Thompson Township (part 3 of 5)

The history of the press of Geauga county, in the restricted sense which admits of its being brought within the scope of this volume, may be more briefly written. A few names, dates, and comments, showing what papers have been published, and who have conducted them, with their general character, political or otherwise, and time of establishment and discontinuance (if not still m existence), will suffice. Much that might be appropriate under this head is omitted, because in other articles.

The first paper ever published within the present limits of Geauga county was the Chardon Spectator and Gazette , established, probably, early in the summer of 1833, Alfred Phelps, esq., editor and proprietor. Prior to that time, Chardon, though the county seat of the undivided county, had been dependent entirely upon Painesville for newspaper facilities, the Telegraph being the leading, and, for several years, the only paper published in that place. Its venerable founder, Mr. Eber D. Howe, in his " Autobiography and Recollections of a Pioneer Printer," recently published, states that local and personal dissensions, in which he had been editorially involved, led to the establishment, at Painesville, in September, 1828, of a rival newspaper, and that he soon discovered, as is often the case, that old and trusted friends were engaged in the plot. When 'the new paper first appeared, it was printed by two young men brought from Buffalo for the purpose, whose names he does not recall. Respecting this enterprise, and its results, he further says:

"After spending all the time and money which they [the young men mentioned above" could afford, they disappeared. Several other printers that came along were put aboard the leaky ship to navigate it as best they could. This paper was called the Geauga Gazette , and put on a very respectable appearance.

"The next year our old friend, William L. Perkins, esq., who had recently come among us as a lawyer, and then in the prime of life, took charge of the editorial department for about a year, with what success 1 know not. He was succeeded by Mr. Henry Sexton, who kept the paper going one or two years longer, when it was sold and taken to Chardon, and printed by Alfred Phelds, esq., for a year two longer, and finally disappeared from the county."

The Chardon Spectator and Geauga Gazette was a six-column folio of rather more than medium size. Its editor, Mr. Phelps, was a Whig in politics, of rare intelligence and conservative views, a true gentleman of the old school, whose editorials were well written, whose literary taste was apparent in his selections, and whose ideal of a model political newspaper was the old National Intelligencer, of which he was a careful and appreciate reader. But he was not, as every country editor should be, a practical printer, and, after publishing the paper nearly two years and a half, "at a constant pecuniary loss, besides the loss of his own services, by no means inconsiderable, however inefficient," (as he modestly suggests in his valedictory, November 27, 1835), he was reluctlantly compelled to abandon the enterprise. The establishment was sold to J. I. Browne, esq., editor of the Toledo Gazette , by whom it was removed to that city.

After the Spectator , no pap^r was published in Chardon until the spring of 1840, when (May 23d) appeared the first number* of the Geauga Freeman , as the county organ of the Whig party, the late Joseph W. White, editor and proprietor. This also was a six-column folio, a little larger than its predecessor. The division of the county occurred the same year, since which event it has never been without a county paper. The year 1840 will always be remembered for the exciting and otherwise very remarkable and unprecedented campaign, which resulted in the election of General Harrison to the presidency. Of all the Whig counties in the State, Geauga, if not the banner county, was among the strongest and most enthusiastic for "Tippecanoe and Tyler too." Editorially, Mr. White, though styling himself a Democratic-Republican," was accepted as, like Mr. Phelps, a Whig, but in other respects very unlike him, as the kind of paper demanded for the campaign of 1840, and which Mr. White provided, was unlike the dignified and conservative Spectator , which answered five years before. In him was presented that strange anomaly in politics, a Whig with Democratic antecedents and proclivities. His life had been a varied and stormy one, and his character, which had doubtless been greatly influenced thereby, was both strong and angular. Born in Fort Duquesne, July 3, 1788, his parents, with many others, having taken refuge in the fort, from the Indians, then very numerous and troublesome to the settlers, his boyhood was spent in that city, where he served an apprenticeship at the printing business; and, after marrying MisS* Polly Keisinger, near Beaver, Pennsylvania, January' 4, 1810, he soon started with his young bride and her younger sister and husband, Porter Sawyer, also a printer, in midwinter, and in an open canoe, down the Ohio river, then filled with floating ice, for Marietta, where they arrived in safety, and, going thence to Zanesville, the two young men established at the latter place the Ohio Patriot , of which Mr. White became the leading editor. The Patriot sustained the war of 1812, and correlative issues, as it was the boast of its editor that he sustained every war in which his country engaged; while its rival the Ohio Federalist , supported the other side, the latter being edited by Charles Hammond, in later years connected with the Cincinnati Gazette . It is also related of Mr. White that he was a schoolmate of Lewis Cass, and served with him a portion of the closing year of the war of 1812.

I He was a man of honest motive, but great eccentricity and hard, Puritanic notions, and, as may be supposed, was an ardent and aggressive partisan, who was believed to possess just the qualifications required in a conductor of a political paper in 1840. The last of the several newspaper enterprises in which he had embarked at different times, was at Medina, from which place he was induced to remove to Chardon, to supply the want, then beginning to be more seriously felt than ever, of a paper at the county seat. For many years previous to his death, which occurred near Youngstown, November 17, 1869, his eighty-second year, he considered himself the oldest resident ex-editor and printer in Ohio. The people of the county rallied to the support of the Free - making it a success from the outset; but Mr. White, in business as well as politics, was erratic, fond of change, and it was probably this disposition more than anything else that induced him to dispose of the paper, which he did after publishing it about two years and a half. During the campaign of 1844, his *>n, Thomas J. White, published a small four-column folio, called the Geauga Polk- Eater, and he himself, having experienced another political change, or, as he explained in his salutatory, discovered his mistake and returned to his first political love, started, on June 26th, of the same year, a six-column Democratic

The Geauga Freeman was purchased in November, 1842, by David T. Bruce, who changed its name to the Geauga Republicah and Whig. Mr. Bruce was connected with the paper for" six years, or until infirmity, and especially failing eyesight, necessitated his retirement. For a year or more, William P. Lindsey was his editorial associate. In 1846, he took into copartnership his two sons, William W. and Eli Bruce, the firm being styled D. T. Bruce & Sons, still retaining the editorship himself; and at the expiration of the six years, heresigned the paper into the hands of his sons, who, December 25, 1849, changed the name to Geauga Republic. They continued its publication until January 17, 1854, and immediately thereafter removed, with their material, to Cleveland (West Side, or "Ohio City"), and established the daily and weekly Express. This was at first a neutral paper, but subsequently removed to the East Side, and converted into a Know-Nothing, or American organ, and died with the party whose cause it espoused. From November 1-2, 1850, until the Republic was discontinued, William W. Bruce, only, was named as its editor.

The elder Bruce was a man of great intelligence, positive character, and earnest convictions, always forcibly and fearlessly expressed, and, moreover, an intense and uncompromising Whig; and, as his sons were not wholly unlike him, the paper, during the years of overwhelming Whig ascendancy in which it flourished, enjoyed, in an eminent degree, the confidence and support of the people of the county. But the inevitable logic of events not only annihilated all the old issues that had divided parties, and forced the important and soon overshadowing question of slavery to the forefront of national politics, but determined the destiny of the paper, and the Whig party as well. The Whig sentiment of the county was of the anti-slavery type represented by Joshua R. Giddings, and which found practical expression first in the Free-Soil, and finally and more effectually in the triumphant Republican party. This sentiment was so strong that when, in 1848, General Taylor became the Whig candidate for president, the old Whig majority was transferred to the new Free-Soil party. But the paper, though never pro-slavery, still adhered to the Whig organization, and the result was the establishment, a few years later, of the Free Democrat as the organ of the Free-Soil party. However men may differ as to the wisdom of the course pursued by the Bruces, at this critical juncture, in the political history of the country, there can be no doubt that it was adopted honestly, and in accordance with their best judgment, in which many anti-slavery Whigs concurred.

As showing a marked difference between the conduct of our county papers then and now, we will here mention that a notable improvement was made by William W. and Eli Bruce, during the last year of the Republic , in the introduction of a local column devoted to home affairs, " which," as the former writes us, " caused some ridicule at first, but was a step in the right direction."

The first number of the Free Democrat , a six-column folio, was issued in December, 1849. A number of prominent citizens were interested in its estab-' lishment, but only the names of O. P. Brown and M. C. Canfield appeared as editors. Both were able writers, thoroughly imbued with the spirit of the Free- Soil movement which had called the paper into existence, and under their conduct it at once took a leading position in the politics of the country. Their connection with it, however, was brief, for, in August following (1850), it passed into the hands of the late Hon. J. F. Asper, whose first number was issued on the thirteenth of that month. Mr. Asper, who, in after years, became better known as lieutenant-colonel of the Seventh O. V. I., and finally as member of congress from Missouri, to which State he removed near the close of the war, had been editorially connected with the Western Reserve Chronicle , and was regarded as a vigorous writer. For a time, he was assisted by Dr. B. W. Richmond and Miss Harriet N. Torrey, as corresponding editors. In a political sense, the paper prospered under his management, as it had done under that of his predecessors; but, it proving pecuniarily a poor investment, after conducting it nearly twenty months, he disposed of his interest to J. S. Wright, who became its editor and proprietor March 23, 1852. Mr. Wright, being a practical printer of large experience, prudent and industrious, by his own labor and personal attention to the business interests of the paper, made it for the first time self sustaining, and thus laid the foundation of whatever prosperity it has since enjoyed.

In January, 1854, he enlarged it to a seven-column folio, and changed its itarne to the Jeffersonian Democrat . A quiet, unambitious man, his native ability was best appreciated by those who most intimately knew him. His selections, as a rule, were excellent, his editorials well considered, and none of his contemporaries were more sincerely devoted to the anti-slavery cause. The public appreciation of his efforts is evidenced by the fact that during the nearly seven years of his editorship, he was generally chairman of the Republican central committee of the county, and twice elected to the office of county treasurer. He died August 12, 1859, only a few months after resigning his editorial labors, aged forty-eight years. As our immediate predecessor, early and long-time associate and friend, we shall ever gratefully remember him.

The present editor and proprietor of the Geauga Republican , J. O. Converse, having purchased the Jeffersonian Democrat, of Mr. Wright, assumed its management January 1, 1859. January 3, 1866, he changed the name to Geauga Democrat as being more appropriate and expressive of its local character, and finally, January 3, 1872, to the name it now bears, which indicates alike its locality and its politics. January 7, 1874, it was enlarged to a six-column quarto, which it still remains. It is now issued every Wednesday. How well it has been conducted during the unusually long and eventful period (now nearly two decades) it has been in our hands, we leave for others to judge. We can only say that it has been our aim to make it in some measure representative, as before us it always had been, of the loyalty, intelligence, and morality of the people who have so long and so generously supported it.

The above are all the papers ever published in this county, except the Western Reserve Times , afterwards the Chardon Times , a well-printed and very readable eight-column folio, established in August, 1872, by the Times Printing company (Messrs. H. F. Canfield, E. R. Eggleston, and N. H. Bostwick), and the Geauga Leader, noticed elsewhere, a five-column quarto, also independent, established at Burton, December 18, 1874, by Mr. J. B. Coffin, and still published by him, being issued every Friday. The Times, at the close of its first year, was sold to W. C. Chambers & Son, of the Painesville Journal, and subsequently discontinued.

Various are the reflections suggested, and many the cherished memories revived, by this hurried and imperfect review. Some of the dates given may be inaccurate, as unfortunately no files of all the earlier papers of the county are preserved. How strange that a matter so important should be thus neglected ! It is even more sad to reflect upon the changes wrought by time and death since the first paper was issued in the county. A host of names once familiar in the columns of the county papers are now unheard and forgotten. Of all our editorial predecessors, only two are still living. Alfred Phelps, Joseph W. White, Thomas J. White, David T. Bruce, Eli Bruce, William P. Lindsey, O. P. Brown, M. C. Canfield, J. F. Asper, B. W. Richmond, J. S. Wright, all have ceased from their labors, some of them many years since. William W. Bruce sfiU lingers, a helpless invalid, but with intellect undimmed and interest unabated, to tell the story of the past. Miss Harriet N. Torrey, no longer known to the reading public, resides in the State of Illinois. As it is ever thus with the world, its activities and associations, surely we who are actors in the fleeting present cannot realize too fully our responsibility or duty to improve its golden opportunities to honor and bless our kind.

The names of such persons as were elected, and the dates of their election to the various executive, legislative and judicial offices, together with the presidential electors, as were living within the limits of the county as originally constituted with the subsequent changes of boundaries, together with the names of such as were elected in districts where Geauga was included; also, the names and dates of those holding county offices are given, as far as could be ascertained. Some of the records were destroyed by fire when the court-house was burned ; are others so incomplete as not to furnish the desired data, notably so with the commissioners' books, which do not give the name of any commissioner during a certain time. When I could not obtain the facts from records, I took the best evidence which the nature of the case admitted of, which was often unsatisfactory, even when obtained from those most interested, owing to their inability to furnish dates from memory, and often contradictory in families and others having the same means of knowing. Having done the best I could under the circumstances, doubtless inaccuracies will be found, notwithstanding the abundant time and labor bestowed. My thanks are due to the county officers for the courtesies extended and assistance rendered in examining records.

Members Of Constitutional Conventions

Trumbull, David Abbot and Samuel Huntington; second, in 1850, Judge Peter Hitchcock and Rufus P. Ranney ; third, in 1873, Hon. Peter Hitchcock.

Presidential Electors Congressional

Delegates from Ohio, from the organization of the territorial government until the adoption of the State constitution, William H. Harrison, William McMillan* of Hamilton county, and Paul Fearing, of Washington county. Jeremiah Mor- row, of Warren county, from 1803 to 1813. In 1813 Geauga was in the Sixth district, and was represented by John S. Edwards, of Trumbull, who resigned in April; was succeeded by David Beall, of Wayne county, who resigned in 1814,, and was followed by David Glendennen, of Trumbull, from, 1814 to 1817; Judge Peter Hitchcock, from 1817 to 1819; John Sloan, of Wayne county, from 1819 to 1823. Thirteenth district - Elisha Whittlesey, of Trumbull, from 1823 to 1838, when Mr. Whittlesey resigned; Joshua R. Giddings, from 1838 to 1859. In 1833 and 1834, the district was changed to Sixteenth congressional district. Mr. Giddings, of Ashtabula county, resigned in 1842, on account of the action of the house, reflecting on his anti-slavery course, but was sustained by his constituents and triumphantly re-elected by a largely increased majority. In 1843 and 1844 the number was changed to Twentieth district. From 1851 to 1863, John Hutchins; from 1863 to 1869, James A. Garfield, of Portage, since removed to Mentor, Lake county, the present incumbent; received the unanimous vote of the Republicans for speaker of the house of representatives of the last congress, and is the acknowledged leader of the house. In 1863 and 1864 it numbered the Nineteenth district, and continues the same. In 186a Geauga was placed in the then Nineteenth congiessional district, with Cuyahoga and Lake. Mr. Riddle was a Geauga boy, reared in Newbury, dependent upon his own resources, studied and practiced law in Chardon, in this county, rose to be the leading member of the bar, removed to Cleveland in 1850 to practice his profession in that city, was elected to congress in i860, the delegation from Geauga supporting him in convention. At the next election Geauga had been placed back in association with the old district. The people of Geauga felt that they had been ably and faithfully represented, and would, no doubt, have supported him in convention for re-election, had they had an opportunity. Many members of congress, from this congressional district, have justly made a national reputation. It is not our purpose, neither will our limited space allow, of extended eulogies of public men. - For such see biographical sketches.

Legislative State Representatives

George Todd, 1802 to 1805 inclusive; John P. Bissell and James Kingsbury, 1806; John W. Seely and James Montgomery, 1807; Nehemiah King, 1808; Amos Spafford, 1809; Judge Peter Hitchcock, 1810; Samuel Huntington, 1811; Samuel S. Baldwin, 1812; John H. Strong and William A. Harper, 1813; William A. Harper and Alfred Kelley, 1814 and 1815; William Kerr and Alfred Kelley, 1816; Lewis Dille and Levi Gaylord, 1817; Lewis Dille and

Judge Of Supreme Court

Hon. Peter Hitchcock was elected judge of the supreme court in 1819, was re-elected three times, for the term of seven years each term, and was chief justice of the State for many years.

District Or Presiding Judges

Calvin Pease and Turhand Kirtland when we were in Trumbull; in 1810 Benjamin Ruggles was elected ; in 1815 George Todd and continued to 1830 ; Reuben Wood from February, 1830 to 1833 ; (the date of the commencement of their official duties will include the time to the date of their successors). Matthew Birchard, 1833; Van R. Humphrey, 1837; John W. Willey, 1840; Reuben Hitchcock appointed to fill vacancy by the death of Judge Willey September, 1841; Benjamin Bissel, 1842; Philemon Bliss 1848; Reuben Hitchcock, 1851; E. T. Wilder, appointed June term, 1855 ; Horace Wilder, 1856: N. E. Chaffee, 1861 ; M. E. Canfield, 1871 ; E. Lee was appointed to fill vacancy occasioned by the death of Judge Canfield in 1874 ; D. W. Canfield, 1875; by special election of another judge in this judicial district, H. B. Woodbury L. S. Sherman - Messrs. Woodbury and Sherman being the judges in 1879.

County Clerks

Edward Paine, Jr., appointed in 1816, held the office until 1828, David D. 'Aiken, appointed April 12, 1828, continued until 1842, Reuben St. John, appointed June 15, 1842, resigned June 30, 1846, Lorenzo J. Rider, appointed June 30, 1846, and held the office until the second Monday of February, 1852, A. H. Gotham succeeded him under the new constitution when it became elective, continued until his death, June, 1857. H. K. Smith was appointed in June, 1857, discharging the duties of that office until January, 1858. William

Edward Paine, jr., appointed in 1820. The commencement of their official duties by apppointment or election, was as follows: Eleazer Paine, in 1822;

James A. Harper was appointed April 28, 1806, and served until April 30, 1811; each of the following acted in their official capacity from the date given until the date of their successors. Edward Paine, jr., May 22, 1811; Alfred Phelps, appointed deputy recorder July 31, 1832; George E. H. Day, elected in October, 1832, and William Wilder was appointed deputy recorder October 23> 1832, and did the business of the office during Wm. Day's term; Ralph Cowles, November 2, 1835; Wm. Kerr, November 5, 1838; B. T. Avery, deputy recorder, November 7, 1838; William Wilber, deputy recorder from December 1840 to January 11, 1841 ; William Wilber, January n, 1841 ; Ralph Cowles, deputy recorder, May 13, 1841; John Packard, jr., October 16, 1841; John French, October 14, 1844; Linnaeus Ludlow, November 1, 1856; C. H. Lamb, January 6, 1863; A- W. Young, deputy recorder, June 15, 1867 to September 10, 1868; A. W. Young, September 10, 1868, to November 15, 1875; W. Young, November 15, 1875 - term expires January 5, 1880. The duties of the office have been very satisfactorily discharged by Miss Hannah Young, now Mrs. Doctor Dimmick, of Chardon.

Infirmary Directors

In 1839 the county commissioners, in behalf of the county, boughtof Nathaniel :Stone his farm, situated in the southwest part of Claridon, for the consideration .of two thousand four hundred dollars, and put up suitable buildings for the .accommodation of paupers, and appointed infirmary directors. The following are the names of those who were appointed and of those since elected : Erastus Spencer, Sylvester N. Hoyt, John F. Morse, Vene Stone, Elijah Douglass, James Gilmore, Orrin Spencer, T. C. Webb, Asa Cowles, Chester Treat, Ralza Spencer, Abram Woodward, Seth W. Brewster, George Manly, Alonzo Richmond, Samuel C. Douglass, A. McNish, A. D. Hall, C. P. Bail, Stephen Hollis, R. E. Waters, C. O. Dutton, J. W. Nash, L. T. Wilmot, Amander Gates, O. C. Douglass, .Silas L. Beard, David C. Hollis, Wilber.

County Surveyors County School Examiners

The following were appointed under the present school law: Job Fish, Auburn; A H. Gotham, Chardon; William Russel, Dr. John Nichols, Chardon; J. 0. Worallo, Richard Denton, Rev. S. Hayden, Waters, C. W. Carroll, Chardon; Rev. E. D. Taylor, Troy; Edmund Truman, Burton; Noah Pomeroy, Hambden.

The military history of any people surrounds itself with as much of interest as attaches itself to any other portion of that people's history. The true patriot, ever on the side of his country, fondly exclaims: "My country, may she ever be right," and as plainly declares, "My country, her flag forever." His patriotism manifests itself by his eyery-ready response to her cry for help, whether against external or internal foes.

This country has passed through three great wars ; that of the Revolution, of 1812, and the war of the great Rebellion. The first, a controversy to secure the right to be a people, independent and self-governing ; the second, to secure safe protection by our flag to all over whom it floated ; the last, to settle the ability of the people to maintain their unity and govern themselves. The great battle of the Revolution was fought years before the birth of Ohio, or any settlement had been made upon the territory of the county of Geauga. Still quite a goodly number of those who served the country in this struggle were among its early settlers, and their sturdy descendants helped largely to fill the ranks of the early pioneers. Memory, swiftly rushing towards these early days, calls to mind one, another, and still another of these old veterans ; but, fearing that in the attempt to recall names some would be omitted, and that it would be invidious to mention some and not all, I leave them with only a passing notice. Peace to their ashes, and blessings upon their memories.

The war of 1812 came, finding an infant settlement in the county. The first settler within its limits established himself only fourteen years before, and its *hole population at this time, probably, not exceeding, if it equaled, fifteen hundred people. In 1810, the population of Geauga county, including the territory embraced in Lake county, was two thousand nine hundred and seventeen. In 1809, the population of Burton, then covering the greater part of the territory now constituting Geauga county, was two hundred and thirty-seven.

This population furnished its full proportionate share of the men necessary to fill the ranks of the army. On one notable occasion, it is said, that every ablebodied man of its number fell in, and marched to the defence of the frontier port of Cleveland against an anticipated attack of the enemy. One man only, and he not able-bodied, remained to assist in removing to a place of safety the women and children, with their already packed goods, should their defenders be overcome. This, happily, was not the case, the attack not being made.

In command of the regiment marching to Cleveland at this time, was Col. Jedediah Beard, of Burton,, settling there in 1779, with Eleazer Hickox as major, and Peter Hitchcock (afterwards judge), adjutant.

The fact, that so many of the pioneers were descendants of, and closely related to, the soldiers of the Revolution, of the part they were themselves so soon compelled to take in the war of 1812, and that they were only separated by the lake from a province of that nation with which our country had been twice engaged in deadly strife, impelled them for many years to maintain reasonably efficient military organizations under the various militia laws of the State. Fortunately, I am relieved from giving any account of these various organizations, as this is covered in the general history of the county written by another.

From about the time named by that writer, there was, until 1861, no military organization within the limits of the county. On the fifteenth day of April, in that year, the roaring guns in Charleston harbor, and the rattling shot upon the turreted walls of Sumter, woke the nation as from a dream, telling to the people that the cloud so long hanging over the nation had burst in blinding fury upon the government and its supporters. Before the first echoing sound had died upon the ear, President Lincoln's proclamation calling for seventy-five thousand men had, upon the electric flash, pierced every hamlet in the country, and in response men were wildly rushing to their appointed rendezvous. Among those answering this call, little Geauga furr^shed her quota, more than could be received. Of those received from this and Lake counties, a company was formed, under command of Captain George E. Paine, and assigned to the Nineteenth regiment for three months' service. Readiness to respond to the call of the government for help was manifested alike by nearly all parties. No matter what had been the differences before existing, w-hen a blow was struck at the nation's life, and by those enjoying the richest blessings flowing from the government, and until just now controling the affairs of that government, all sprang as one man to resist that blow. Forgetting personal interests and party differences, unitedly were the best energies of all bent to the accomplishment of this. True, here and there one occupied an antagonistic position, but they were exceptions to the rule, and the cases were rare indeed.

With the breaking out of the war came a revival of military spirit among the people. Companies were formed in Chardon, under command of Captain V. Ganson, in Huntsburgh under Captain Philander Kile, and in Burton under Captain H. H. Ford. By these, frequent competitive and othei drills were held, making their members accustomed to the handling of arms and military tactics.. The sounds of the ringing fife and the rattling drum were familiar ones. Military parades were frequent, and witnessed by large numbers of people. The crisis found the State with little efficient military law or organization, as it did the nation with no experience fitting it for the terrible struggle. These men were a law unto themselves, as they submitted to rigid military discipline that they might be prepared for efficient service when it should be required. Soon came the call for three years' men. The county, embracing within its limits no city or large town, furnished no headquarters for recruiting* and its young men were constantly finding places in organizations built up in the large towns surrounding it, of Painesville, Cleveland, Akron and Warren.

In August, 1 86 1, five young men of Burton - Elias A. Ford, Chauncey N. Talcott, Henry W. Johnson, Lester T. Patchin, and James B. Cleveland - determined that one company at least should go into the field under its chosen officers, and all its members from the county. Procuring an enlistment roll, and affixing their names thereto, they marched from township to township throughout the south part of the county, holding meetings and taking names as they passed through, until soon they were prepared to, and did take into camp the first full company of what afterwards became the Forty-first Ohio volunteer infantry-, under command of Colonel (afterwards General) William B. Hazen. Almost simultaneously was started another company in the northern townships, the result of the first movement being the placing of two full companies in the regiment, and many other men, enlisted through them, assigned to other companies of the same command. These companies were designated B and G, and were under command, the first of Captain William R. Tolies, and the latter of Captain M. H. Hamblin. To the writer, General Hazen expressed himself as under greater obligation that he had a regiment so soon ready to go into the field, than to any other source.

The same year, a little later, was organized the Ninth (independent) Ohio battery. The men of this battery were also largely enlisted, and it was partly officered from Geauga county, the men being taken to camp by the same person as the company first named above. In the same year, also, many men from the county enlisted in the Twenty-ninth regiment, organized in Ashtabula county. In filling up the cavalry regiments, known as "Wade and Hutchins' cavalry," Geauga, from her northeastern townships, also furnished her quota of recruits.

In August, 1862, Geauga furnished full Company E, under Captain Byron W. Canfield, of Chardon, and part of Company F, under Captain Sherburn H. Williams, of Parkman, to the One Hundred and Fifth regiment; as also some men in B. C. and I., of the same regiment. In June preceding, a large number of men were enlisted and taken to Columbus by the Hon. B. B. Woodbury, a part of whom were embodied in a company under Captain V. Ganson, and assigned to the Eighty-seventh regiment for three months' service, and the balance were mustered into the Eighty-eighth regiment of three years' men, for guard duty at Camp Chase, a very important but disagreeable service, which, after a short experience, they would gladly have exchanged for active service in the field. The same is true of the One Hundred and Twenty-eighth regiment, to be hereafter mentioned, in which were quite a number of Geauga men, and which was organized for and kept at similar duty at Johnson's Island.

'Hiose mentioned constitute all the separate organizations, except for brief periods, hereafter to be mentioned, furnished and officered from the county. For reasons before given men were constantly enlisting in different branches of the service: and the names of Geauga men are found on the rolls of a large number of companies and regiments. The aggregate number entering the regular volunteer service during the war was about twelve hundred, the entire quota required of the county. -

In addition to this, Geauga was one of those counties that on two occasions famished extraordinary numbers. On the threatened attack upon Cincinnati by Kirby Smith, in 1862, two companies went from the county to aid in repelling him in what was ktiown as the " Squirrel Hunters ' " campaign, one from the northern townships, under command of M. C. Canfield, (afterwards judge), with thirty-two men, the other of thirty-five men from Burton, under command of the writer, the two companies being consolidated on reaching Cincinnati. More especially was this extraordinary aid furnished in 1864. In the early winter of 1861-62, under a law of the State providing for a volunteer militia, called the

" Ohio National Guard," a company was organized, uniformed, equipped and placed under drill by the writer in Burton, its members coming from that township and Middlefield, with a few from Claridon and Huntsburgh. In the summer of 1863, a similar company was formed in Newbury, under Captain John Cutler, being made up from that township, Munson and Russell, the two companies constituting the Eighty-sixth battalion, Ohio national guards.

In the opening of the campaign of 1864, so decisive of the result of the conflict, at a meeting, in Washington, of loyal governors of western States, by request of President Lincoln, it was determined to call into service a large number of men for a brief period - known afterward as "One-hundred-day men." Ohio, having some forty thousand of her "National guard" organized, they were, by Adjutant General Cowen, ordered out and on their way to their various rendezvous, almost before the return of Governor Brough to Columbus. Among this number were the two companies above named. They were directed to report to Colonel J. F. Asper, of the Fiftieth regiment, O. N. G., at Johnson's Island, which they did, on the fourth day of May, two days after they were ordered to their respective headquarters. In consolidation with that regiment, the Newbury company was divided, a part being assigned to the Burton company, and the balance to a company in Lake county, commanded by Captain W. D. Shepherd, the consolidated regiment being marked, One Hundred and Seventy-first, O. N. G. These men were ordered out as State troops, under command of Governor Brough, but, on arriving at the place of rendezvous, were asked to enter into the United States service, which every man present with the companies did, including Captain John Cutler, of the Newbury company, who, deprived of command by the consolidation, notwithstanding remained and served in the ranks with his men. The two companies from Geauga and Lake wrere on detached duty most of the time, and so acquitted themselves, while at Camp Dennison, as to be. highly complimented through the public press by an officer high in position at that post. Not a man was at any time sent to the guard-house, or was publicly reprimanded. These were a portion of the troops relieving the veterans, by whom Grant was reinforced, and enabled successfully to pass through that fiery ordeal of the "Wilderness," in 1864. In the two companies from this county were one hundred and forty-five men, being that number actually in excess of the number required to be furnished from the county, and for wrhich no credit was received. These, taken with the twelve hundred before mentioned, make nearly ten per cent, of the entire population. On the first day of May, 1866, in pursuance of an act passed in April previous, on account of this extraordinary service, the members of these companies were, by the governor, discharged from State service, and exempted from military duty in time of peace. Thereupon, their organization was abandoned, since which time there has been no military organization in the county.

While, as before stated, men of this county were found scattered in different branches of the service, very much the larger part were found in the Seventh, Nineteenth, Twenty-ninth, Forty-first, Eighty-seventh, Eighty-eighth, One Hundred and Fifth, One Hundred and Twenty-eighth, One Hundred and Seventyfirst, and One Hundred and Seventy-seventh regiments of infantry, the Second and Sixth cavalry, and the Ninth (independent) battery. The Seventh, Twentyninth, Forty-first, and One Hundred and Fifth were especially known as fighting regiments ; and, while many a brave boy enrolled in them sealed his valor with his blood, none came back open to the taunt of not having well acted his part in the fiery ordeal.

The Seventh was among the actively engaged regiments in the three months' service, and in its subsequent career was known as the " Bloody Seventh." Among the fields on which it fought are mentioned : Cross Lanes, Port Re-

The Twenty-ninth participated in the battles of Winchester, Port Republic, Cedar Mountain, second Bull Run, Chancellorsville, Resaca, Pine Knob, Kenesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek, Siege of Atlanta, and many other minor engagements, always bearing itself bravely and gallantly when brought to face the enemy.

The Forty-first was especially noted for its thorough discipline and exact drill. In its first battle, that of Shiloh or Pittsburgh Landing, it was called upon to occupy a very important position, and do serious work. By one of its number, who participated in that fight, it was said that its first fire was so exact and welldirected, "that the chapparel brush in its front was cut entirely away, clean 'shaven at a uniform height." It carried upon its banner the names of the hardfought fields of Shiloh, Corinth, Perryville, Stone River, Chickamauga, Orchard Knob, Mission Ridge, Resaca, Dallas, Piney Top Mountain, Granny White Pike and Overton Knob. It also took part in the siege of Atlanta. Always in the brigade of General Hazen until he was placed in command of a division, the Forty-first took a very important part in the battle of Chickamauga. When the left and center of the army had given away, and General Thomas was only maintaining himself on the right, the interval separating them was filled with sharp-shooters. General Hazen volunteered to and did take his brigade across this unexplored interval, and, forming in column by regiments, met the rebels, who were advancing on the left of Thomas' line, and by firing successive volleys checked their advance and closed the fighting at Chickamauga.

The severest engagement, in which this regiment took part, was the one resulting in the charge upon and capture of the position known as Orchard Knob. It is said that Generals Grant and Thomas passed along the new line after this action, viewing the ground within fifty feet of the rebel ranks, where the fight had been fiercest, and where lay the horses of the colonel and lieutenant-colonel. Noticing the evidence of the severe struggle, General Thomas sent for the regiment's officers, and said to Colonel Wiley: "Colonel, I wish you to express to your men my thanks for their splendid conduct this afternoon. It was a gallant thing, colonel, a very gallant thing" This, from General Thomas, was a very unusual compliment.

The One Hundred and Fifth was one of those regiments hastily thrown into the field in August, 1862. Before two months old, it found itself called upon, in an exposed situation, and under a flank fire, to support a battery in the opening of the bloody and non-decisive fight of Perryville. It fought also at Milton, Tullahoma, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, and the battles around Atlanta; was also with Sherman in his march to the sea. It was at Chickamauga highly complimented by General Reynolds, commandant of the division, as also by General Rosecrans himself, for the check given by it to the rebels threatening the flank ot the former officer. This regiment, from the time of the Perryville battle, during its entire period of service, always was in the front of battles. As in that first fight its ranks were decimated, so all along its course were its slain helping to fill nameless graves, and raised those little hill<*cks that all over so thickly dotted the South. Many also came back maimed for life, but none of its whole number to blush at a banner trailing in the dust. Its history is its pride.

Illustrative of the promptness with which the sons of Geauga responded to the calls made, one incident is well remembered. As one of the county military committee, the writer visited the township of Russell to secure her quota 'of the three hundred thousand first called in August, 1862. While there, a dispatch came, saying, "Father Abraham calls three hundred thousand more."

The county boasts of no officers of high rank, reaching marked positions, for none such were commissioned from her midst. Field and staff officers she had, and good ones, too. None are named, else some should unintentionally be omitted, and an invidious distinction seem to be made. She only says that every call made upon her was promptly responded to; that she furnished good and true men in full numbers whenever asked; that there is no blot upon her record; tttat none of the soldier boys leaving her, bound for the fierce arena of strife, but bore well their part in the bloody drama.

Early in his administration, Governor David Tod determined to, and did, appoint military committees in the various counties through the States, the business of these committees being to secure recruits under the various calls made, recommend proper persons to be commissioned for recruiting, to look after the welfare and protect the interests of soldiers in the field, and see that their families were properly cared for, and their wants supplied. B. B. Woodbury, of Chardon, Chester Palmer, of Chester, David Robinson, of Russell, J. S. Tilden, of Parkman, and P. Hitchcock, of Burton, were constituted such committee in Geauga county. Subsequently, Joseph Smith, of Thompson, was appointed in place of Mr. Tilden, resigned. This committee, by the devotion and efficiency of its members, accomplished very much in aiding the county to so fully do its part in every respect.

It is not fit to pass by what was done by the mothers, wives and sisters of the brave men who volunteered to fill the ranks of the nation's army. So soon as came the first call, as upon each successive call during those four years of trial, not only did they cheerfully surrender their loved ones, but bravely pressing back unhidden tears and stifling all murmuring, they set themselves at work to do all possible for their comfort upon the field and in hospital. On the twentieth day of April, 1861, only five days after the first call for seventy-five thousand men, was formed the "Northern Ohio Soldiers' Aid society," with headquarters at Cleveland, the first organization of the kind in the country, and which continued its operations during the entire war, by its labors doing much in aid of the government, and for the comfort of its soldiers. The townships of Geauga county had similar societies auxiliary to this, doing their full share of this work. It is regretted that no data is at hand, showing the exact amount of this aid; but an approximate estimate, made from such as is available, shows that not less than twenty thousand dollars were thus furnished, nearly half in money. In addition to this, these noble women, as opportunity offered, were constantly sending necessaries and comforts to their country's defenders direct, without intervention by any organized society, this amounting to as much in the aggregate, perhaps, as was furnished in the other manner. Upon one notable occasion, word came that our rapidly gathering recruits in camp at Cleveland, were without blankets to protect them from the chilling blasts of early spring. Not another sun was permitted to go down before a large supply, furnished by the good housewives, was on the way, under the charge of the Hon. B. B. Woodbury.

Thus much has been written that, in the published record of Geauga county, the deeds of the brave men filling the ranks of the army in deadly strife, of the sacrifices of heroic women left behind, and of all those who so loyally sustained these men, shall not be forgotten. What is written is known to be very imperfect, perhaps inexcusably so. None know these imperfections better than the writer. It has been written in snatches of time purloined from other pressing business, and must be regarded more in the nature of personal reminiscences than of complete history, which could not be embrgped in the limit allowed.

Some recollections are here given about militia trainings, regiment and brigade officer musters, with such facts as I could obtain from public documents, which are almost entirely lost, supplemented with such information as I gathered in early pioneer days from cotemporaries and older participants.

The first settlers under the great law of self-protection had good rifles, and knew how to use them to protect themselves and their crops from wild animals and procure their animal food from the woods, and the fear of Indian combinations against the settlements to obtain plunder and massacre the whites, were sufficient inducements to organize with or without law. This chapter of miscellaneous history will refer to incidents (except incidentally), to events and organizations with which the militia of Geauga were concerned.

To Colonel Charles Whittlesey, of Cleveland, who has taken such a deep interest in pioneer events, and who has gathered and put into form a mass of historical information which would otherwise have been sunk in oblivion, I acknowledge myself greatly indebted. I gather some facts from an interesting newspaper article published in the Cleveland Leader, November 22, 1879, and from some other of his publications. There are no records in the adjutantgeneral's office, at Columbus, of those early military organizations and events. Time and fires have done their work.

Colonel Whittlesey says that the law of Ohio made the governor and military officers nearly absolute, as they must have been in order to be effective.

"Previous to the war of 1812, there had not been any full regiments organized under the militia laws," probably owing to the sparse population, often requiring a large territory for even a half regiment commanded by a lieutenant-colonel or major. The seventeen organized counties were divided into four divisions during the sessions of 1812-13. The fourth division with which we were connected, was commanded by Major-General Wadsworth, of Canfield, then in Trumbull county. We were in the fourth brigade, commanded by General Joel Paine, of Painesville, Geauga county, embracing the territory of Geauga, md Cuyahoga, and west of those generally. The first regiment in Geauga, Cuyahoga, etc., was commanded by ( Captain Jedediah Beard, of Burton.

By the returns of Lieutenant-Colonel Beard, August 30, 1812, of the First regiment, Fourth brigade, Fourth division, Ohio militia, I make some corrections from personal knowledge of their locations as affixed to their names. Major, Samuel Jones, major, Eleazer Hickox, Burton ; adjutant, Eleazer Patchin, Newbury; quartermaster, Samuel W. Phelps, Painesville; paymaster, S. S. Baldwin; clerk, Peter Hitchcock, Burton; surgeon, William Kenedy, M. D. Burton >n's mate, Erastus Goodwin, who was subsequently attached to

Uttjor, Stephen Bond; fife major, David Hill; captain, Vene Stone, Newbury; captain, Charles H. Payne, Geauga county; captain Clark Parker, Mentor; captain. Norman Canfield, Bondstown (now Hambden); captain, James Thompson, Middlefield; captain, Wm. H. Huds >n, Chester ; captain, Alvin Gaylord, Cuyahoga county ; caj tain, - - Harvey, Cleveland ; c aptain, David Hendershot,

Euclid; lieutenants, Eli Fowler, J. Forbes, Theron Graham, Allyn Humphrey, Claridon; Samuel Hardy, Walter Strong, Dyre Sherman, Lewis Dille, Euclid; ensigns, Simeon Moss, Huntsburg; Hezekiah King, Painesville; Horace Taylor, Claridon; John Hopkins, Elijah Nobles, Elias Cozan, Caleb Baldwin. After the war the new or unsettled townships began to fill up rapidly with permanent settlers, so that new companies were formed, and the numbers of the divisions, brigades, and regiments, were often changed. When companies were organized in the vafious townships of Geauga, they were divided into three regiments, constituting one brigade. The First regiment had its headquarters at Painesville. That town had one militia company,* one light infantry, one artillery company (commanded by Captain Huntoon, who had seen service in the war of 1812), and a squad of cavalry. Some members of the independent company had enlisted from adjoining townships. Mentor, Concord, Perry, Leroy, Madison, and Thompson, each had a militia company, and Madison and Perry a light infantry company, and, perhaps some other townships had the same.

The Second regiment (Chardon) had one militia company and one light infantry company; Kirtland, one militia and one rifle company. The following townships had each a militia company: Chester, Munson, Claridon, Hambden, Huntsburgh and Montville. - Colonels-commandant: C. C. Paine, Jeremiah Ames, John F. Morse, Lester Taylor, Erastus Spencer, Col. Ames, of Chester, Huron E. Humphrey, and L. J. Rider.

The Third regiment (Burton) had one militia and one light infantry company; Bainbridge, one militia and a squad of cavalry. The following townships had one militia company each: Parkman, Troy, Middlefield, Newbury, Auburn, Russell. - Colonels-commandant were: Jedediah Beard, Major Allyn Humphrey and Major Horace Taylor, each commanded one or more regimental musters. - Colonels P. D. McConoughey, C. C. Paine. Until this time it had embraced the territory of the Second regiment. S. H. Williams, Chester Treat, Stephen Ford, Elijah Ford, of Troy; Seabury Ford, John McFarland, Colonel Henry, of Bainbridge; Colonel Riddle, of Newbury. Benjamin Mastick, and Henry Ford were their respective colonels.

The mititia of Geauga connected with divisions who were commanded by major-generals: E. Wordsworth, of Canfield; Peter Hitchcok, of Burton; Eli Bond, of Painesville; General Brainard, of Willoughby, and General Knapp, of Conneaut.

The commanders of brigades with which the Geauga regiments were conneced were as follows: Joel Paine, Eli Bond, Hezekiah King, C. C. Paine, Abet Kimball, Seabury Ford, James H. Paine, Eleazar Paine, a cadet graduate of West Point.

During the latter part of the decade preceding 1840, the efficiency of the militia system, and good discipline, began to decline, no fears of aggressive wars, or insubordination to civil government were sufficient incentives to those who were able to pay their fines, to induce them to turn out at musters; the rank and file grew less; independent companies, well uniformed, became more numerous, and the militia were stigmatized as the "rag-shag, barefooted companies," until the system gave way to the popular will.

Regimental training and brigade officer musters are among the institutions that were - now unknown to young America - may be classed the militia trainings. One day, in the fall, for company training, when the captains drilled their companies ready for regimental display. Regimental training, one day, soon after the company muster. The colonel, lieutenant colonel, major, with the regimental staff, drilled the regiment in evolutions according to Baron Stuben or Scott, as fashion, caprice, or knowledge of modern military tactics were in ascendancy. The companies were inspected and reviewed by the brigade major, under the eye of the brigadier with his staff, accompanied by the regimental staff officers. It was a grand holiday for old and young to meet and have a good time - shaking hands with their acquaintances, and living over their lives in their boyhood native States, and telling marvelous stories of their forest homes and progress in their adopted places of abode.

The boys were jubilant over the new cider, ginger-bread and watermelons. It is but just to give the officers and soldiers a complimentary notice of good subordination to law and order. They went home, and were in better subordination to civil law, and better citizens and neighbors for such a day of military rule and display.

Brigade-officer musters were held two days, and prior to the company and regiment trainings, that officers might be better posted to drill their respective commands. The general and his staff, the colonels with their staff, had each their marque, and each captain with his subaltern officers a tent. As Chardon was the most central place, it was generally selected as headquarters for muster. Inspection and drills were given by the brigade and field officers for the two days.

At night, guards were set on lines for self-protection, respective beats for sentinels assigned - watch-words and countersigns given. Gentlemen and ladies of the village were promenading; many young, and some old boys out for fun - to run the lines, or plague the sentinels, which was sometimes carried to an extent resulting in capturing and putting the culprits under guard for the night, or into the county jail until morning. Some amusing incidents occurred. A young man in running through the lines, was shot at with blank cartridge with such a heavy wad that, striking the heel of his boot, it tore it from the upper leather half-way to the toe. Another burning wad from an old musket produced such a concussion that, passing through between his legs, the man stopped on his race-course, and jumped up with all his might, supposing he was wounded, until captured. Many threatening conflicts between the civil and military powers were made, which generally ended in a war of words. In some instances, good citizens, only mere lookers on, were tieated rudely on suspicion. The officers did not always make proper discrimination.

In the fall of 1846, the brigade officer muster was held in Burton - Brigadier- General Eleazer Paine, commandant. A fatal conflict occurred between Lieut. Allen, a subordinate company officer from Montville, when on duty as sentinel, and Luther Britton, of Burton. Britton was a stout, thick-necked and bullheaded fellow, and had been classed as a dissipated man. On being arrested, or when the attempt to arrest him was made, he stabbed the officer fatally. He was indicted for murder, and convicted of murder in the second degree. He was most ably defended by Judge Carter (now a judge of the court in the District of Columbia), William L. Perkins, of Painesville, and Judge Andrews, of Cleveland. Judge Andrews made the closing speech for the defense. It was a happy display of eloquence and pathos. He dwelt upon a fact drawm out in evidence, that when Britton was staked down in his tent, surrounded by the enraged officers, his little dog came into the tent, ran round his master who was lying helplessly on his back, nestled down by his side nearest his heart, apparently to find if there was pulsation, to warm it into activity and restore his loved master. Tears flowed down the face of many a stalwart form who had never been suspected of delicate, moral sensibilities or tenderly enlightened consciences.

The current of a popular feeling had long been increasing against militia trainings. The fatal occurrence at that officer-muster caused a tidal wave of sufficient strength to break up in a few years, the old time-honored system. Many of those militia officers were well posted in drill exercises, exerted a magnetic influence over their comrades which made subordination cheerful, had moral worth and decision of character, and were respected as citizens. They had been accustomed generally to hard drill in bone and muscle in clearing up their farms; they had a practical knowledge of back woods, full of endurance, and would, doubtless, have made better officers in the late war, where so many of the battles were fought in woods and thickets, in handling men, and in strategy, than many such irregulars as were taken from behind the counter, or from the offices of professional men. My cotemporaries of the occasional " tentedfield " are nearly ail gone. Peace to their ashes. To the living ones, peace and good will.

A grand convention of Free and Accepted masons assembled at Chillicothe, Ohio, January 4, 1808, for the purpose of forming a grand lodge. Brother Robert Oliver was called to the chair, and Brother George Tod appointed secretary. There were six lodges represented, by about a dozen members, at the convention. But for some reason, which does not fully appear, the delegates of New England Lodge, No. 4, were not allowed to take seats in the convention, and a part in its deliberations. On the evening of January 7th an election of grand officers was had, and Rufus Putnam was elected grand master. January 8th, each member having subscribed to the proceedings, they adjourned.

At the grand communication held in January, 1810, Samuel Huntington, grand master, but who was succeeded by the election of Lewis Cass during the session, we find it ordered "that the dispensation granted to the lodge in Geauga county be continued in force until a warrant, or charter, be procured and issued to said lodge, by the name of Meridian Orb," and, "that the grand secretary cause the same to be done as soon as conveniently may be." We also find that Edward Paine, of said lodge, was a member of a committee of one from each lodge, to consider the constitution and by-laws of the grand lodge, and report such amendments, alterations and additions, as they deemed expedeient, to the next annual session for action by the grand lodge. We find no date of dispensation, or charter, nor do we know who were its charter members. The last representative it is credited with in grand lodge was L. Humphrey in 1829. This lodge was located in Painesville, Geauga county.

The first masonic organization within the present limits of Geauga county was Western Phoenix Lodge No. 42. May 28, 1817 a dispensation was issued by

Henry Brush, grand master of masons in the State of Ohio to brothers Otis Guild, Jairus T. Andrews, Charles C. Paine, Bill Kennedy, Oliver R. Guild, John Chapman, Jarius Guild, Theodore Dowd, Lewis Smith, Simon Burroughs, jr., and Allen Humphrey, as Western Phoenix Lodge No. 42, to be located at Park man.

On the tenth of July, 1817 Edward Paine, jr., past master of Meridian Orb Lodge No. 10, at Painesville installed the officers of No. 42 at Parkman, to wit: Otis Guild, W. M.; Jarius T. Andrews, S. W.; Charles C. Paine, J. W.; Lewis Smith, treasurer; Bill Kennedy, secretary; John Chapman, S. D.; Oliver R. Guild, J. D.; Jairus Guild, steward ; Simon Burroughs, jr., tyler.

The officers of a lodge under dispensation are considered as proxies of the grand master for certain purposes and are not installed as these seem to have been. When a trial of their skill has satisfied the grand lodge of their ability they received a charter and number from the officers of the grand lodge which determines their rank in that body. The grand master by himself, or proxy, then appoints a time ^nd constitutes the new lodge and installs its officers. December 15, 1818, the grand lodge granted a charter to Western Phoenix Lodge No. 42.

March 11, 1819, the first election of officers took place in Western Phoenix Lodge No. 42 and resulted as follows, to wit: Charles C. Paine, W. M.; John

W. Scott, S. M. ; Sherburn H. Williams, J. W.; Barton F. Avery, secretary ; Erastus Goodwin, treasurer; R. Scoville, S. D.; R. Hopkins, J. D.; I. Davis and A. H. Fairbanks, stewards. The last communication of said lodge was held October 30, 1828, as per record.

December 23, 1856, Benjamin F. Smith, deputy grand master, issued a dispensation to the following brethren, to wit: Hardin Bennett, Henry Inman,

Western Phoenix Lodge U. D. N. D. Smith, and A. P. Tilden were the first initiates. A charter was granted said lodge, and No. 296 assigned it at the annual session of the Grand lodge, in October, 1857 - Horace M. Stokes, grand master They held their first annual election December 31, 1857, which resulted in the election of the following officers, to wit: Henry Inman, W. U.;

The second lodge organized within the present limits of Geauga county, came by a dispensation from Charles R. Sherman, grand master, some time in 1824,

Said dispensation was continued to said brethren at the annual communication of the Grand lodge, in January, 1825. According to the printed proceedings of the Grand lodge, they agreed to the following resolution, January 10, 1826:

/?es*>fix£d. That a charter be granted to Amos Upham, and his associates, fora lodge, to be called Village Lodge, No. 78. in the town of Burton, and county of Geauga.

In January, 1828. said lodge was represented by Charles C. Paine, who also represented Western Phoenix Lodge, No. 42, in the Grand lodge for the last time. The records and charter of Village Lodge, No. 78, may .be still in existence ; at least they were some twenty-five years ago, and the record book was being used as a private account book - but they are beyond our reach at present.

On the twenty-third of June, 1855, Benjamin F. Smith, deputy grand master, issued a dispensation to Erastus Goodwin, Isaac Chatfield, S. M. Sumner, Harlow N. Spencer, Merritt Nettleton, Franklin Spencer, Stephen Ford, Laban Patch, Arad Way, Joel Way, Lewis S. Pope and Lyman Millard to open a lodge under the name of Village Lodge No. - . On the twenty-sixth of October, of the same year, the grand lodge granted them a charter and numbered it 274 - Harlow N. Spencer, W. M.; Isaac Chatfield, S. W., and S. M. Sumner, J. W. William B. Dodds was grand master. This lodge flourished, built a hall, which, at the great fire in Burton in December, 1871, was consumed, together with their charter, furniture, and lodge funds. A dispensation to meet and continue work until the annual communication of the grand lodge, was soon after issued by Alexander H. Newcomb, grand master, and on the sixteenth of October, 1872, that body granted them a new* charter in place of the one destroyed by fire. They now have a convenient hall in the brick block, and are in a flourishing condition. Their membership in 1876, the centennial year, was sixty. Their officers were : Elias L. Ford, W. M. ; George W. Dayton, S. W. ; Henry

E. Ford, J. W. ; Henry H. Ford, treasurer; George H. Ford, secretary; William R. Norton, S. D. ; A. J. Spencer, J. D. ; Morris Truman, tyler; Almon B. Carlton, Daniel L. Johnson, Aaron Williams, trustees. On the fifth of May, 1878, they buried Joel Way, one of their charter members, and possibly the oldest mason in Ohio. He was made a mason in Connecticut in 1806, and was ninety-three years of age at the time of his death.

January 15, 1828, the Grand lodge of Ohio granted a charter to Chardon lodge U. D., and gave it the No. 93. The date of dispensation, etc., we have failed to find. It was probably issued in 1827, by John W. Goodenow, who was grand master that year. The charter was signed by Thomas Corwin, grand master, who was elected to that office on the day said charter was granted. The members named in the charter are Edward Paine, jr., David T. Bruce, C. S. Ferris, Stephen V. R. Laraway, Thomas R. Wheeler, Asa Foote, D. St. Clair, jr., Orrin Spencer, Chandler Pease, Merrick Pease, Reuben Bowen, and Roderick White. Edward Paine, jr., W. M.; Reuben Bowen, S. W.; David T. Bruce, J. W. It was last represented in grand lodge by William Coolman, in 1829, though borne upon the grand lodge rolls some time longer.

May 27, 1842, a dispensation wTas issued by William R. Reese, grand master, for Chardon Lodge, No. - , to be holden at Chardon, Geauga county. October 1 8th, of the same year, the grand lodge granted the charter under which they are now working, giving it the old number, as well as name. The charter members were Barton S. Avery, Henry H. Merrill, Roderick White, Edward Paine, jr., Orrin Spencer, E. P. Norton, David T. Bruce, Manning Shumway, John Wiley, Hiram Wescott, Samuel Force, Jeremiah Johnson, Stephen V. R. Laraway, and Watrous J. Menter. William J. Reese, grand master ; David T. Disney, deputy grand master. The first officers were: Henry H. Merrill, W. M.; Barton F. Avery, S. W.; Roderick White, J. W.; Orrin Spencer, treasurer; David T. Bruce, secretary; Watrous T. Menter, S. D.; Manning Shumway, J. D.; John Wiley, E. P. Norton, stewards. This lodge had several places of meeting, and finally built and owned a hall, clear of debt, and were prospering finely, when, on the twenty-fifth of July, 1868, the disastrous fire swept their hall and part of its contents, with all the business portion of the town. They, however, saved their charter and records, built a larger and finer hall, furnished it, and are prospering. Their newr hall wras dedicated June 24, 1869, which, with its new furniture, cost five thousand dollars and over. Their stated com munications are on the second and fourth Saturday evenings in each month. Their membership in 1876 was one hundred. It officers were: A. W. Benton, W. M.; L. M. Moffitt, S. W.; L. C. Cowles, J. W.; B. N. Shaw, treasurer ; I.

At the annual convocation of the grand chapter of Ohio in October, A. D. 1867, a dispensation was issued to the following named Royal Arch masons: Harlow N. Spencer, Isaac N. Hathaway, Henry K. Smith, Royal P. Munsell, Perley Fuller, Joel T. Sherman, Tracy W. Scott, Hercules D. Carroll, Luther P. Scott, Rufus H. Tucker, Henry S. Wood, Henry Bartlett and Byron W. Canfield, to open a chapter of Royal Arch masons in Chardon, Geauga county, to be called Chardon Chapter No. - .

This organization suffered by the fire July 25, 1868, about three hundred and ' % dollars. No insurance. At the grand chapter in 1868, George Rex, M.

Stated convocations on the first and second Wednesday evenings in each month. This chapter has recuperated from its losses, has funds in its treasury, and is flourishing; as are all the masonic bodies now in Geauga county.

The first lodge of Odd Fellows in Geauga was "Geauga Lodge No. 17 1 instituted at Claridon December 3, 1850, by Horace Beebe, grand representative and special deputy. The charter members were T. W. Ensign, J. S. Cleveland, C. C. Fields, A. E. Ensign, Warren Heaton and Wanton Hathaway. The fast officers were: Wanton Hathaway, N. G.; T. W Ensign, V. G.; Emory

The past grands of said lodge are Wanton Hathaway, T. W. Ensign, J. S. Cleveland, C. C. Field, Warren Heaton, A. E. Ensign, C. J. Bellows, F. C. Cooly, C. C. Clapp, H. T. Bradley, G. I. Stanhope, J. M. Clapp, C. S. Field, Ahord Church, Charles Stafford, H. S. Pomeroy, A. W. Strong, D. B. Ladd. N.

C. Woodard,' J. C. Hathaway, George Waters, C. S. Hathaway, J. E. Woodard, Horace Tucker, A. Beardsley, W. H. Hathaway, John Hough taling, Russell Gray, I. F. Hughes, P. K. Tucker, A. S. Watts, C. H. Chace, E. E. Hodges, E. E. Warren, G. B. Hathaway, B. Armstrong, J. T. Field, E. R. Knapp, S. T. Crofeet, C. H. Chace, and L. L. Segar. This lodge held its meetings over the office of Dr. R. Dow, until the year 1854, when a new hall was erected over the store of C. C. & C. S. Field, which hall they occupied till the month of May, A. D., 1868, when the hall, with all its contents, including regalias, emblems, and records, was destroyed by fire. After this, for about six years, the order met in the second story of the dwelling house of W. H. Hathaway, when in the year 1874, they erected a new hall at tbe P. & T. railroad station, some eighty rods east of the village of East Claridon, which they now occupy. The society has a library of about one hundred volumes, and is prospering financially and otherwise; and as one of its oldest members remarked, that as Geauga lodge was the first one established in the county, it may be regarded as the father of the lodges subsequently established in the county of Geauga.

Chardon Lodge

Present membership, sixty; regular meetings Monday evening of each week, in Odd Fellows hall, second story, No. 9, Union block. The lodge is in a flourishing condition.

Auburn Lodge

On the fourteenth day of July, 1853, Auburn Todge, No. 226, was institued at Auburn Corners, with D. L. Pope, G. M. Baird, John H. Williams, A. G. Ethridge, O. L. Gilson, Jerome Hinkley, F. Wilmot, L. C. Ludlow, Miles Punderson, George Parker, Laban Patch, and J. Patch, as charter members. The first officers were: Laban Patch, N. G.; D. L. Pope, V. G.; F. Wilmont, R. S.;

The lodge is in a very prosperous condition. It owns a fine hall, over Union hall, at Auburn Corners, and an interest in the real estate upon which the building stands ; has a library, etc.

Pebble Rock Lodge

The last lodge organized in this county was Pebble Rock Lodge, No. 535. This lodge was instituted at Thompson, August 1, 1872, by Amri Axtel, D. G. M. The charter members were: Joseph Smith, J. Johnson, A. M. Stocking, Set Barnes, R. C. Smith, H. Webster, S. W. Hickok, N. Ganis, N. Stratton, jr.,

Pike, N. G.; S. O. Billings, V. G.; J. W. Smith, R. S.; R. M. Smith, P. S., and R. C. Smith, treasurer. The lodge, until this year, have held their meetings in the town hall, but have this season built a new hall (which they now occupy) at a cost of about one thousand five hundred dollars. They have a library of one hundred and fifty volumes, and are in a very flourishing condition. The regular meetings are Thursday evening of each week.

The first grange in Geauga county was organized in Thompson, May 30, 1873, and was called Union Grange, No. 62. 2d, Middlefield Grange, No. 539, in

Middlefield; 3d, Montville Grange, No. 666, Montville; 4th, Bennett Grange, So. 976, Bainbridge; 5th, Claridon Grange, No. 1187, Claridon; 6th,* Russell Grange, No. 1203, Russell; 7th, Chester X Roads Grange, No. 1257, Chester; 8th, Huntsburg Grange, No. 1257, Huntsburg; 9th, Hambden Grange, No. 1264, Hambden; 10th, Centennial Grange, No. 1287, South Newbury; nth, Westfield Grange, No. 1293, Troy; 12th, Parkman Grange, No. 1295, Parkman. The above is the order ib which the granges were organized prior to, or during, 1876. Union Grange had, during the year 1876, seventy-two members, and, I think, the granges in the county would average forty-five or fifty each, making, at tha ttime, five hundred and fifty or six hundred patrons in the county.

The legal profession is pre-eminently calculated to arouse and constantly exert a powerful influence in developing the mental energies to the utmost tension. To such as are endowed with a logical mind, and had the industry and perserverance, with suitable helps, devoting much time to the study of first principles, the only sure foundations on which to build and attain eminence as good counselors, advocates, and jurists, a thorough knowledge of Jewish, Roman, and Grecian laws and literature, passing through to English jurisprudence - a familiar and profound understanding of the organic laws of our own country, with the genius of our institutions - familiarity with statutory law's, with their frequent changes; a practical knowledge of men, with their different characteristics, on the bench, the jury-box and witness-stand, arising from different temperaments, occupations, education, and inodes of thought, and local causes - memory's storehouse filled with treasures, new and old, to be used at will, as questions of interest involving their reputation for legal profoundness and acumen are met and answered impromptu. Such qualifications, with its wide range of thought in philosophical investigations, have produced the most eminent men in the executive, legislative, judicial, and ministerial offices - men of letters, filling places of highest honor and trust in our country; and in every civilized country throughout the world, the legal profession have directed the machinery of government, and swayed the public mind.

Geauga county was fortunate in having, at first, men in the legal profession of established character, which has given a moral tone to the bar. Peter Hitchcock and Samuel W. Phelps were the first. Judge Hitchcock is too well known to need any comment. [For particulars see biography in this volume.] Mr. Parkman was largely engaged in the real estate business for himself, and in agencies for others, so that his energies were not directed in prosecuting suits for others extensively. Mr. Phelps was reputed a good lawyer, with an extensive practice. In the early settlement of the county the business was in the direction of Pittsburgh. Black salts was the most extensive article of exchange with the farmers, for Pittsburgh manufactures. Much of that commodity passed through or was disposed of at Warren, which accounted, in some measure, for the professional business being done so largely by the Trumbull county lawyers. Elisha Whittlesey and Thomas D. Webb were for many years engaged on almost every important suit, and generally on opposite sides. When the old Commercial bank of Lake Erie, at Cleveland, failed, Leonard Case and Alfred Kelly had for years much business in collecting and foreclosing mortgages in our courts. Ralph Granger, from Canandaigua, New York, located at Fairport about 1820. His natural and acquired abilities were exceedingly good. As a classical scholar, and for general and varied knowledge, he had no peer, probably, on the Reserve. He had a large real estate business in lands belonging principally to his father, General Granger, paymaster-general under Madison's administration. Subsequently, Reuben Wood, S. J. Andrews, John W. Willey, Judges Prentice and Bolton were the most prominent of the Cleveland bar doing business here. Giddings, of Ashtabula, and Sloan, of Ravenna, were for years Tegular attendants with business at our courts. Governor Huntington was a prominent attorney in Painesville in early times. In 1S1S Noah D. Matoon located in Painesville, where he practiced many years. When Benjamin Bissel became his law partner the business of the office largely increased. Soon after the dissolution of the law firm, Mr. Matoon located in Madison, Lake county, where his business was mostly in magistrate courts and as a conveyancer. The latter part of his life is said to have been very exemplary. Stephen Mathews and James H. Paine located in Painesville in 1821 or 1822. Their business increased rapidly. The docket shows they had more cases than any others for some years, generally in opposition. Samuel Wheeler and Robert Harper, of Unionville had a large amount of business, especially the former, who had the reputation of being a profound lawyer. William L. Perkins, of Painesville, commenced practice in our courts in 1824, and rapidly rose to eminence in his profession. He was noted as a safe counsellor. A good advocate, systematic in business arrangements, courteous to the court and his associates, gentlemanly in his demeanor to ail classes, his business was large. His life has been exemplary. He lives while his cotemporaries in profession are gone. . Benjamin Bissell had for many years a good share of legal business. After his official business as judge of the court, and his return to the bar, his business was not as great as before. He was considered a good lawyer. He was of a nervous sanguine temperament, and at times was a good deal nettled when he was overruled, after he had been judge. Seabury Ford was admitted to the bar in 1827. Reuben Hitchcock inherited a strong mind, which was well cultivated in educational and legal science. [See biographies.]

Eli T. Wilder, for many years a prominent member of our bar, was reputed a good attorney; had a large run of business, and had the confidence of the court and bar. [See a short biographical sketch, prepared by an eminent member of the bar, from an adjoining county, whose experience and intuitive knowledge of judging of men and character are well known. The sketch of H. and E. T. Wilder was forwarded to me with a request to publish, and doubtless unknown to the Messrs. Wilder.] Mr. Axtell, a young practitioner of Painesville, had considerable business here. He was a promising young man in his business, much respected, and removed to Cleveland, where he died. A. L. Tinker, of Painesville, has done more business in our court than any other lawyer, out of the county, for twenty years, and is one of the strong men in his profession, in the judicial district a noted advocate, and his opponents never "catch a weasel asleep" in business with him. L. P. Burrows, of Painesville, stands next in amount of business done at Chardon. C. T. Blakeslee, lately located at Chagrin Falls (since dead), with others in the profession, had considerable business in this county, owing to their location so near the line of Geauga. Members within the limits of the present county: Alfred Phelps commenced business in Parkman, and subsequently removed to Chardon. Not being an eloquent advocate he was not, for many years, credited with as much good sense and knowledge of law as He was entitled to - until young Riddle entered the office as his law partner. Their business rose rapidly, until they were retained and did more business than any other firm, if not all others in the county. For some time Judge Phelps developed powers, while doing business in this firm, as counselor [he wanted lime for consideration], and system in preparing cases creditable to himself and bar. Mr. Riddle rapidly rose to the head of his profession in this and adjacent counties. [See biography.]

Messrs. Knights, Hawes, and Hurlburt, successively, planted themselves in Chardon, but did not take deep root, and the former ones soon left, and the latter died soon after his location there.

0. P. Brown came from Ashtabula county here. He read law in J. R. Giddmgs' office. His politics were unfavorable to bring him forward in business for many years. Although acting with a party so largely in the minority, he continued to gain in business until he had a fair practice. Leaving here, he established himself in Ravenna, where he had a good business, and was a leading member of the bar. He was elected to the State senate from that district, in 1856. He was reputed by that body as a strong debater; was a radical Freesoiler, and a determined and outspoken opposer o*f slavery, which brought him into frequent collision with opponents of talents and legislative experience - in w-hich he sustained himself well. Being engaged with strong minds, debating on first principles was sufficiently exciting to wake up his large brain to great effort. He was re-elected to the senate, and died a few years after with a tumor, after being successfully operated upon, by Cleveland surgeons, once. He was a great sufferer.

Arthur Thrasher was raised in Troy, in this county, son of Doctor Thrasher, and inherited a sterling mind; read law with Hitchcock and Wilder, of Painesville; was admitted to the bar in 1848, and was very successful in business, gaining a high reputation, as was expected by all who knew him. Such a close student, with such untiring industry, with a perseverance unsurpassed, could not fail to bring him to the front. He made his client's case his own, and fought it out on that line. His close application to business hurried on that disease, which he was constitutionally predisposed to - consumption, which closed his earthly career. Greer, from Munson, judge of the court, in Michigan. [Since dead.]

Milton Canfield, a Chardon boy, son of Hilen Canfield, was a long time member of the bar; was a good, candid counsellor, a close student, diligent in business, gentlemanly in deportment, and enjoyed the confidence of court and community; was probate judge many years, and was elected judge of this subjudicial district, and died, before his first term expired, universally respected.

We now come to the living members of the bar doing business in Chardon. L. E. Durfee is now the oldest member of the bar. I. N. Hathaway is next. [For particular account of their history and professional business, see their biographies, and D. W. Canfield, Henry Canfield, and O. S. Farr's.]

It is not my purpose to enter into the details of those practicing at the bar living in this county - want of space precludes it. I have been obliged to clip from the early practitioners, especially the dead, some facts and anecdotes of interest.

Bar Roster

L. E. Durfee, James E. Stephenson, under the firm of Durfee, Stephenson &: Co.; I. N. Hathaway, G. W. Osborn, and W. H. Osborn, under the firm of Hathaway & Osborn; D. W. Canfield, O. S. Farr, and - Metcalf, of the firm of Farr & Metcalf ; H. N. Canfield, N. H. Bostwick, of Chardon ; [In Geauga and Lake history it is said "Bostwick died in June, 1865." Any one stepping into his office, in the Bank block, will find him alive and ready for business.] George H. Ford, Charles E. Ward, of Burton; N. C. Woodard, of Huntsburg; L. P. Barrows, of Troy; B. F. Abel, of Troy; [Since dead.] Charles Baldwin, E. D. Ford, E. Wood, R. H. Merrill.

Many young men of this county have studied law and located in other counties and States, notably, Gen. Halbert Paine represented the Milwaukee district in congress, and now practicing law in Washington, District of Columbia; W. O. Forrest, of Missouri; Homer and Lewis Goodwin, of Sandusky City; S. E. Blakeslee, of Williams county; A. C. White, of Jefferson, Ashtabula county; Lucius Goodwin, of Illinois; John Tyler, of Cleveland, and A. A. Benjamin, of Cleveland. Several are pursuing other occupations - J. O. Converse, editor; C. L. Taylor, farmer.

The Geauga bar has sustained the reputation of preparing their business and contesting their cases as critically and judiciously as in any of her sister counties.

"It is a record of one of the most important events in the history of the county, and one that will be read with interest when the consummation of this great work shall have been reached. It seems also but just, that inasmuch as the prime movers in this effort have been so extensively misrepresented and vilified throughout the county, a fair and impartial statement of their actual work should go down to posterity."

In the fall of 1871, a more decided demonstration was made by the proposition of Mrs. Lima H. Ober, that the women attend the October election. The idea met with considerable favor, and Mrs. Lima H. Ober, Lovina Green, Mrs. Hopkins Smith, Mrs. Ruth Munn, Mrs. P. M. Burnett, Mrs. S. L. O. Allen, Mrs. Mary Hodges, Mrs. Lydia Smith, and Mrs. Sarah A. Knox, presented themselves before the judges of election, and offered their ballots, which, of course, were refused.

A mass convention for the discussion of human equality before the law, was convened at the Union chapel, South Newbury, April 23, 1873, and continued two days. Mrs. M. S. Organ, M. D., of Yellow Springs, Ohio, delivered the principle addresses. The meetings were well attended, and much interest was manifested. The following month a memorial, signed by eighty-two persons, was forwarded to the constitutional convention, then in session at Columbus.

January 4, 1874, pursuant to call, a number of citizens of South Newbury and vicinity convened at Union chapel, for the purpose of organizing a woman suffrage political club. D. M. Allen called the meeting to order, and nominated Deacon Amplius Green for chairman. Henry -Redfield was made secretary. The following constitution was unanimously adopted :

Preamble

Whereas, We believe in the absolute social, civil and political equality of the entire human family, without regard to race, sex or nationality; and, whereas, the declaration of independence and the constitution of the U nited States recognize the fundamental truth that "all just governments derive their powers from the consent of the governed, " we, the undersigned, in order to promote the practical realization of these principles, do hereby organize ourselves into a woman suffrage P°ht»cal club, adopting the following ;

Constitution

Art. a. - The object of this organization shall be, by the circulation of newspapers and tracts, by lectures and discussions, and all legitimate instrumentalities, to aid in placing woman on a pecuniary, social, and political equality with man.

Art. 3. - The officers of this society shall consist of a president, two vice-presidents, a recording And corresponding secretary, a treasurer, and an executive committee of five.

Art. 4. - The annual meeting of the society shall be held on the second Monday of January of each year, and may be adjourned from time to time, as the members shall determine.

Art. 8. - This constitution may be amended at any regular meeting of the society by a majority of the members present, the proposed amendment having been submitted in writing at a previous meeting

Twenty-four persons signed the constitution, and the organization was completed by the election of the following board of officers: Ruth Munn, presi-

This is an organization which was one of the outgrowths of the temperance agitation of 1874 and 1875, commonly known as the "Crusade." The ladies of Geauga county were perhaps less active in carrying on the "Crusade" element of warfare against the liquor interest than those of some other localities, but they strove diligently, nevertheless, for the accomplishment of their object by other means, and early in 1875 a county organization was formed in addition to the merely local societies which existed in nearly all of the larger townships. The first officers elected were the following: president, Mrs. Julia Spencer; secretary, Mrs. O. S. Farr; treasurer, Mrs. C. S. Herrick; vice-presidents - Chardon, Mrs. D. W. Canfield; Chester, Mrs. H. W. Johnson; Newbury, Mrs. Ann Jenks; Troy, Mrs. Maria Welsh; Burton, Mrs. Seabury Ford; Auburn, Mrs. Ellen Crafts; Parkman, Mrs. Dr. Flint; Russell, Mrs. Dwight Tiffany; Thompson, Mrs. Truman Hardy; Hambden, Mrs. Melissa Potter; Claridon, Mrs. H. B. Fry ; Middlefield, Mrs. O. N. Glendenning; Munson, Mrs. Thomas Carroll; Bainbridge, Mrs. C. P. Haskins; Huntsburg, Mrs. Lucy Strong; Montville, Mrs. Dr. Baldwin.

Union Musical Association

At a meeting of the old Geauga county musical association held at Thompson, August 23, 1861, it was resolved to disband that organization and establish one which should comprise the singers of both Geauga and Lake counties. In accordance with this plan a meeting was held at Painesville, October 12, of the same year. But little was accomplished at this meeting, besides the adoption of some resolutions, and it was not until November 14th, when a meeting was held at Hambden, that the constitution was adopted and the following officers elected : President, John H. Merrill, Painesville; vice-president, C. L. Warren, Thomson; secretary, E. F. Adams, Hambden; executive committee, E. A. Merrill, Chester; J. C. Wells, Claridon; S. S. Wheeler, Madison.

The organization soon obtained a very large membership, held monthly meetings through the winters from 1861 to 1868, inclusive, and then the interest seemed to decline, and the association relapsed into an inactive condition. The flourishing condition of this musical organization, during the several years above named, enabled the association to employ the best conductors, and to take up for study a high class of compositions. The musical spirit in Geauga and Lake counties was quickened to a great degree, and a permanent effect for good was caused. An interesting episode in the history of the association was the breaking up of a meeting, held at Hambden, September 4, 1862, by the reception of the news that Cincinnati was in danger of invasiofi and destruction by the Confederates. The meeting had only been called to order a few minutes and three or four tunes sung, when a messenger dashed up to the door on horseback and conveyed to the assemblage the news of Ohio's peril. " Governor Brough," he said, "wanted every man who had a rifle, and knew how to use it, to go immediately to Cincinnati." Had a firebrand been thrown by the enemy's hand into the midst of the peaceful convention of people, who supposed themselves safe from war's alarms, the result would not have been more startling or stirring. The meeting was immediately and informally adjourned, and in a few minutes the men were hurrying in all directions to prepare for the memorable trip towards the Kentucky border, which the "minute-men" of Ohio made for the protection of their State.

The society*, having for its chief object the dissemination of knowledge concerning the culture of fruit, was organized February 24, 1869, at a meeting held in the Agricultural hall at Claridon, of which J. O. Converse was chairman, and J. C. Wells, secretary. An address was delivered by the late Colonel S. D. Harris, editor of the Ohio Fanner , after which the following officers were elected : president, J. V. Whitney, Montville; vice-president, Sylvester Clapp, Huntsburg; secretary, J. C. Wells, Claridon; corresponding secretary, Dr. J. Nichols; treasurer, E. V. Canfield.

auxiliary to the State society, was organized in 1851 or 1852, and is consequently, at the time of the compilation of this history, twenty-six years old. Another society [Judge Hitchcock was president] existed before the formation of the present organization. The first president of the society, as reorganized, was Judge Lester Taylor, of Claridon, and the secretary, W. C. Parsons, of Chardon. J. 0. Worrallo, of Chardon, has been treasurer arid depositor of the new and the old societies for thirty years. The society is in a prosperous condition, and has been for many years, not only doing the work in its own field, but frequently making liberal gifts to the parent society.

This association, having for its object the diffusion of knowledge valuable to the profession,' was organized in 1865. Its members were: L. A. Hamilton, Chardon; L. A. Baldwin, Montville; D. G. Proctor, Thompson; S. D. Steer, Huntsburg; Aaron McGraw, Newbury; D. Martin, Burton; E. S. Chappel, East Claridon ; J. R. Culvertson, Chardon; Orange Pomeroy, Munson; John Nichols, Chardon. The original officers were: L. A. Hamilton, president; J. R. Culvertson, vice-president; Orange Pomeroy, corresponding secretary. Dr. Nichols was elected president on the death of Dr. Hamilton, in 1867, and the other officers were continued in their respective places.

*as organized January 19, 1878, at Chardon, the members enrolled at the first meeting being twenty-six in number, as follows: Edward Truman, Chardon;

The officers elected upon organization were : C. W. Carroll, president; Edward Truman, vice-president; E. Metta Rogers, secretary; George R. Stevenson, treasurer; Abram Smith, H. C. Durfee, and Laura Bartlett, executive committee.

By F. M. Leonard, Esq

Situated in the northeast corner of Geauga county, an average of eight miles from its north line to the southern shore of Lake Erie, and its highest point is said to be seven hundred and one feet above the waters of Lake Erie, and one thousand two hundred and seventy-five feet above meantide water of the Atlantic. It is divided into forty-two lots, of some three hundred and eighty-five acres each - was surveyed by one Chester Elliot, of Hambden, in this county, in the year 1809. From authority at hand, its name was by and for one Matthew Thompson, of Suffield, Connecticut, and as the Reserve was mapped out into ranges and tracts, this was designated as lying in range six, tract ten, of the Connecticut Western Reserve, for Ohio was not known as a State till after settlement was commenced in this township. It was incorporated in 1801.

In its geological formation the conglomerate or pebbly sandstone forms the underlying of the township. The well-known ledge at this place furnishes a fine exposure of the rock, and gives a rugged and very romantic character to the place, and many visitors are attracted to the place, especially during the summer season. A hotel, with small accommodations, was started as early as 1868, by one William Gilbreath, and the failure to be remunerative arose from want of sufficient funds to prepare suitable accommodations for boarding on a large scale, and was abandoned in 1876, and yet there is an opening for a paying business, with the right man in the right place.

Read in his report to Professor Newberry, State geologist, says the dip of the ledge here is from four to five degrees to the southwest. Of course a great amount of sandstone is quarried here, and taken a great distance for bridge and building purposes. The Berea grit is shown some in the northwest part of the township, but crops out more abundantly at Footville, southeast from us, where it enters Ashtabula county.

The forests, of course, partake of and mark the geological features along the line, and probably more of the oak and chestnut abound in this than any other of the townships of the county, and the high lands seem, when cleared, to furnish good pasturage, and are good for all purposes of tillage. The clay grounds are not as stiff as those of the more |clay townships.