Willey to Melinda McFarlin, in 1829. They afterward moved to Porter county, Indiana, where Willey died, in 1856.

The first white male child born in Sharon was Stephen Green, in 1819. He now lives in Bath. The first white female child was a daughter to Mr. and Mr?.

The first death that occurred among the whites in <he township was in the family of Point. An infant child, five months old, was attacked by the whooping cough, and died at the end of four weeks. This occurred in 1822, before the township could boast of a physician- There was one in Wadsworth, however, and for him Mr. Point went, but for some reason the Doctor was so engaged otherwise that he could not attend. As there were no grave-yards located, at that time, in Sharon, the body was taken to Granger for interment. No funeral sermon was preached on this occasion ; a few neighbors gathered - for there were but few - at the house, where a prayer was offered and hymn sung, before starting for the grave.

The educational interests of the township were early attended to. A school meeting was called and held at the house of Mr. Point. Those who attended were David Poinx, Abram Yalland, Lyman Green and Charles McFarlin. It was then agreed to build a school-house on the site cow occupied by '-Link's Tavern." There was an objection to this, however, which was, that several years before, an Indian squaw had been buried on the identical spot, where the schoolhouse would stand, and ';spooks,? were as plenty those days as at present. But this objecfc:on did not prevail, and the school-house was built. According to tradition, this house w7as somewhat better than those commonly built in those times, it having an upper floor, (made of split logs.) and much care being devoted in its construction to make it comfortable ; and on the whole it would compare favorably with many of more modern construction. All things being now ready, the first school in the township of Sharon com- nienced under the charge el Mr. David Holme*. TLc following list of scholars answered to the calling of the roll during that term of school, commencing in the full of the year 1822: William, Polly, Rhoda and SaHy Valland ; John, Orville. Esther, Moses, Reuben, Marina, Almina and Wilson McFarlin ; Jane, Betsey and Marilla Point ; Lyman, Orpha, Dexter and Asenath Green. Myron, Chester and Tracy Hills.

Of the students above named all but three are now living. Mr. Holmes was married, while living in Sharon, to Miss Codding ; and, in 1840, moved to Michigan, where he died.

The Methodist Church in Sharon was organized in April, 1832. There were twelve members present at tho time. James Wilson was appointed Pastor in Gharge. The names of members were, Valentine Waltman, class leader ; Achsah Waltman and daughter, Charles Mc- Farlin, Irena McFarlin, Almira McFarlin, George Lowering, Susan Lowerman, Polly Lowempn, Rabecca Smith, Harriet Skinner and Martha Moore. During the following summer their number was increased to thirty members ; and their ministry by Rev. Lorenzo Livens, who was placed upon the circuit. In 1842 this denomination became strong enough to build a house of worship at the Center of the township.

From 1822, to 1821), nothing of much importance transpired except the arrival of new settlers, from time to time, and among whom, in .1828, came Mr. Peter A. Moore, who has been, since that time, and up to the time of his death, which took place at Omaha City, New York, in November, 1850, one of Sharon's most influential citizens. In 1829, the township was surveyed by Mr. Moore and George W. White, of Trumbull county, and the name changed from " Hart and Mathers,"' to that of Gash. 'Phis was done at the suggestion of Mr. Moore, in honor of his native State in Scotland This name, however, was retained by the township for only three motnhs, when it was again altered for the one it now bears.

The organization of the township took place in April, 1831. About seventy-five votes were cast, the result of which was the election of Peter A. Moore, Samuel Hayden and Charles McFarlin. Trustees ; Jacob Rudesill, Clerk ; Colonel Luther Fitch, Treasurer ; Jonathan Smith, Justice of the Teace ; Mark Smith, Constable. Of these, but one (Mr. Rudesill) is now living in the township.

Sunday, June 3, 1833, an event occurred which caused much excitement in Sharon, and at the same time, set the terrible consequence of intemperance in plain view of its inhabitants.

John Bleaks, a resident of the township, was in the habit of getting drunk occasionally. It was customary tor him to goto Granger-burgh for liquor. One evening he was seen returning from there, far along in the stages of intoxication. Four days having passed without his returning home, and his family growing concerned as to his whereabouts, search was instituted by the neighbors. For several days the woods were rambled through in vain, till, on Sunday, ten days after he was last seen alive, his body was discovered, with his jug of liquor beside it. From the position of the body it was thought that he was stooping over to drink from a little creek, when he lost his balance and fell, his face in the water, from which position, through drunkenness, he was unable to extricate himself. A coroner's jury was summoned and verdict returned as above. The body was buried on the land now owned by Erastus Bissell. Before the grave was filled up, Cyrus Taylor threw the jug of liquor in, which was buried with the body.

While the jury were convened over the buuy of Bleats, an accident occurred which came near proviiag fatal. A large tree, near by, was blown down, the to}' of which struck the head of William High and fractured his skull in a serious manner. Tie recovered, however, eventually. He was seven years old at the time of the accident.

It was during the year 1833, that "Win. Woodward, John Woodward, Joseph Daykin, Joseph Brunskcll, .John Bell, James Pratt and others, together with their families, came from England and settled in what is now known as the English Settlement, two miles northeast of the center of the township. Most of them yet reside in Sharon and are among the wealthiest and most substantial of its citizens. Their farms arc models of neatness and order, and are stocked with the best of cattle, horses, etc.

In 1835, a charter was granted by the Legislature, to erect the Sharon Academy, which was consummated. Mr. John McGregor was the first teacher, under whose supervision the institution made commendable progress, and from then to the present, the Sharon Academy has continued to be a good educational nursery.

Personal Property

If to the foregoing be added the amount that yearly accrues from the products of oats, potatoes, clover- seed, grass-seeds, orchards and gardens, it may safely be "as serted that the annual wealth of Sharon township cannot be less than 8158,000; a strong evidence that perseverance and economy have been strictly observed by those who toiled in the field and in the work-shop.

The original proprietor of the township was Samuel Parkrnan, of Vermont, who resided in the county of Geauga, Ohio, about thirty-four years since,

William Bishop kept the first school in a log cabin on the farm of John P. Marsh. Elizabeth Bissett, Phincas Davis, Phillip Bezard and John Space, composed his school. Seven of those scholars are, in 1861, residents in the township.

Rev. H. 0. Sheldon started the first Methodist Class, in 1827, with Ruth Bezard, Z. Harrington, Elizabeth Space, John Space and Phiebe Goodwin, members.

The township was organized in 1832, when twentyone votes were ca^t. Abel Wood, Phillip Bezard and John Park, were elected trustees; Henry Wood, Clerk; and Ira Cole, Treasurer. Samuel Sooy was the first Justice after the organization.

The township of Spencer formerly constituted a part of Lorain county, to which it remained attached until 1839. The first record that is found on the Duplicate of Medina county is in 1840.

The advance made in clearing off the forest and in the erection of neat dwellings indicate, that at least some parts of its territory must have been tamed from its original wildness prior to 1820. The first rudely constructed cabins are rapidly disappearing. The stumps of the sturdy trees of the forest are rotted, the advances made in agricultural improvements, and the herds that graze upon the tamed pasturage, tell that Spencer township must have existed more than thirty years.

Forty years since, it must have composed a part of a large plat of wilderness where the hunter delighted to roam, and where the wild game sheltered themselves. There are doubtless many incidents and many privations that the first settlers knew and endured that must remain unwritten, because the actors have, years since, ceased to live, and no man of historical inclination has penned them.

In respect to fertility, timber, water and other natural advantages, Spencer can appear favorably with other townships in the county. The zigzag course of the river, sluggishly flowing through a wide but fertile portion of the township, and, in season of heavy rains, inundating a large area of low land, may, to the hasty observer, create unfavorable impressions as to the probability of its ever becoming valuable; but in the course of twenty years hence, when internal improvements become the watch-word of the people, the channel of that same river may be straightened and widened, and the objection to its overflowing the lands cease to exist. It is not vain to prophecy such a result, and when that improvement is made, the price per acre of land will rise rapidly.

Sharon

Church edifices are erected that speak well for the taste, and generosity of the citizens. Mechanics of different orders have opened shops, and make and manufacture articles in demand. "Spencer Mills" had, and continue to have commendable notoriety. The farmers have given evidence of their design to become skilled in their avocation, by the arrangements they make as to their fields, grains, grasses, implements of husbandry, and every other article that is calculated to give fertility to soil, or add to productiveness.'

There was a year in past history when the township could only count a few settlers, few cattle, few facilities, and few necessaries. That year of trial is now gone, and its scenes only remembered by a few. The present generation are enjoying a prosperity that was gathered at the expense of much toil and many obstacles. A generous, hard laboring grand-parent hands over, without a murmur, what he gained, to his grand-children, with the wish that thej will use it frugally and with gratitude.

If to the foregoing be added the wealth that accrues from the products of oats, potatoes, grass, clover-seed, grass-seed, orchards and gardens, the yearly products of Spencer township may, with safety, be reported at one hundred and fifty-three thousand dollars.

How striking the contrast between the valuation given in 1832 and that given in 1861 1 Let the same perseverance and economy be practiced for a second twenty -nine years, as was in the past, and the annual productions of the township will count three hundred thousand dollars.

The first settlement in Wadsworth was on the 17th of March, 1816, hy Daniel Dean and Oliver Durham. Benjamin Dean, son of Daniel Dean, arrived on the 1st of March, and assisted in cutting the first tree for the purpose of making improvements R. F. Warner and his brother, Daniel, both came in the same year. Dean and Durham were originally from Vermont. They stopped awhile in Canfield, Mahoning county. Here they became acquainted with Elijah Wadsworth, the proprietor of tract One, of whom they purchased, and were to have any lots they might choose. Mr. Dean, on crossing the east line of the township, and stopping on the first lot, immediately made his selection, saying, I will take this lot. The township had previously been divided into nine tracts, among the different proprietors. Numbers two, three, four and seven, were small tracts. Number five, the north-east quarter, was called tbe Tappan tract; number six, the Smith tract; number one, the Wadsworth tract ; and number eight, the Ely tract. Number nine was owned by several proprietors.

In 1815 Salmon Warner and Henry C. Wright, Christian and John Everhard, Christopher and William Baron, and their families, arrived in the township. Tn

1816 there was quite an increase of inhabitants - Jacob Miller, Samuel M. Elayden, Frederick Brawn, Joseph Loomis, Jacob and Adam Smith, Benjamin Simeox, William Ally, Daniel Ware and Samuel Blocker, with their families ; and Sherman Loomis, Steward and William C. Richards and George Razor, single men ; in 1817, George Lyman, with his family, Lemuel North, Gordon Hillard and Timothy Hudson, single; - these all settled in the east part of the township. In 1S1-S, Augustus Mills and family, Philo French, Heman and Amos Hanchet, Ira and Ephraim Moody, came in. Within the next six years the whole of the township, except the south-west quarter, was taken up and settled on. The number of inhabitants had increased to about nine hundred.

The first school was taught by Harriet Warner, in 1816. It was kept in one end of her father's log house, which, as was customary in those days, was built double. Among the scholars were Moses, Eben and Polly Dean ; Orpha, Amos and Horatio Warner ; Betsey and Hiram Hayden ; Rhoda and Roman Agard ; Sylvia Pease : George and David Miller ; Lydia Blocker ; Lucia, John and Edward Brown ; and Levlra Durham. The first school-house was built in the fall of 1816. The first school in that house was taught by Marcus Brown, (now Dr. Brown, of Circleville, Ohio.)

The first child born in the township was Alonzo Durham. Mrs. Dean and Mrs. Durham came on the 17th of March, 1814. From that time Mrs. Dean saw no woman but Mrs. Durham until the next August, and Mrs. Durham saw no woman but Mrs. Dean till October following. In the meantime, in July, Alonzo Durham was born. He resides in Indiana. The first person born, who resides here, is Eli Baron, son of Christopher Baron, born June, 1817. The first person

The first persons married were George Baron and Margarett Smith, February 25th, 1814. The services were performed by Salmon Warner, Esq., one of the first Justices. The first religious meeting was at the house of Oliver Durham, in July, 1814. The services were conducted by Daniel Dean and Salmon Warner. The first sermon was preached in 1815, by the Rev. O. G. Gillmore, of the Methodis't connection. The first church organized was the Methodist, in 1815. The members were Salmon Warner and wife, Oliver Durham and wife, Harriet Warner, Mrs. Kirkham and Mrs. Wright, in all seven. All are now dead but two.

The Congregational church was organized August 8th, 1819. The members were Frederick Brown and wife, Augustus Mills and wife, George Lyman and wife, Benjamin Agard, Sherman Loomis and Jacob Lindley, in all nine. Only two are still living, George Lyman and wife. Rev. Joseph Treat officiated at the organization.

The Baptist church was organized in 1821. Members, Elder Obediah Newcomb and wife, William Eylea and wife, Richard Clark and wife, Samuel Green and wife, and Mrs. Batison.

The first board of trustees consisted of Frederick Brown, Samuel M.. Hayden and Jacob Miller. Justices of peace, Salmon Warner and Joseph Loomis. Constable, Reuben T. Warner. About forty voters. This was while the township was connected with Norton, and then called Wolf Creek township. At the first election after the township was detached from Wolf Creek, and organized by itself and called Wadsworth, held on the 6th day of April, 1818, were duly elected, Joseph Loomis and Salmon Warner, Justices of the Peace ; Frederick Brown, Jacob Miller and Daniel Dean, Trustees ; Samuel Blocker and Joseph Loomis, Overseers of the poor ; Samuel M. Hayden, Lister ; Lysander Hard, Treasurer ; George Lyman and Win. C. Richards, Constables ; Sherman Loon is, Clerk ; John Wilson and Jacob Miller, Fence Viewers.

George Lyman was constable two years in sucr-ession, and performed nearly or quite all the* business of constable. His fees amounted to one dollar; and that for advertising and selling a stray horse.

The first law-suit in the township was between John Reed and Henry Falkner, before Esq. Warner. Falkner had bought a cake of tallow of Reed, and found, on examination, that it contained a piece of green beech wood, weighing about three pounds, upon which he refused to pay. Justice Warner decided that Reed should pay the cost and lose the tallow.

The first installed minister of the Congregation;)! Church, was Rev. Amasa Jerome, in the fall of 1827. The Revs. Simeon Woodruff, Lathrop and Robins, officiated. The services were performed in Mr. Benj. Agard's frame barn, it being the most suitable place in the township.

While Dr. Smith was in practice, he had a patient, a young man, very sick with a fever. He was a single man and boarded at the house of Moody Weeks. Among the Dr's. prescriptions for the sick man, was a very large quantity of white coated pills, and these constituted the sum of the medicine. The unusual quantity the sick man was required to take, excited the curiosity of Mrs. Weeks to know what they were. On examination she found they consisted of unground bhaek pepper rolled in flour. After' Dr. Smith moved to the west, part of the township, he was in the habit of sending his boy to A. & J. Pardee's store for whiskey. The following is an exact copy of twenty or more orders, all exactly alike.

Timothy Hudson built the first frame barn, in 1819. Benjamin Agard built the first frame house, in 1824. Joseph Loomis, Sherman Loomis, Abel Beach and George Beach built the first saw mill, in 1824. They had every thing ready to start their mill except a very little fixing, and left it on Saturday evening, in the month of January. During the night it rained considerably, and that with the melting of the snow, caused a freshet ; os that the next morning the dam, mill and all, had gone down stream. They rebuilt again the next your. Allen and John Pardee built the first grist mill, in 1820. Benjamin Agard cleared the first land free from all the timber, in the spring of 1818. The universal method had been to clear off the small timber and girdle the large trees, and leave them standing. In April, 1817, there was not a tree cut on. .the center road, between the center of "Wadsworth and Harrisville, and no settlement in Sharon, which was then a part of Wolf Creek township, but afterwards called Hart & Mather.

In the spring of 1821, the daughter of Abel Beach, aged twenty-six years, was lost. She left her father's house in the dusk of evening, April 17th. There was a squall of snow following a thunder shower, a little before she was found to be missing. There was a large chopping around the house, with the brush unburned.

This chopping and all the vicinity were searched through the night in vain. To call was of no use, as she was a deaf mute. Tn the morning her tracks in the snow were discovered leading in a straight line, in a south-west direction, but as the snow melted early in the morning, all trace of the poor girl was lost. At once, and for two or three days, the search became general, east west, north and south, but all in vain. The girl was never found, nor any sign or vestage or scrap of clothing, or remains whatever.

In 1814, flour was very scarce. Aaron Norton and another man had been south and obtained some flour for the army at Cleveland. They boated up the Tuscarawas to New Portage, then passed over by teams to Cuyahoga Portage. Application was made to Mr. Norton for some of the flour, by Mr. Dean ; but Norton would not break a barrel or sell one for less than seventeen dollars. Mr. Dean had to go to Talmadge and procure a little, and in harvest go and work to pay for it. In 1814, flour was seventeen dollars per barrel, wheat three dollars per bushel, and salt twenty dollars per barrel, in Cleveland.

In early times we had some "mighty hunters" in Wadsworth. Among the most prominent were Orrin Loomis, Phineas Butler, David Blocker, Timothy Dascomb and William Simeox. Bears, deer, turkeys and coons were then plenty. Loomis and Butler killed the most bears and coons, and Blocker the most deer. Simeox was not far behind - he actually killed nine deer and one bear in a day.

Loomis had a dog that was famous for treeing bears and when once fairly treed, they might as well surrender and come down as to wait for Loomis to shoot, as he hardly ever failed of securing his prey. Judge Brown told me that in 1816*. the settlers were in fi great measure dependant on Loomis and his dog for meat through the summer. One thing the Judge remarked was a little peculiar - the old dog was altogether the most successful on the Sabbath ; yet owing to the scarcity of provisions they did not deem it best to prosecute the dog.

There were likewise plenty of rattle-snakes. Geo. Lyman killed eight in one day ; seven of them he found in a small hollow log, the eighth was by himself, and a very large one indeed.