Williamsfield Township

Williamsfield Township

Williamsfield is geographically known on the county records as township No. 8, in the first range, and derives its name from General Joseph Williams, who was at an early date the owner of the lion's share of this township. His purchase, which was consummated on the 26th day of September, 1799, embraced three-fifths of the eastern part. This was not, however, the first land purchased of the Connecticut land company within the territory now called Williamsfield, Samuel Parkman having purchased an undivided interest in the western portion of the township on September Id, 1799. June 23, 1809, Mr. Parkman became the owner of lots 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 15, 16, 17, 23, 24, 25, and two hundred and forty and sixty-seven one hundredths acres in the east side of lot No. 22. John Allen, another joint owner of the township, bought on October 19, 1807, lot No. 11, being six hundred and fifty-two and forty-five one hundredths acres and forty-seven and fifty-five one hundredths acres in lot No. 30. September 12, 1810, Joseph W. Brown purchased nine hundred acres in lots 1, 2, aud 3. These were the original purchasers of the township in 1798, subsequent to the date of the draft by the Connecticut land company. It was first surveyed into sections one mile square, beginning at the northwest corner and running east and west.

The topography of Williamsfield is of a high rolling nature, quite well watered with small streams, which flow, some westwardly into the Pymatuning creek and others eastwardly, emptying into the Chenango creek, in Pennsylvania.

First Settlements

The first settlement was begun in this township in the year 1804, by Charles Case and his son, Zophar, originally from Simsbury, Hartford county, Connecticut, who, having purchased a portion of section 22, emigrated from the " land of steady habits" with their respective families, and began the first improvements in the then unbroken wilderness. Their arrival in the township was on August 24, of the year before given. They came via Pittsburgh, over the mountains, with oxteams. Soon they had erected log cabins on their lands and began life in earnest. In the autumn of 1806, John L. Cook, of Kinsman, Trumbull county, purchased a portion of lot No. 21, erected a log cabin thereon, and with his newly- wedded wife took up his residence in the same. Mr. Cook and wife while single emigrated from Preston, New London county, Connecticut, with Judge Kinsman, in 1804. David Randall, also of Kinsman, settled in the southwest part of the township at the same time of Cook's settlement. This was on section 11, the farm being now occupied by the Ford heirs. In 1807, Samuel Tuttle and Anson Jones, from Barkhamstead, Litchfield county, Connecticut, and Aaron Rice, from Bristol, Ontario county, New York, moved into the township, and settled on lands previously purchased ; this was also in the southwest portion of the township. During the year 1808 there were additions made to the population of Williamsfield as follows : Thomas Ford, Ezra Woodworth, Cotton Foss, Silas Babcock, Daniel Hutchinson, and possibly others. The locations of these families were on the State road, and as follows : Thomas Food on the Randall farm, where the first religious meetings were held; Ezra Woodworth on the farm still occupied by Cyril, the youngest son ; Silas Babcock on the farm where now resides F. Johnson. Mr. Babcock was a blacksmith, and built the first smithy in the township. In the year 1809, Joshua Giddings settled on the farm now occupied by James Reed. He was the father of the Hon. Joshua R. Giddings. The latter read law with Elisha Whittlesey, of Canfield, Mahoning county, and first began practice in this township in 1819. His office stood near the present residence of Mr. Reed; it was of logs split and hewn on the inside. In 1822, Mr. Giddings removed to Jefferson. Justus Peck removed from New Berlin, Chenango county, New York, August, 1824, and settled with his family on fifty acres of land in section 7, on the farm now owned by M. Colby. Mr. Peck was formerly from Colebrook, Connecticut. One of his children is the present efficient county commissioner, E. O. Peck, whose residence is now in Richmond township. William Giddings, a nephew of Joshua R., resides on section 5. He has rendered material aid in the preparation of this histofy, and to him and others we acknowledge our obligations. Jonathan Tuttle settled in this township in 1810 ; built a log house in the summer and fall of that year, which he first occupied in January, 1811 ; was elected a justice of the peace in 1819 ; served in that capacity twentyone years ; was county commissioner four terms, and a member of the State legislature during the winter of 1843-44. The first settler east of the old Salt road was Levi Smith, who emigrated from Sandisfield, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, with his wife and one child, in 1816, locating on section 13. Mr. Smith was a zealous Methodist, not only donating the land upon which the Methodist church is located, but also contributing liberally towards the erection of the building. The original farm is now occupied by Newton Smith. The youngest son is E. J. Smith, at present township clerk, justice of the peace, and notary public.

Other Early Events

was laid out in 1804, by Betnis and David Niles. It began on the lakeshore, at the mouth of Conneaut creek, continuing south to the old County road, and on through the first range to Kinsman's mill. The course from Kinsman's store was northwardly along the ridge, passing the residence of Marvin Leonard, of Williamsfield. Its location was between the present State and Centre roads of the first range. At this time there was a settlement at Kelloggsville, and midway between this point and Kinsman (Richmond Centre) a temporary board cabin was erected, where men and teams might find shelter for the night. Salt was one of the pressing wants of the early settlers, and to obtain it was one of the principal motives for the construction of this road ; hence the name. Salt was manufactured in Onondaga, New York, transported in vessels on Lake Ontario to Lewistown, below the Falls of Niagara, from there it was carted to Buffalo, and thence in canoes and open boats to Conneaut. It reached the southern settlements by means of ox-teams, where its price was twenty dollars per barrel. The above is an extract from the " Historical Collections of the Mahoning Valley."

The first school house was erected in the spring of 1808, on the Ford farm. The summer following Mrs. Babcock taught the first school in the township. At the time she had a child a few months old, which was, by the help of the " big boys," taken to school, and a sap-trough extemporized for a cradle. At this school the total attendance was some fifteen scholars.

In 1807 the Revs. Joseph Badger and Jonathan Leslie made a missionary tour through the first range, and the first sermon delivered in Williamsfield was at this time, by the Rev. Leslie, at the log house of Thomas Ford, - the congregation numbering some twelve souls all told. From this time religious services were held in the settlement at intervals until the organization of a church in 1816. This was a Presbyterian society, composed of members from both Williamsfield and Wayne, the church edifice being located in the latter township, about one-half mile from the east line, and on the east and west State road. The date when this church was constituted was February 21, 1816, - Revs. Giles H. Cowles and Jonathan Leslie being present. The first pastor was Ephraim T. Woodruff, who was installed August 19, 1819, and continued in that capacity until the year 1834. There has also been a Methodist church organization for many years, first holding services at the dwellings of the settlers, then in school-houses, and finally, in 1820, they erected a log meeting-house, near where Ticknor's house now stands. This was the first church erected in Williamsfield. The Methodist Episcopal church at the Centre was formed April 7, 1825, and consisted of seventeen members, - Thomas Carr and Joseph Davis circuit riders. The church edifice was erected in 1834, and the first sermon delivered therein was by Justice Woodworth. The preacher stood on a work-bench, while the congregation were seated on slab seats. The Congregational church at West Williamsfield was erected in 1848. The United Brethren have a church some one and a half miles south of the Centre, built in 1875.

The first saw-mill was built in 1814, on lot No. 21, by Messrs. Swan & Herrick. Its location was near the Stanhope residence. The present saw mill, owned by Daniel 31. Smith, stands on the site formerly occupied by the saw- and clothdressing mill of Messrs. Smith & LeflBngwell. The first steam saw-mill was built by Smith Bros. & LeflBngwell in about 1850, on section 13. There are now three steam saw-mills in the township. The first wheat was doubtless sown by Samuel Tuttle, in 1807, and the first orchard was planted by the same gentleman, in 1808. Aaron Rice also planted an orchard about the same time.

The first store in the township was opened in 1822, by H. II. Vernon, at West Williamsfield. In 1848, A. B. Leonard established a store at the Centre. The present stores at this point are C. B. Leonard (successor to A. B. Leonard) aud

The first persons who contracted a marriage alliance in this township were Samuel Tuttle and Miss Lois Leonard ; this was in the year 1S12. As there was at that time no person in Williamsfield who had authority to solemnize marriages, this loving couple went to Kinsman, and were there united by 'Squire Sutliff, the father of the present Judge Sutliff, of Warren, Trumbull county.

The first physician who located in the township was Anson Hotchkiss, in the year 1815. His residence was on the State road. It is said his professional ability was above the average. Dr. Hotchkiss remained in the township until 1821, when he removed to Geneva, this county. The present physician is Mr. Tuckerman, West Williamsfield.

The first white male child born in the township was a son of Captain Charles Case and wife, in the early part of the year 1806, and the first female child was in October, same year, daughter of John L. and Emma Cook. This child afterwards became the wife of Samuel Dodge. The first hotel was located in West Williamsfield, and was first thrown open for the accommodation of the traveling public in 1820, with J. W. Giddings as host. The second hotel was erected at this same point in 1830, by H. H. Vernon. The present hotel is kept by J. H. Kincaid, at West Williamsfield, and the one at the Centre by C. 0. French.

The first death is supposed to have been that of a child of Anson Jones, in 1809, and the first adult to die was Johu Inman, in 1813. His body was interred in the private burying-ground of the Inmans, which was situated on the bank of the Pymatuning creek, in Wayne. In the absence of a minister, the religious services were conducted by Deacon Ezra Leonard, Aaron Rice reading the sermon, during which a bier was constructed of round poles by Marvin Leonard and the Hon. J. R. Giddings, the bearers afterwards carrying the body on this rude bier some three miles to the place of interment. The first cemetery in the township was located in 1815 ; this was the present one at West Williamsfield.

Organization

In 1811 the townships of Williamsfield, Andover, Cherry Valley, Wayne, Colebrook, and New Lyme were, by statute, transferred from Trumbull to Ashtabula County, and organized under the name of Wayne township, and an election held for township officers at the house of Nathan Fobes. Nathaniel Coleman and Samuel Tuttle were elected justices of the peace at this time. Williamsfield was detached and organized as a separate township in 1826, and an election held for township officers on the 3d day of April of that year, the result of which is shown by the following extract from the township records : Samuel Tuttle, Levi Smith, and Charles Brooks were judges, and Henry H. Vernon and William Leffingwell clerks. The following officers were elected : Gilbert Palmer, Samuel Tuttle, and Samuel Morse, trustees; Jonathan Tuttle, clerk; Charles Brooks, treasurer ; Levi Smith and Levi Leonard, overseers of the poor ; Reuben Phelps and William Jones, fence-viewers ; Aranda P. Giddings and William Leffingwell, constables; and Ansel Morse, Bartlet Leonard, Valentine Tourgee, Ebenezer Woodworth, Jonathan Tuttle, and William North, supervisors of highways. The first justice of the peace was the before-named Jonathan Tuttle, who was elected in 1819. He was succeeded by Heman Ticknor. A second justice was ordered, probably in 1826, and Samuel Morse was the gentleman first elected. The present incumbents are H. W. Simonds and E. J. Smith.

Postal Matters

The first post-office established in the township was at West Williamsfield, in 1812. Elias Morse was the first postmaster. M. H. Ticknor is the present postmaster. The second post-office was located at Williamsfield Centre, in 1850, and A. B. Leonard was its first postmaster. C. B. Leonard is the present incumbent, commissioned January 5, 1871. Upon the establishment of mail service on the Franklin division of the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern railway, which runs through the eastern portion of the township, another post-office was established at Simon Station ; this was mainly through the efforts of William Giddings. The first and present postmaster is Henry W. Simonds, commissioned October 10, 1872. The first mails were carried from Warren (the first year on foot) to Ashtabula, through the fourth range, returning to Warren via the first range, arriving at West Williamsfield on Friday of each week.

The first cheese-factory established was by George W. Fetterman, on lot No. 16, near the present residence of Jasper Fetterman. This was on the 15th of May, 1871. We are unable to obtain any statistics in connection with either this factory or the one established in 1873, by William McMichael, which was the second in the township. We learn, however, that both factories are doing a remunerative business.

The patriotism of the citizens of Williamsfield ranks fully equal with those of her sister townships. The following exhibit of the present condition shows

William Giddings

Elisha Giddings was born at Hartland, Connecticut, 1785, and was married to Philathclla Fish, September 11, 1803, who was born at Townsend, Vermont. He married from Canandaigua, New York, in 1805, and settled in Green, Trumbull county, now Wayne, Ashtabula County. They had eleven children, - nine sons and two daughters.

William Giddings, who was the fourth son, was born in Wayne, January 11, 1810. In April, 1813, his parents gave him to Jonathan Tuttle, of Williamsfield, his mother carrying him through the woods on horseback. Mr. Tuttle adopted him, and he lived with him until he was of age. His schooling consisted of about three months, - summer and winter, - until he was eight years old. After that time until of age it was limited to about two months each winter. With this meagre amount of schooling he obtained a fair education, and the notes relating to his life furnished the writer are in a good hand, although written when he was almost seventy.

When he arrived at his majority, his worldly wealth might be represented with 000. He resolved to earn a farm of one hundred acres, and then marry. He began work with this intention. His wages varied from thirty-three to fifty-six cents a day, yet when he was twenty-seven years old he had bought his hundred acres in Williamsfield, for which he paid seven hundred dollars.

He and his wife have always been members of the Congregational church, and interested in Sunday-school matters. They had four children, two of whom died in infancy. Two sons are now living : F. R. Giddings, born February 5, 1S40 ; married May 11, 1869, to Senna Banning, of Kinsman. They now live in Cleveland. W. Danvin Giddings, born June 29, 1850; is unmarried. He is employed in United States mail service, on the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern railway.

Mr. William Giddings is the only Giddings in Williamsfield, where that family were once so numerous. He has always been an anti-slavery man and a straight out-and-out Republican, and in his younger days was almost always a member of the county conventions. He has not missed voting at a State election but once since 1831. In 1836 he was in Genesee county, New York, and voted for Harrison.

Rev. Elias Morse

The birthplace of Rev. Elias Morse was Worthington, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, April 6, 1776. He came to this Western Reserve on horseback, in 1809, to select land for his future home, in company with Ebenezer Webber.

He selected three hundred acres in section 21, where he lived until his death. The farm is now owned by his heirs. He was married to Miss Abiah Phelps, of Suffield, Hartford county, Connecticut, May 4, 1803, by Rev. Mr. Waldo. They were the parents of three sons and two daughters, two of whom are now living, - B. F. Morse resides in Kentucky, and Maria Louisa occupies the old homestead. He was the founder of Methodism in this part of the Reserve, being converted at a Methodist camp-meeting previous to bis coming to Ohio. After he had made the selection of his land he said to his friend, " Let us thank God for all his mercies and blessings in protecting us through our long journey to this wilderness." He knelt down there in the forest and poured out his thoughts in prayer to the Almighty for his care over himself and friend. He earnestly prayed that he might be of some use in this new country, that he might do some good in the name of his Master. He formed a number of classes or chapels in the west part of Crawford county, Pennsylvania, and one or two in Trumbull county, and one in Williamsfield. Those classes were formed before there was any ecclesiastical body established belonging to the Methodists in this part of the county. As soon as he arrived here with his family in 1811, he commenced preaching in his own or some neighbor's house or barn, as the case might be. About this time a mail-route was established on the State road, and J. W. Brown was appointed postmaster, but resigned in a few months, and Elias Morse was appointed instead, his commission bearing date 1812, and served as postmaster about thirty years. He died December 26, 1856, aged eighty years. His wife died December 29, 1872, aged ninety-seven years.