Windsor Township (part 1 of 3)

Introductory

Two pictures in American history are significant. They are the pictures of two vessels. The one is the Mayflower, the other the Griffin. They represent the nationalities of two powers that contended long and fiercely for the ascendancy in the right to American soil. In the one picture is presented a vessel nearing the American coast. On board is a small band of refugees who had fled from oppression in the Old World to find liberty in the New. The whole number of them is one hundred and two, sixty of whom are women and children. They are all earnest, brave, and prayerful. They are gathered in a group with upturned faces, all engaged in earnest devotion, the skylight streaming down upon them. One of them holds a piece of parchment bearing the signature of every man on board. It contains the compact which gave birth to popular constitutional liberty. The features of the picture are distinct. A sense of the grandeur of their enterprise, a sublime faith in its success, a trust in the Divine Protector and Guide, resolute determination, - all these are strikingly depicted in the countenances of the group. The vessel is the Mayflower ; the group the Pilgrim Fathers. In religion they are Protestants ; in nationality they are English.

In the other picture may be seen a vessel upon the placid waters of our own Lake Erie. It had just been launched on the Niagara river, almost within sound of the mighty cataract. It was built after the fashion of its time. Its stern rose high above the deck. The curved and carved sides formed a singularly antique appearance. On its prow was the form of a griffin. Its portentous form and hideous face constituted the figure-head of this strange vessel. Amidships on the castle was perched the gilt figure of a massive eagle. The vessel is a French craft of forty-five tons' burden. On the deck is gathered a group of thirty-four men. They are clothed in various costumes. Their leader is clad in a cavalier's dress. By his side are three monks, - their long black robes and shaven crowns contrasting strangely with the military costume of their leader. Their cloaks are embellished with the various symbols of their order. Around them are gathered the swarthy faces of their fellow-voyagers. They are chanting the Te Deum. The ship is the Griffin, and the men are the explorers of the great west. The commander is Robert Cavelier de la Salle. His companions are Tonty, his lieutenant, an Italian veteran, Father Louis Hennepin, Zenobe Membre, and Gabriel Ribourde, three Fleming friars, and about thirty followers. Theirs is the first vessel that ever plowed the virgin waters of Lake Erie. The date is 1679. The nationality is French. The members of the group are all Roman Catholics. Their object is the exploration, the conquest through right of discovery, and the ultimate colonization of the great west.

Had the vast schemes of these heroic explorers been successful, the entire valley of the Mississippi would have been peopled to-day by the descendants of the French instead of by those of the English. The language would have been Gaelic instead of Anglo-Saxon ; the dominant religion of the people would have been Roman Catholic instead of Protestant.

The contrast between the two vessels is striking, not alone in their appearance and in the character and purpose of those on board, but in the fate of each vessel and of the members of each group. The picture of the Griffin is that of a vessel sailing onward, carrying a company of adventurers to far-distant regions ; that of the Mayflower, of a vessel anchoring with a view to landing its inmates as a colony for settlement. On board the one vessel the family was present ; on board the other the family was lacking. Men, women, and children in the one ; men alone in the other. The adventurers of the Griffin, after some years spent of brilliant exploration, became scattered. Some perished in the wilderness from cold and hunger ; others were captured, and some of them murdered by savages ; the chieftain himself was slain by his own companions ; the vessel was wrecked, and disaster came to all. The families on board the Mayflower became the fathers and mothers of a race that have helped to people a continent. All that was done by the one company was transient ; all that was accomplished by the other was enduring.

The descendants of those on board the Mayflower are they, in part, the history of whose fortunes this volume is to record. From such heroes of the human race sprang the men who became the fathers of New Connecticut. The men who penetrated this region nearly a hundred years ago were no discredit to their ancestors of Plymouth Rock. They brought with them many of the sterling traits of character that distinguished so signally their illustrious forefathers. They possessed the same reverence for truth, the same love of liberty, the same hatred of oppression and wrong.

To follow the fortunes of such a people, to record their heroic deeds, their sufferings and privations, to trace their progress through many hardships along the difficult path leading to more prosperous days, is a pleasing task for the historian.

The first generation that came hither has passed away ; the second is rapidly following. It is time that history should make its record ; time that it should gather up and place in enduring form a memorial of the lives of these hardy pioneers ; to signalize their achievements in biographies of their representative men.

Eighty years have wrought a wondrous change. Then a dense wilderness inhabited by ferocious beasts and savage men ; now a prosperous, populous community where civilization has reached its highest form. Appeared first the settlers' cabins scattered here and there, hidden by the thick foliage of a dense forest, constituting rude but cheerful woodland homes ; blazed lines for roads ; a few acres adjacent to the dwellings for farms ; log houses for schools, and " God's first temples" for churches. As the years advanced farms were opened ; highways were cut through the forests ; log cabins gave place to neat frame houses ; streams were bridged ; the nuclei of towns were formed ; neat frame school-houses and churches appeared. Then came the stage-coach with its weekly, then its tri-weekly, and at last its daily mail, until finally it too disappeared to give place to the track of steel and the iron horse. Farms multiplied ; hamlets grew to be villages ; villages to be towns ; and towns to be cities.

Where once stood the lonely cabin now stands a thriving, populous city, with its busy industries, its palatial residences, and beautiful churches. Instead of the rude log dwelling, with its small patch of cleared ground, standing in utter loneliness in the midst of a dense woodland, may now be seen the beautiful dairyfarm, with its farm-house almost deserving the name of mansion; its commodious barn, with all the conveniences skill and money may provide ; its broad fields of luxuriant pasturage ; its quiet woodlands, where at eventide may be heard the lowing of many gentle kiue. Where stood the log school-house, with its halfdozen pupils, stand now the normal university and the academy of learning.

The fortunes of a community are not under the guidance of a blind destiny. Its affairs are largely controlled and directed by a favoring Providence. It will be the object of the present work to follow the steps which the county has taken through different stages of its progress in order to have reached its present advanced and happy position.

WINDSOR is the extreme southwestern township of the count}-, and is described as No. 8 in range 5. Its lands became the property of Simeon Griswold and William Eldridge in 1798, when the partition of the soil of the Reserve east of the Cuyahoga was made by lot among the members of the Connecticut land company. These original owners of M indsor were residents of Connecticut, and the latter, on the 21st of January, 1801, sold to the former the greater portion of his share, and the name of Griswold was thus connected in a material way with the destinies of this town, and, indeed, is a prominent one in every stage of its history. It is indebted for its name to the fact that the Griswolds were residents of Windsor, Connecticut. It is one of the best-watered districts in the county. Grand river. Phelps creek, Indian and Crawford creeks, course through different portions of the township, and, with other smaller streams, form a network whose branches penetrate nearly every part of the town, and thus establish an excellent system of drainage. The soil is thus rendered fertile, and it is no exaggeration to say that some of the finest farms in the county may be found within the limits of Windsor, and that the improvements generally are of an excellent character, and betoken thrift on the part of its people.

Early Settlers

The settlement of this township began at an early date, and but few districts in the county can trace their history back to a remoter period. Lying at so great a distance, comparatively, from the lake and from the Pennsylvania line, being more remote than any other township from the point where the surveying-party located to begin its labors on the 4th of July. 1796, and to which point the stream of immigration in its march westward would naturally tend, it seems strange at first thought that this inland district should have been among the very first in the county to feel the touch of the hand of civilization. Indeed, it is strange that in less than three years after the arrival of the surveyors the settlement of this remote township began, while other townships less remote date the time of their first settlement many years later. This anomaly is explained by the fact that the soil of Windsor fell into the hands of those who, as original owners, became immediately interested in its improvement. George Phelps and Solomon Griswold were the pioneers of Windsor. The latter was the brother and the former the brother-in-law of Simeon Griswold, the original proprietor of Windsor. The former arrived in June, 1799 ; the latter in March, 1800. Both had been residents of Connecticut. There were two routes of travel along which the stream of emigration flowed westward, - one the northern route, the other the southern. The former, extending westward from Albany up the Mohawk and along the southern shore of the lakes, or upon the lakes themselves, reached the Reserve at its northeast corner; the other, extending in a southwesterly direction from Albany across the Alleghenies to Pittsburgh, reached the Reserve along its southern border. Mr. Phelps, who came first, took the southern route ; Mr. Griswold. the northern. Phelps creek owes its name to Windsor's earliest pioneer. Both these gentlemen, in their contest with the difficulties, hardships, and dangers iucident to pioneer life, evinced qualities of the most sterling character. Mr. Griswold spent a long, useful, and prominent life as a resident of Windsor. Mr. Phelps remained but about four years, being elected clerk of the court of common pleas for Trumbull county in the fall of 1802, and removed to Warren, the county-seat. Mr. Phelps, while he lived in Windsor, resided in the southeastern part of the township, on the south bank of the creek that bears his name, settling upon lot 2 of the fourth range of lots in Windsor. Here he erected his log cabin in 1799, the first house built in the township, and occupied it with his wife and two small children. Mr. Griswold erected his cabin in 1800, on lot 8, in the third range of lots, a part of the northeastern quarter of the township. Upon his entrance into the township his family consisted of himself, wife, and six daughters, the eldest seventeen and the youngest four years of age. Mr. Griswold's cabin was long the resort of new-comers, and it is related of him that he was the most kind and hospitable of hosts, and did much to alleviate the sufferings and hardships of the early settlers. It will be observed that while Mr. Phelps home was in the extreme southeast, that of Mr. Griswold was in the extreme northeast. Immigrants coming by the southern route into Windsor would naturally find their way first to the house of Mr. Phelps, while those arriving by the northern route would seek shelter at the friendly fireside of Judsre

Griswold. He was associate judge of the first county court organized in Ashtabula County, having previously served in the same capacity under the Territorial government, and administered the duties of his office with ability and distinction.

In 1804, Jonathan Higley became a resident of Windsor, taking up his abode on lot 7 of the fifth range of lots, not far from Judge Griswold's home. The Higley family is at present quite well represented, and the members thereof are deserving of great praise for the part they have contributed towards the permanent improvement of the township.

In November, 1804, Joseph Alderman and sons, Joseph Jr. and Alexander, having purchased of Simeon Griswold lots 6, in sixth range, 6 and 7 in eleventh range, 5 and 6 in eighth range, 5 and 6 in ninth range, and forty-seven acres in east end of lot 5 in sixth range, came to Windsor, and began improvements. In 1805, S. D. Sackett purchased of Solomon Griswold lot 8 in fifth range of lots, being one hundred and sixty acres, and began to improve the same, where he resided for many years, living to a ripe old age. This same year marks the arrival of Oliver Loomis, who came from old Windsor, Connecticut, of Elijah Hill and Elijah Hill, Jr., and John White. The next year Michael Tomlinson aud John Gladden, Benjamin Cook and Benjamin Cook, Jr., cast their lot among the pioneers of Windsor. Ebenezer Lampson, who arrived in 1810, in his endeavor to locate in Windsor was resisted by an obstruction, in the removal of which he, however, found abundant assistance. He had got as far on his way as Harperstown in Harpersfield, where he found his progress impeded by the results of a violent storm, which had uprooted numberless trees in the forest, and strewn them across the road leading towards Windsor. The news was brought to the settlers of Windsor that a family desiring to come into their township was obliged to remain at Harperstown by reason of the impassable condition of the road. Immediately they turned out, old men and young men, and, with axes and oxen, soon put the road in a condition to be traveled.

In 1805, Hezekiah Skinner located in the township. In 1807, Caleb Holcomb arrived. 1811 is the year that marks the arrival of Russell Loomis and Captain Giles Loomis. The largest accession to the settlement happened in the years 1812 and 1813, when thirteen families took up their abode in Windsor, all from Tolland, Tolland county, Connecticut. The names of the heads of these families are as follows : John Norris and Cornelius Norris, Elijah and Gaal Grover, Samuel and Erastus Rawdon, Stephen and West Winslow, Jonathan Clapp, Daniel Morgan, Moses Barnard, Gideon Morgan, and Francis Barnard. It will be seen that the pioneers of this township were almost exclusively from the State of Connecticut. During the first fourteen years thirty-two families had arrived, of whom at least thirty emigrated from that State. Windsor was now in a fair way to make rapid advancement. Nothing hindered its growth but the war which had broken out with Great Britain during the first year of this last important addition to the numbers of the little colony. This hindered somewhat the work of improvement, but everything else favored. The settlers were all hardy men, eager to carve out for themselves and their children homes in the midst of the wilderness. There were but few drones, if any, and the rapid prosperity of the little settlement was now assured. The township already wore a different appearance from that which characterized it a dozen years before. The next dozen years were destined, however, to work still greater changes. These thirty or more families had not left behind them their pleasant Connecticut homes, braving the perils and hardships of the wilderness which were certain to be encountered, for the aimless purpose of folding their arms and refusing to strike a blow in the cause which their present condition, their future weal, their ambition, and their affection, all , bade them heroically undertake and vigorously prosecute. That the blows were manfully given, he who looks out upon the peaceful, beautiful homes that now meet the eye everywhere throughout the length and breadth of the township, in whatsoever direction he turns, can have no doubt.

Organization

The township was organized in the year 1811. The meeting for organization assembled in the month of July, on the secoud Saturday thereof, at the house of Solomon Griswold, and Jonathan Higley, Sr., was called to the chair. The fol- lowing officers were chosen : Ebenezer K. Lampson, township clerk ; Samuel Higley, Michael Tomlinson, Timothy Alderman, trustees; Samuel Higley, Jonathan Higley, appraisers; Elijah Hill, Jr., treasurer; Oliver Loomis, Garry Sackett, and Thompson Higley, supervisors ; Garry Sackett and Andrew Loomis, overseers of poor; S. D. Sackett, John Gladden, fence-viewers.

Jonathan Higley was at the time justice of the peace, and was succeeded by Elijah Hill, and he by Jonathan Clapp, Mr. Higley being called upon by his constituents to represent them in the State legislature. Lathrop Rawdon, son of Erastus Rawdon, served as justice of the peace for a period of seven years, from February, 1838, to February, 1845, in which year he was commissioned as associate judge by Governor Bartley.

The first marriage in the township was solemnized in 1806, the contracting parties being Jonathan Higley, Jr., and Miss Keziah Griswold. The name of the officiating officer is unknown.

The first death was that of Eli Porter, who died at the house of Solomon Griswold, December 27, 1801. Mr. Porter was a temporary resident of Austinburg, and had undertaken a journey to Mesopotamia, Trumbull county, to place himself under the immediate care of a physician at this place, but upon arriving as far as the house of Judge Griswold could go no farther, and expired before his wife and friends could reach him. He was buried on Mr. Griswold's farm, the burial service prescribed by the Episcopal church being read at his grave. His wife and child in Austinburg, who were sent for, came with a party of eleven persons in a boat up Grand river to attend the funeral.

The first frame house in Windsor was erected in the year 1805, by Jonathan Higley, in the northeast corner of lot 8, range 7. The house, since rebuilt and added to, is now owned and occupied by H. Higley. The first brick house was erected by Nathaniel Cook, on lot 5, range 4, in 1822 ; since rebuilt, and now occupied by Elmer Cook.

First Birth

Eliza Griswold Phelps was the first white child born on the soil of Windsor, and there were some noteworthy incidents in her life. A residence of six months in the township of her nativity was followed by her removal with her father's family to Warren. Here, when she was two or three years old, while playing on the banks of the Mahoning, she fell into the river, and was rescued from drowning by a pet bear who often accompanied her in her playful sports, and on this occasion was her playfellow. She next had the misfortune, when yet of tender years, to lose her mother, then her father. She was then taken to Kingsbury, Connecticut, and became the adopted daughter of one Colonel Humphrey, who gave her a good education. Arrived at maturity, she became preceptress in a female seminary in Connecticut, serving ably in this capacity for fourteen years. In 1839 she became the wife of George March, and in the following spring removed with him to the land of her birth. Selecting a choice spot on lands left by her father, lying one-half mile south of the Episcopal church, on the banks of Phelps creek, she and her husband erected a fine residence thereon, and just as she was preparing to occupy it she was called to obey a summons to which there can always be but the one answer. Her demise occurred on the 15th day of December, 1840.

The first wheat grown in the township was sown on Mr. Phelps' land in the fall of 1799. After wheat was grown it was with extreme difficulty that it was converted into flour, and thus prepared for use. Prior to the erection of Humphreys' mill in Austinburg, and Gregory's mill in Harperstown, the settlers were obliged to depend mainly upon their own resources for the grinding of their grain. Long journeys were sometimes taken to far-distant mills, but these were extremely tedious, and attended with great and many dangers. The settlers' ingenuity was called into requisition, and the result was that temporary mills, rude in design and in structure, were formed and made to subserve their wants, which they did in an excellent manner. One of them was the invention of Charles Jewel, and proved to be of great benefit to the Windsor pioneers, to whom it became an object of almost sacred affection. It consisted of two buhr-stones of about two feet in diameter, dressed and prepared as similar stones in flouring-mills. One was placed upon a bench, or upon the floor, and was stationary, while the other, which was called the "runner," was placed above it, and was movable. Near the outer edge of the upper stone was a small hole, into which was inserted a gudgeon connecting with a hand-staff, or pole, that extended through an opening in the upper floor above the stones. The operator would grasp the pole near the stone with his right hand, and thus set the mill in motion, while with the other hand he would put in the grain to be ground. This mill became the property of the Messrs. Higley, but at the request of Joel Blakeslee, Esq., was carried to the court-house in Jefferson, on the 16th day of August, 1850, to be deposited as a relic of " ye olden time" in the cabinet of the Historical and Philosophical Society of Ashtabula County. That night the court-house was burned, and the little mill vanished from mortal sight.

Early Roads

The first traveled route into Windsor was the marked road made by Mr. Phelps in 1799, upon his entrance into the township. This extended across the south line of Windsor from Mesopotamia to the spot where Mr. Phelps erected his cabin. The second marked road traveled by white men was that made by Mr. Griswold in 1800, from Harperstown south through Trumbull and Hartsgrove, which he opened upon his first entrance into the township. He was accompanied from Harperstown by William and John Harper, who helped him to mark this route to the place where he decided to locate, being in the northeast corner of Windsor. This road, which was called by some the Salt road, became the principal thoroughfare over which immigrants traveled in coming into the township, and in passing into Trumbull and Portage counties. Over this route were transported provisions obtained from the east, and intended for use by the Windsor inhabitants. Great quantities of salt were transported over this road, whence arose the name by which it was known, - " Salt road." June, 1812, the road leading from Windsor east through Orwell, Colebrook, Wayne, and Williamsfield to the Pennsylvania line was established. In March, 1815, that leading from the highway, near the residence of Hezekiah Skinner, at the southeast corner of lot No. 7, in the seventh range of lots, westwardly to the west line of the township, was laid out; also at the same date the road beginning " near the intersection of the Post road, and the eastern and western centre lines of lots in said Windsor, and leading westward on or near said line, crossing the northern and southern public road leading by Daniel Morgan's dwelling; thence still westward on or near said line to the public road leading from Windsor to Huntsburg, Middlefield, and Burton." This is the description given on record. The following roads were subsequently established: in March, 1817, the road from Jonathan Higley's dwelling to the west line of the township. June, 1819, the road from the north end of lot line between lots Nos. 6 and 7 and No. 6 in sixth range of lots to west end of bridge in the centre line of the township. December, 1820, from Loomis' mill to the west bank of Grand river. December, 1822, from centre of highway, south of B. Cook's residence, where the lot line between Nos. 5 and 6 crosses the same ; thence eastwardly, southeastwardly, and northeastwardly to the line of lots ; thence along said line to the Trumbull and Ashtabula turnpike. June, 1823. From the south line of the township at the termination of the west, north, and south road in Mesopotamia; thence northeastwardly to the line between the seventh and eighth ranges of lots ; then on said line northwestwardly to a southwest road ; thence on several courses to Oliver Loomis' land. March, 1824. From the State road in Windsor, running on the line between the ninth and tenth ranges to the east line of said township ; also, same date, from the bridge across Phelps creek, near Olin Loomis' mill ; thence running northwestwardly to the line between lots Nos. 5 and 6, and to continue west on said line to the west line of said township, to intersect a contemplated road running east and west through the township of Huntsburg, in Geauga county. December, 1824. From a road running from Jonathan Higley's to the northwest corner of Windsor, between lots No. 8 in the sixth and seventh ranges in said Windsor, and running south on said line near Alderman's mill, and from thence to intersect the east and west road in said township. A mail-route running from the lake south through Windsor was established in 1804. Judge Griswold received the appointment of postmaster, and served with satisfaction to the settlers for a period of twenty-eight years. In 1832 he was succeeded by Moses Barnard, who again was succeeded by William Barnard, in 1847. The first mail-carrier is thought to have been one McElvaine, who performed his journey over a route of more than a hundred and fifty miles on foot. The first mail-route is said to have been from Warren northwestwardly to Mesopotamia through Windsor to the dwelling of Judge Griswold; thence through Hartsgrove and Morgan to Austinburg; thence westwardly through Harpersfield to Euclid, near the present site of Cleveland ; thence southeastwardly in a circuitous direction to Deerfield, in the southeastern corner of Portage county; thence northeastwardly to Warren, the starting-point. It is stated that this footman would make this long and perilous journey in a week's time. The footman, however, was succeeded by Ezra Gregory, of Harpersfield, who placed his son, with the mail-bag, on the back of a powerful horse, and thus furnished the dwellers in the wilderness with these advanced mail facilities.

As soon as the people of Windsor began to feel the need of school facilities those facilities were provided. The first school was taught in Windsor in the winter of 1804-5, the teacher being Miss Ivezia Griswold, afterwards the wife of Jonathan Higley, Esq. ; the school-building being the blacksmith-shop of S. D. Sacket. The number of pupils was nine. The next year the inhabitants built a log school-house one-half mile south of Windsor Corners, Mr. Harvey Cook being the first teacher, in the winter of 1805-6. There were ten or twelve scholars in attendance. Other school buildings were soon erected, and now there are nine commodious and well-built school-houses in the township, whose valuation is four thousand dollars, with a total enrollment of two hundred and sixty-one scholars.

Early did the pioneers of Windsor who had emigrated from the land of steady habits begin to show proper regard for religion. The first sermon was preached at the house of Solomon Griswold, as early as the year 1802, by that faithful, pious missionary, Rev. Joseph Badger. We copy from Mr. Badger's journal the mention which he makes of this visit to Mr. Griswold's home in the forest:

"In the month of June (1802) I visited Mesopotamia and Windsor. Found seven families in the former and three in the latter. ... In Windsor the late Judge Griswold had commenced breaking the forest. Their garden, back of a small cabin covered with bark, was cultivated by the two daughters, and was well stored with culinary roots, plants, and vines. But to get bread was a herculean task. No flour could be had short of fifty or sixty miles, excepting in the spring, when keel-boats, with great exertion, were worked up the Mahoning to Warren, with a few barrels of flour ; but packing on horseback was the only mode of conveyance from Warren, the rider having frequently to sleep in the woods.''

The next minister who preached to the settlers of this township was Rev. G. H. Cowles, assisted by a Mr. Leslie. Whenever a minister arrived the glad news was carried to the scattered log cabins, and at tbe time appointed all would be in attendance. In those primitive times it was considered a matter of the highest pleasure to be able to attend divine worship, and, instead of regarding it as an irksome duty, it was looked upon as a privilege affording the greatest enjoyment and delight. It is stated that upon one occasion Judge Griswold's daughters, Misses Ursula and Fanny, walked a distance of eight miles, one fine Sabbath morning, through the dense forest, with no other road than a blazed line, performing this feat in order to listen to the preaching of Rev. Joseph Badger in Mesopotamia. They did not disturb the worshipers by coming in late, but were present in ample time. They returned home after service on the same day, and considered that they had done nothing more than taken a pleasant walk !

The Griswold family were Episcopalians, Mr. Griswold being an active and efficient worker in that church. To this denomination belonged also the Hill family and the Cook family, the Aldermans and Skinners. In 1816 this society erected the first church building in Windsor, on lot 7, range 3, across the road from the house now owned and occupied by Hiram Griswold. Judge Solomon Griswold contributed the greater part towards its erection, and it was familiarly known as " Solomon's temple." In 1832 a neat and well-built Episcopal church building was erected one-half mile west of the centre of Windsor, at the corners known as Windsor Mills. The house was dedicated by Bishop Mcllvaine. The church at present numbers but few members, and has no settled pastor.

In 1812, when the Norris and Barnard families settled in Windsor, a Methodist society was formed, the Norrises and Barnards being stanch adherents of this religious body. The first Methodist sermon was preached by John Norris in the same year. Commencing with a membership of but nine, the society increased rapidly in numbers, and in eleven years contained over fifty members. They erected their first church building in the year 1827, - lot 5, range 6, - the same building now used as a town-house. Their present church building at Windsor Corners was built in 1S54, and rebuilt in 1877. Their membership now numbers eighty, and their church property is valued at four thousand dollars. Their present pastor is Rev. J. H. Stoney.

The Universalist church was organized in November, 1868, by Rev. Andrew Wilson, of Akron. Rev. E. R. Wood was the first settled minister. In 1876 the society bought the lower room of the Grangers' building, which they use and occupy as a church building. They have no settled pastor at present. The church numbers at present forty-eight members.

The Wesleyan Methodists organized a church at Windsor Mills about the year 1844. and in the year 1852 or 1853 a church was organized in the southwest part of the township, where, soon after, they erected their present church building, in lot 1, range 7. Their membership is very small at present. Rev. Mr. Hayes, a resident of Middlefield, Geauga county, is their pastor.

The charter members were Dr. Bellows, George A. Gibbs, A. L. Pomeroy, T. W. Gould, Alexander Adams, Frederick Chrispel, Stephen Winslow, and J. F. Howes.

In 1876 the society built their present building at Windsor Corners, a large, two-story frame structure, thirty by sixty-four feet, with twenty-six feet posts, and a cellar under the whole building. This they own, with the land on which it stands. The upper story is used for their rooms, and the ground story for an audience-room.

Windsor Grange, No. 491, P. of II., was instituted January 30, 1874, by 0. P. Laird, deputy from Trumbull county. The charter members were Charles S. McIntosh, J. C. Humphrey, S. C. Wilson, Milo Dyer, B. F. Austin, A. A. Olin, O. P. Cook, 0. J. Faulkinburg, H. D. Adams, Franklin Noble, and George Olin, with their wives, and Royal Grover, E. W. Griswold, Catherine Rawdon, and Miss Helen A. Griswold.

First Master, C. S. McIntosh ; second, E. J. Adams ; and third, A. A. Olin, the present incumbent. Since the organization of the grange there have been twenty-three additions to the membership, two deaths, three removals, and one expelled. The grange is at present in a flourishing condition, and owns the rooms it occupies.

The first cheese-factory in Windsor was built and put into operation about the year 1851, by the Farmers' company. It was located a short distance east of Windsor Corners, on the north side of the road. The milk was made into curd, and in this form carried to the factory to be made up into cheese. One year after the Farmers' company's factory was started, another factory was put into operation by Adams & Tudor. These both proved unsuccessful, however, and soon discontinued operations.

In the spring of 1867, S. E. Carter & Co. built a cheese-factory at Windsor Corners and commenced the manufacture of cheese. This building was burned in tbe fall of 1869, and the present factory, a building thirty by eighty feet, with two floors and garret, was put up the ensuing winter. Business was commenced in this new building in the spring of 1870, and has been continued each season since by the same firm. This factory utilizes the milk of from four to five hundred cows.

E. A. Wiswell is proprietor of a cheese-factory at Windsor Mills, which was built in 1874, and put into operation the same year. Ninety-five thousand pounds of cheese was manufactured during the present season at this factory.

A cheese-box factory is owned and operated a short distance north of Windsor Corners by Edwin Rawdon. From twenty-five to thirty-five thousand boxes are made and sold annually.

The Indians Of Windsor

At the time when the first settlements were made in Windsor there were three or four hundred Indians living in the township, scattered along the banks of the Grand river, Phelps and Indian creeks. They were a mixed lot, made up partly of eastern and partly of western tribes. Some were members of the Seneca, Cayuga, and Cattaraugus tribes, and some of the Chippewas and Ottaicas of the west. The dwellings were fragile in character, formed by inserting poles in the ground at proper distances, the tops of which were drawn together and fastened with strips of bark, branches of trees or skins of wild animals being used as a covering. Their beds were skins of wild beasts spread upon the ground, or, in default of these, they lay on the bare earth. Their household furniture consisted of a kettle, a few wooden spoons, and their huntingknives ; their food the meat of wild animals, fowl, and fish ; their dress was simply a blanket fastened about the waist by a belt, in which were hung their tomahawk, knife, and moccasins. The only labor they were ever known to perform aside from hunting, which was their chief occupation, was the manufacture by the squaws of maple-sugar. All that was needed to consummate the marriage contract was the consent of the parties. They were not known to have marriage ceremonies. Polygamy occasionally prevailed. But one instance of divorce was known among them. The cause was unknown, but the parties seemed to be members each of a different tribe, and the points in dispute being referred to a solemn tribunal it was judged that the Indian and his squaw should undergo a separation for six months. They had one child, and in the presence of the entire force of Indians assembled on the banks of Grand river the parties arose, the Indian taking the child, an infant, in his arms, and, turning their backs to each other, the father took a due north course, the mother a due south course, and thus lengthened the distance between them, the squaw bitterly crying and loudly wailing ; whereupon, it is stated, the council dispersed. As they were of different tribes, their religious customs were not uniform. All, however, acknowledged the existence of a great Good Spirit. Some believed in the transmigration of the soul ; others, that at a period after death the spirit wanders to the pleasant hunting-grounds, where game is plenty and the streams abound in fish. Sometimes the white settlers would be aroused at night by tbe noise proceeding from an Indian camp, created by their midnight devotions, consisting of singing and dancing on the beloved square and beating upon the sacred drum. Their mode of burying their dead was likewise not always the same. Sometimes they wrapped the corpse in the skin of some wild animal, and placed it in a grave in a sitting posture with the face towards the east. No coffin was used ; generally the trinkets and weapons that had been the property of the deceased were interred with the body. Sometimes, as was the case in the burial of an Indian child in Windsor, in the year 1806 or 1807, a large hollow tree was found, an opening made, and four sticks firmly fastened in the ground within the hollow, so as to protrude about eighteen inches, and then other sticks placed across, and the body placed upon these cross sticks. After which the entrance was neatly filled by fitting closely and fastening tightly a block of the required size, so as to protect it from the wild animals of the forest. They were generally of a peaceful nature, and not disposed to molest the white settler. Some instances, however, might be given where they were somewhat troublesome. We have space but for one Indian story, which is as follows :

The Indian is proverbially fond of whisky; and one day, in the year 1800, when Mr. Phelps was at work about one mile distant from his cabin, a party of seven or eight braves came to his dwelling and requested that Mrs. Phelps would give them some whisky. As her husband had frequently given them to drink, she did not hesitate to yield to their request. After drinking what was set before them, they demanded more. Mrs. Phelps wisely concluded that they had had enough, and refused to give them more. Offended, they threatened vengeance and went their way. That night she told her husband what had happened, and said she was afraid to remain at home alone the next day. The next morning Mr. Phelps took his ox-bell and gave it to his wife, saying, " I must go to my work. You take this bell, and if the Indians come to-day, and are insolent and imperious in their demands, you mount the wood-pile and ring this bell with all your might. I will jump upon the back of old Bald-face, who will soon bring me to tbe house." In the afternoon the Indians came, demanding whisky. Mrs. Phelps drew a quantity and placed it before them. They drank, and demanded more, threatening to scalp her if she did not obey. She took her child and secreted it behind some shingles to the rear of the house, and, grasping the old cowbell, she sprang upon the wood-pile and rang it with all her might. Returning to the house, the Indians, with savage threats and horrid imprecations, told her that unless she instantly acceded to their demands they would kill her. She stubbornly refused, all the while looking intently for the appearance of " old Bald-face." Pretty soon horse and rider are in sight, coming with furious speed. Springing from his horse and in at the door, with a cudgel in his hand, Mr. Phelps beheld an Indian brandishing a tomahawk above the head of his wife, another holding her, while the others were endeavoring to draw the plug from a whisky-barrel which they had rolled into the room. Mr. Phelps was a powerful and active man, and with one heavy blow of his cudgel he felled to the floor the Indian with the tomahawk ; another blow dispatched number two ; a third Indian shared the same fate. The others laid down their arms, threw themselves on their knees, and begged for their lives.

A volume of no mean dimensions could readily be filled with the stories of bold and daring adventures which the early Windsor settlers had with the wild beasts of the forest. We have room for a single incident only. The one we select is no better, perhaps, than scores of others, and, indeed, is not so perilous as some that might be related ; yet it evinces the same bravery and fearlessness that characterized all the Windsor pioneers in their encounters with the wild and ferocious animals of the forest.

David Rawdon, in the winter of 1832, while hunting deer in the west part of Hartsgrove, which was then an unbroken forest, came upon a bear-track. Eagerly following it, he found Bruin in her den. Her place of refuge was between the bodies of two large trees that had been uprooted by the wind, near the bank of a creek. The roots of the trees formed a protection on one side some seven feet in height. The bear, perceiving that she was discovered, arose from her lodgingplace, when she immediately received a ball on the right side, forward of the hip. With a sudden and furious bound, she leaped over the arched roof of her den and plunged into the forest, trying to secrete herself in the whortleberry marsh. Mr. Rawdon followed her. The bear again retreated, Mr. Rawdon following, some of the time creeping on his hands and knees through the dense underbrush, so thick that he could not follow the track on his feet. He followed her to the trunk of a large tree. As he arose on one side of the log Bruin rose on the other, placing her paws on the log, directly in front of him, with her mouth close to his head, stretched wide open, ready to tear him to pieces. Jumping backward a few feet, he fired again, but, frustrated by his excitement, it inflicted only a slight wound. The bear turned and again retreated. Following some thirty rods he came up with her and, aiming carefully, gave her a shot which yielded him the conquest, and Bruin was vanquished. The hide of this bear was nine feet in length by five feet in width, and the bear was weighed and turned the scales at four hundred pounds.

Statistics For 1877

This township is designated as number nine of the fifth range. Its name was originally Matherstown, in honor of Samuel Mather, Jr., who claimed to be the owner. However, the record of the drawing of the Connecticut land company, in 1798, discloses the fact that Win. Hart, of Connecticut, was really the rightful owner, as number nine of the fifth range was drawn by him. A contest at law arose between these two claimants, which continued for many years, but finally terminated in favor of the heirs of Mr. Hart. The result of this litigation was to delay* the settlement of this township until the year 1822, a later period than the date of the settlement of any other township in the county, and also to effect a change in its name from Matherstown to Hartsgrove, in honor of the rightful owner.

Hartsgrove, in its natural state, was a heavily-timbered tract, well supplied with springs and running streams of clear water, and the forests were filled with wild animals of all kinds, affording a rich field for those who were fond of hunting. This region, in fact, was for many years the hunting-ground of the settlers of the neighboring townships, as well as of the Indians. While adjoining localities were denuded of their timber and gave evidence of the advance of civilization, this township, for more than twenty years after the arrival of the first settlers, remained an unbroken wilderness. And some of the most interesting and exciting incidents which history records as the experience of the settlers in their contests with wild and ferocious animals, have had their origin in this forest huntingground.

Rev. William Jarvis, of Chatham, Connecticut, married the daughter of Richard W. Hart, a son of Wm. Hart, whereupon the father of Mrs. Jarvis conveyed to her the north half of the township, amounting to about eight thousand acres of land.

Judge Mills, of Saybrook, Connecticut, was constituted the agent of Mr. Hart for the remainder of the lands of the township, and served in this capacity until the death of the latter, when nearly one-half of the remainder was conveyed to Mrs. Jarvis and her sister, Hetty B. Hart. This happened about the year 1837 or 1838, at which time General Charles Stearns and William Jarvis (2d) became the agents of the grantees. The two acted jointly until 1840, when General Stearns, being elected sheriff of Ashtabula County, removed to Jefferson. Since this date, or in March, 1841, Wm. Jarvis (2d) was made sole agent, and has served in that capacity until the present time.

How Watered

The principal streams of the township are Matherstown creek and Crooked creek. The latter waters the northeastern part of the township, and the former, with its tributaries, the southeastern. Numerous living springs of clear, cool, water abound, giving the inhabitants of this township an advantage in this respect rarely found in other localities of the county.

The celebrated sandstone quarry extends through this township from near the south line of Windsor northwardly into Trumbull. In width it averages about one-half mile within the limits of Hartsgrove, the soil of which is admirably adapted to the culture of small fruits, - as grapes, berries, currants, etc.

The Survey

About the year 1826 this township was surveyed into lots of one hundred acres each by Timothy R. Hawley, Esq., assisted by his son, Dr. Almon Hawley, of Jefferson, under instructions from Judge I. Mills, agent for R. W. Hart. In the survey the lots were run one hundred rods north and south by one hundred and sixty east and west, constituting sixteen ranges of ten lots each, commencing at the northwest corner to number, and numbering from west to east.

The year 1822 is the year in which the first settlement began. George Alderman, a resident of Windsor township, came into Hartsgrove and settled on lot No. 148, whereon he erected his log cabin and began an improvement. In the following year his cousin, Frederick Alderman, came from the same place and settled upon the central part of the same lot, George having located on the eastern part. These men were what are termed squatters, not owners of the lot whereon they effected a settlement. They afterwards, however, pur- chased it of Mr. Hart's agent. The next settler was Thomas Burbank, in 1828, wbo located himself and family in the George Alderman dwelling, the latter having returned to Windsor. Mr. Burbank's was the second conveyance of land by deed in the township, the first being a conveyance by Isaac Mills as agent for Richard W. Hart of twenty acres of lot 149 to Destine Alford. This instrument bears date February 10, 1827. Mr. Alford had been a resident of Austinburg, and also of Saybrook, but originally came from Hartford county, Connecticut. His removal to Hartsgrove was effected in 1829. This same year the settlement was augmented by the arrival of three more families, - Shubel Adams, who settled on fractional lot 158 ; David Griffin, who settled on the south one-half of lot 147, and Carmi E. Hoskins. The next year witnessed the arrival of Cornelius Norris, Orson Grant, and Calvin Grover; the last named settled on the west part of lot 139. Mr. Grant located on lot 106, and Mr. Norris about one mile south of the centre of the township, and still lives on this purchase. From this time on the settlement rapidly increased. Elisha Grover, Jonathan Avery, Josiah Avery, Solomon Smith, and Lewis Hart came into the township in 1830, or thereabouts.

Early Events

The first school in the township was taught, in 1829, by Miss Parmelia Frazer, in one room of Mr. Sbubel Adams' log dwelling, near the south line of the township. This school consisted of seventeen scholars, a part of whom came from Windsor. The parents who sent their children to this school are as follows: Joseph Alderman, Jr., Shubel Adams, Sr., and Abner Shipman, of Windsor, and Shubel Adams, Jr., David Griffin, Frederick Alderman, and Thos. Burbank, of Hartsgrove.

The first school-house in the township was erected on the southeast part of lot 138 in 1830, and was known as the Slab school-house, because it was built of split logs. Its roof was made of boards, and it was the owner of a stone chimney. The first school in this building was taught by Miss Clarissa Norris, in the summer of 1830. She is now living in Northfield, Minnesota. Mr. Darius Smith, of Chautauqua county, New York, was the teacher the following winter. The number of his scholars was nearly forty, Miss Norris having had an attendance of about twenty-five the previous summer.

The first birth of a white child in the township was a son of Mr. and Mrs. George Alderman, about the year 1825. Shortly' after this a daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Alderman. The name of this child was Aurelia. Harry, son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Burbank, born in 1S38, was the second male birth in the township, and the first who lived to reach years of maturity.

The first marriage was that celebrated by and between Frederick Alderman and Ann Burgess. This occurred in the year 1828. The marriage contract was solemnized by Elijah Hill, a justice of the peace of Windsor township. The second marriage was that in which Orson Grant was groom and Miss Zeruah Hart was the bride This occurrence took place at the bride's father's, in the spring of 1831.

The first death was the infant son of Mr. and Mrs. George Alderman. The second was that of the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Burbank, aged eight years, which occurred in January, 1829.

The first saw-mill was built in 1829, near the centre of lot 138, by Carmi E. Hoskins. Mr. Hoskins and his son Virgil, in 1841, erected the first grist-mill in the township, on the east part of the same lot. Mr. Orson Grant, about the year 1833 or 1S34, erected two saw-mills on Matherstown creek, south of the centre. He was an energetic, enterprising man, and made valuable improvements in the township. His was the first frame barn erected in Hartsgrove, and is still standing in good condition. Now owned by the Gladding heirs.

The first settled physician was Dr. Hiram Morgan, who settled at the corners of lots Nos. 79, SO, 89, and 90, in the year 1844, where he has continued to reside and practice his profession to the present time.

The first store in Hartsgrove was opened in the year 1837, by General Charles Stearns. The goods were furnished by Judge Rawdon, of Windsor. The present stores are those of William II. Van Pelt and Rufus P. Daniels, both at the centre, and their stocks are of a general nature.

The first road in the township was the marked route made in the year 1800, from Esquire Gregory's, living on Grand river, in Harpersfield township, southwardly through Trumbull and Hartsgrove to the dwelling of Judge Griswold, in Windsor.

The State road, known as the Fifth range State road, running from Unionville and Harpersfield, southwardly through that township, Trumbull, Hartsgrove, Windsor, and Mesopotamia, intersecting the Painesville and Warren State road, in Southington, Trumbull county, was laid out by act of legislature.

Early in the settlement of the township there were five east and west and five north and south roads laid out and established, the intervening distances being one mile. But three or four of the roads were opened for use the full length.

The first post-office was established in Hartsgrove in 1830. For twenty-six years previous to this time the United States mail had been carried through the township along what was known as the old pioneer mail-route. This route began at Warren, Trumbull county, and ran northwardly through Mesopotamia and Windsor, and diagonally through Hartsgrove to Austinburg, thence westwardly through Harpersfield to Painesville, from thence to Euclid, and then southeastwardly to Deerfield, at which point it connected with the Detroit mail-route, thence southeastwardly to Warren, the starting point. In 1830, Thomas Matteson received a commission as postmaster at Hartsgrove, and opened the first mailbag that was unlocked in the township. His office was in his log dwelling, on the east soad, one-half mile from the east line of the township. Mr. Matteson kept the office -bout three years, wlieu he was succeeded by Archibald Ludington, who retained it three years longer, and then surrendered it to A. Jarvis, who removed it to the centre of the township. The latter was succeeded by his brother, William "Jarvis, in 1838. Colonel Jarvis continued to be postmaster until the year 1861. The present postmaster is William Id. Van Pelt, and the mails are distributed from his store.

The first religious meeting of a public character in Hartsgrove is said to have been held at the log cabin of Calvin Grover, in the spring of 1830 ; Elder John Norris, of Windsor, being present and conducting the service.

Methodist Episcopal Churches

The Methodist Episcopal church at southeast Hartsgrove was the first church society organized in the township. The organization took place at the split-log school-house, July 20, 1830. The members of the class formed at that time were Elisha Grover, his mother, Martha Grover, and his wife, Eliza Grover, Calvin Grover and wife, Lewis Hart and wife, and Jonathan Avery and wife. Elder Scott was the preacher in charge, and a Sabbath-school was formed at the same date. Service was held in the school-house. At present the membership is very small. The church is without a regular pastor, and meetings held but infrequently.

The Methodist Episcopal church at the centre of Hartsgrove effected an organization in the year 1833, the Rev. John C. Ayres presiding. The membership at this time was ten. In 1844 they erected their present meeting-house, a building thirty-two by forty feet, afterwards enlarged so as to be thirty-two by fifty-three feet. The present minister is Rev. Mr. Stoney, and the church membership is about sixty. The church property is valued at about twenty-five hundred dollars.

An Episcopal Church

with a membership of twelve persons, was organized in 1837, the Rev. John L. Bryan, of Windsor, officiating. The society for a time held meetings in the central school-house building, bm after about fifteen or twenty years, owing to removals and other causes, services were discontinued.

The Free-Will Baptist Church

at southeast Hartsgrove was first organized by Rev. E. M. Dodge, about the year 1845. The membership at that time numbered about fifteen or sixteen. Meetings were held in the school-house until about the year 1860, when for two or three years meetings were not sustained. In 1863 a Rev. Mr. Thompson, assisted by Mr. A. C. Brush, held revival-meetings in connection with the society. Mr. Brush afterwards settled in Hartsgrove, and in the year 1869 was ordained a minister, reorganized the church, and became its pastor for about four years. Since this time there has been no regular service sustained.

The Disciple Church

was organized in the year 1858, under the pastorate of the Rev. Calvin Smith. The series of meetings at this time were held in the ball-room of the hotel, and there were, perhaps, fifteen who embraced the cause of Christ, and at the close of the meetings united to form a church. They have now a membership of sixty, with a fine church edifice at the centre. Their pastor is the Rev. Joel James, a gentleman who has spent a life in the work of bringing souls to Christ. He is spoken of as being eminently qualified, and possessed of the divine attributes which make a man a teacher and one of the fathers in Israel.

The lodge, in connection with the town, built the present building at the centre, the upper story of which is owned and used by the lodge and the first story as a town hall. The building is tbirty-two by forty-two feet, and two stories high. It was erected in 1873. The lodge-rooms were dedicated January 23, 1874. Henry Talcott, of Jefferson, was the dedicating officer, and Hon. S. A. Northway, of the same place, delivered the address. The officers elected for 1878 are R. Marsh, W. M. ; D. Fortney, S. W. ; Erlend Morgan, J. W. ; Henry Ayers, Treas. ; H. H. Grover, Sec. ; O. J. Martin, S. D. ; George Gladding, J. D. ; E. W. Hunt, Tyler. The present membership of the lodge is seventy-four.

Grove Grange , No. 1202, Patrons of Husbandry, was organized in August, 1875, by Deputy Fuller, of Geneva. The charter members were as follows : E. G. White, N. S. Hubbard, S. S. Hubbard, S. B. McClure, E. H. Lee, E. J. Hunt, A. Rawson, R. Marsh, E. W. Hunt, H. Ayers, D. E. Hurlburt, F. R. Burt. H. F. Griswold, Merrjt Holcomb, R. N. Daniels, and their wives, and Gilbert Grover, M. Alford, and Miss Luellen Grover. The first officers were E. G. White. Master ; E. W. Hunt, Overseer; H. F. Griswold, Lecturer; S. B. McClure, Steward; S. S. Hubbard, Assistant Steward ; E. H. Lee, Treas. ; H. Ayers, Sec. ; A. Rawson, G. K. ; Mrs. E. G. White, Ceres ; Mrs. N. S. Hubbard, Flora ; Mrs. S. S. Hubbard, Pomona ; Mrs. E. W. Hunt, Lady Assistant Steward. The officers for 1878 are N. S. Hubbard, Master ; Rodney Marsh, Overseer ; Mrs. Henry Ayers, Lecturer ; A. Rawdon, Steward ; N. F. Rice, Assistant Steward ; M. S. Allyn, Treas. ; Henry Griswold, Sec. ; A. C. Hunt, G. K. ; Mrs. N. S. Hubbard, Ceres ; Mrs. A. Rawson, Flora ; Mrs. Ellen Callender, Pomona ; Mrs. E. W. Hunt, Lady Assistant Steward.

Lodge-meetings are held in the town hall ; the present membership is forty. Hartsgrove Division, No. 154, Sons of Temperance, was instituted November 9, 1874, by A. M. Collins, State Deputy. The charter members were William Pruden, G. G. Grant, Benjamin Norris, Cornelius Norris, C. H. Johnston, E. G. Hurlburt, David Pruden, Nelson Griswold, P. A. Decker, Samuel Miner, P. L. Hunt, C. S. Marsh, C. E. Alderman, F. L. Hurlburt, Frank Bates, Martha Griswold, Carrie Hunt, Olive Pruden, Caroline Boslar, Louisa Marsh, Emma Miner, R. A. Johnston, Julia Hurlburt, Libbie Grant, Belle Burt, Florence Callender, Ellen Callender, Nettie Holcomb, Lizzie Cottam, and Ruth Norris.

The township of Hartsgrove was organized on the 5th day of April, 1830. The following were the first officers: John Thomas, township clerk; James B. Harper, Caleb Crooks, and Thomas Burbank, trustees ; Joseph Brooks and Calvin Grover, overseers of the poor ; Destine Alford and Warner Muun, fence-viewers ; and Stephen Matteson, constable. On the 10th of May following, an election for justice of the peace was held, resulting in the choice of Thomas Matteson. He was succeeded by Cornelius Norris, who, it is thought, is the only person now living who attended this election. The officers for 1877 are E. G. Norris, J. K. Potter, and N. Hubbard, trustees ; Henry Ayers, clerk ; Henry McIntosh, treasurer; Erlend Morgan, assessor; F. L. Hurlburt and H. Marsh, constables; Erlend Morgan and Rodney Marsh, justices of the peace; and eleven supervisors.

The carriage-manufactory located at the centre was established in the spring of 1376, by H. H. Grover, who, by the way, was for a time one of the go-ahead business men of the township, having had at one time in successful operation a hotel, store, and this manufactory, which occupies the building formerly built by Charles Stearns for a cheese-factory. Mr. Grover carried on an extensive business until the fall of 1877, since which time the property has been occupied by Messrs. Fails & Hoffman.

In the year 1843, II. D. Norris established an extensive ashery. some one and one-fourth miles south of the centre of the township. This has been successfully operated until a short time since. He manufactured pot and pearl ashes, and usually operated a store in connection ; was the largest manufacturer of pearl, ashes in the Western Reserve.

The first cheese-factory in the township was built by General Charles Stearns, in 1849 and 1850, at the centre, just north of the present site of Mr. Daniels' store. The factory commenced business in the spring of 1850. The milk was manufactured into curd at the farm-houses of the patrons, and in this condition brought to the factory to be made into cheese. General Stearns carried on quite a large business for three years, and then sold the factory to the Higley brothers, who conducted the business only one or two seasons.

In the spring of 1S73 two cheese-factories were put into operation in the township. Mr. N. S. Hubbard being the proprietor of one, located about two miles north of the centre, and Mead Brother of the other, at the northeast corner of the township. About fifty thousand dollars worth of cheese is made annually at Meads factory, and one hundred thousand dollars worth at the factory of Mr Hubbard. J

There is another factory located at southeast Hartsgrove, which commenced business in the spring of 1874, 3Ir. Martin Merrifield being the first proprietor.

In IS, 5, 31 r. 3Iemfield sold out to Newell Lamb, the present proprietor. About fifty thousand dollars worth of cheese is manufactured annually at this factory.

In the fall of 1S66, 3Ir. Alexander Watson erected a large steam planing- and saw-mill, about two miles north of the centre of Hartsgrove. 3Iachinery for the manufacture of shingle- and cheese-boxes was also added, and quite an extensive business conducted until the building was destroyed by fire, on the moraine of the 24th of July, 1S77. There was no insurance on the mill, and the fire is thought to have been the work of an incendiary. 3Ir. Watson has since built a large steam saw-mil) a short distance south of the centre.

3Ii. E. W . Hunt is proprietor of quite an extensive steam shingle-mill, and spoke and axe-helve factory, located about one mile north of the centre. The present building, erected in 1876, is thirty by fifty feet, and two stories hi-h.

or several years previous to the building of this mill, 3Ir. Hunt conducted the business in a mill then located on the opposite side of the road.

Edward Griffin Hurlburt

was born 3Iarch 12, 1824, and is the seventh chilB of Erastus Grant Hurlburt and Clarissa Goodwin Hurlburt, originally from Gdfhen, Litchfield county Connecticut.

On the 13th day of May, 1842, Erastus G. Hutlburt and family arrived in the township of Hartsgrove, and located on parts if lots 96 and' 106 which property is now owned by Nelson Griswold. Mr. Hkrlburt died September 4 1845, and his wife December 13, 1856. The educatiii of Edward G Hurlburt was acquired principally in the common schools of his lative township, with two terms in the village academy. i '

Edward was eighteen years of age when he came to Ohio with his father At his father's death, three years later, he took charge of tfe estate, kept the family together, and made a satisfactory settlement. December 31, 1851, he was united in marriage to Jane E., daughter of John and Lydia Babcock, of Orwell this county. Eight children have been born from this marriage, as follows- Frank Lincoln, December 17, 1852; Mary Luella, April 5, 1855 jWartha Jane, January 31, 18o7, died September 30, 1862; Clara M., September 2, 1862 - John Erastus Jul, 29. 1864; Edward Jr.. August 19. 1867 (died tw 5, 1868) Tu» Jane, September 29, 1868 (died September 6, 1869); Ward E., October 8' 187? These children all reside in Hartsgrove except Mary, who married Mr EL Lampson, a member of the legal profession in Jefferson, wh.re they now reside Mr. Hurlburt made his first purchase of land in Hartsgrove township January 15. 1848> wlllch consisted of one hundred and fifty-seven acres, In lots 67 and 77. and is still owned by him. He has made additional purchases from time to time, until at present his real estate aggregates one thousand and thirty acre* of farming lands. The principal business of his life has bee. that of a farmer and stock-dealer.

He has been quite extensively engaged in the stock business for more than twenty years. As a sample of the magnitude of his stock-dealing, we will state that " the spring of 1S65 he and a partner of his made sales of cattle and hogs, which t ley had fed in Iowa, the receipts of which were over twenty thousand dollars.

In the spring of 1867 he engaged in the mercantile business at HartsoTove Centre. In the autumn following he formed a partnership with H H Grover which was continued for two years, when W. Hurlburt sold out his interest to his partner, Mr. Grover. 1^

3Ir. Hurlburt is a 3Iethodist, of which church he became a member over thirty years ago. He is an active and efficient worker in the Sabbath-school, of which e has been superintendent over twenty years. He is a member of Hartssrove lodge No. 394 F. and A. 31., and a Past Master of that body. Politically, Esquire url mrt is a Republican, and has been ever since the organization of that party.

He has held all of the offices of his township except that of township clerk. In the fall of 1871 he was elected county commissioner. Upon the expiration of his first term of office he was unanimously renominated, and of course re-elected.

Source changes here: from History of Ashtabula County Ohio, by Mrs. Moina W. Large, published 1924; 32,534 words in this source stream.

Chapter Xli Miscellaneous

CHEESE INDUSTRY - GREAT INDUSTRY IN GLASS HOUSES - HORSES AND HORSEMEN - ASHTABULA COUNTY TELEGRAPH COMPANY - RECLAMATION OF MARSH - NATURAL GAS - ANTI-SLAVERY ACTIVITIES - FAIRS - ASHTABULA COUNTY SOCINTY - INDUSTRIAL SURVEY - STATISTICS___-==- === 426-447

Conneaut Public Library ~___--__-- 264 Conneaut Telephone Building - ____ 944 Court House, Jefferson ___________ 328 Dain, Mr. and Mrs. Henry E. ___-_ 820 Darling Geol ees a see eae 880 Dewey, Dr. Carl and daughter, Helen 728 Dickson, Dr. Orr Avwess 2 664 Disaster, The Ashtabula __.<______ 224 HSS RODeCRURR 2 eek aoe eee eee 752 Gallup, Charles Herbert __________ 472 Gallup, Edward Parker ___________ 480 Gapee Willian gates ee ees me 496 Gary... Dorance ten asa eee ee 796 Geneva Street Scene ______-_s____ 304 Grade School, Geneva ____________ 312 Grahams Storesot We Pee eee 968 Grand River Bridge oo i212 es 804 Halleen;-Charles As) ee 520 Eemiltons Jain esis a2 ee eee 1096 Harborvhichs School sas=s - sae aaa 96 HarleyinG Ree ee: a bi tae eee eee 504 Harmon Austine Aw oe ee eee 888 HawicinstsEinamy. Ps pees eee a 792 Hawkins, Martha Stevens ________ 792 Helander; > Bei kl) sie ees ecer eee nea 1068 Hewitt, Georse 20a see ane ee 776 Horton; Ered: dig = sa eee 840 Hunter, George =) 2 eae ees 936 Eeanter, Mrs. Isabele 222 936 JOHNSON. HU LMeSte Soe = ee ee ee 528 Kahne; Ail fred ea ys aes os ees eee 1032 Kelley,eHenryas. 2255522 eee 864 Kendall Brothers' =i ae 912 Kerr Dees) avi Cp nen ee oe eens 712 Kingsville Parkygl se ee eeeeme 248 Knapp: lewiges 2. ck eee 992 LGaVON MnO ats ANG hea ee eS ee 536

Original Territory And Title

"EXPLORATION - CLAIMS OF OWNERSHIP - THE WESTERN RESERVH - CONNECTICUT LAND COMPANY - PIONEER SETTLERS - -TITLES - SURVEYORS ARRIVE - EARLY CONDITIONS - TOWNSHIPS ORGANIZED.

What a wealth of romance, achievement and realization of fond hopes; what bitter disappointments and cruel tragedies have attended the discovery, growth and development of this blessed commonwealth!

It was over 300 years after Christopher Columbus discovered this continent, before other explorers penetrated the unbroken forests of what later became Northern Ohio, with a view to settlement and development of new territory for the future welfare and prosperity of themselves and _ their progeny.

For the purpose of this history, we will refer briefly to antecedents farther back than those who were immediately responsible for the organized and systematic plan for development of this section of new country. History relates that, in 1662, King Charles II granted a charter to certain patentees, through which the state of Connecticut derived a claim to a strip of land 62 miles wide, clear across the continent, from Narragansett Bay to the Pacific coast. What later became known as the Western Reserve, constituted one section of that strip in this locality.

The states of Massachusetts and New York also claimed right of ownership to this same territory, and it was more than a hundred yearg before satisfactory settlement of the dispute was made. In 1780, New York state relinquished claim to all territory west of a line running southward from the "Western Bend of Lake Ontario." Five years later, Massa- chusetts ceded the western land to which she had laid claim, and the next year Connecticut fell in line and, through her authorized delegates in Congress, gave up all lands which she had claimed lying west of "A line 120 miles west of and parallel with the Western Boundary of the State of Pennsylvania." The territory lying between latitudes 41 and 42 degrees, 2 minutes north, and extending westward of the Pennsylvania state line for 120 miles, was retained and became known as the "Western Reserve _of Connecticut''.

In May, 1795, the general assembly of the State of Connecticut appointed a committee to promote the sale of the greater part of the Western Reserve. This committee disposed of the property in individual contracts to about 50 persons. These purchasers banded themselves together and organized the Connecticut Land Company, and proceeded at once with preliminary steps, looking to early exploitation of their purchase. The Connecticut Land Company purchased the "New Connecticut" tract for $1,200,000, which was deposited in the state treasury of Connecticut, and. there was an understanding that the proceeds from this fund were to be devoted to the educational needs of the state. This original sale fund is said to still be in the state treasury. Mg

So many of the family names are familiar to residents of this day, that it is fitting to enumerate the individual members of the Connecticut Land Company, descendants of many of whom still live in the county. They follow: Atwater, Caleb; Austin, Eliphalet; Battle, William; Bliss, William; Boardman, Elijah; Brace, Johnathan; Bull, James; Burr, Timothy ; Cleaveland, Moses; Coit, Daniel L.; Cowles, Solomon; Edwards, Pierpont; Ely, Justin; Granger, Gideon, Jr.; Griswold, Solomon; Hart, William ; Holbrook, Daniel; Holmes, Urial, Jr.; Howland, Joseph; Hubbard, Nehemiah, Jr.; Hyde, Elisha; Johnson, James; Johnson, Robert C.; Judd, William; Kelley, Ephraim; Kent, Benejah; King, Ebenezer, Jr.; Law, William; Levvet, Thaddeus; Loomis, Luther; Lord, Samuel P.; Lyman, William; Mather, Samuel; Mather, Samuel, Jr.; Miller, Ashur; Newberry, Roger; Perkins, Enoch; Phelps, Oliver; Root, Ephraim; Sandford, Peleg; Starr, Ephraim; Stocking, Jabez; Stoddard, John; Storrs, Lemuel; Stow, Joshua; Street, Titus; Strong, Elisha; Swift, Tephaniah; Tracey, Uriah; White, Elijah; Williams, Joseph; Yates, Joseph.

It was necessary that they obtain an indisputable title, before they could safely proceed. This was no easy matter, as it was found that the state of Connecticut, from which they had bought the land, had not established a clear title, as the Government of the United States had not formally released its rights of possession and dominion. It was not until 1800 that Congress settled the matter by authorizing the President to grant letters-patent to the governor of Connecticut, releasing all claim to the Western Reserve territory. Connecticut, in turn, was thereby enabled to ratify her contract with the Connecticut Land Company.

In the meantime, however, the company directors were so sanguine of ultimate success in acquiring title, that they did not wait for the final decision, but, in the spring of 1796, a company of several surveyors and assistants, numbering nearly 50 persons, started out on an expedition to the newly acquired lands in the West, their object being to make a survey. and plat the property. :

The party assembled at Schenectady, N. Y., from which point they journeyed by devious routes to Buffalo. The men and their equipment filled four boats. 'Joshua Stow was commissary; the surveyor-in-charge was Augustus Porter, and the other surveyors were Milton Holly, Seth Pease, Amos Spafford, Richard Stoddard and Moses 'Warren. Moses Cleaveland, the special representative of the land company, was aboard and there was also a physician, Theodore Shepard. Other members of this venturesome party were Joseph McIntyre, George Proudfoot, Francis Gray, Samuel Forbes, Elijah Gunn, wife and child; Amos Sawtell, Samuel Hungerford, Amos Barker, Stephen Benton, Amzi Atwater, Asa Mason, Michael Coffin, Samuel Davenport, Samuel Agnew, Shadrach Benham, William Hall, Elisha Ayers, George Gooding, Norman Wilcox, Thomas Harris, Timothy Dunham, Wareham Shepard, David Beard, John Bryant, Titus Munson, Joseph Landon, Olney Rice, James Hamilton, John Lock, James Halket, Job Stiles and wife, Charles Parker, Ezekiel Morley, Nathaniel Doan, Lake Hanchet, Samuel Barns, Daniel Shulay, Steven Burbank.

After many days of buffeting the waves of Lakes Ontario and Erie, and weathering numerous storms, in one of which one of their boats was wrecked, the party, without the loss of a soul, arrived at the northeastern corner of the Western Reserve, and made a landing, on July 4, 1796, Independence Day, just east of the mouth of Conneaut Creek.

In recognition of the coincidence found in their arrival on their objective soil, on the anniversary of the day of the signing of the Declaration of American Independence, and in thanksgiving for having reached the goal which they had endured many hardships in attaining, the little company arranged a special feast and program of appropriate exercises and speeches, during which they christened the place of landing "Port Independence".

We who enjoy the blessings and comforts of the presént period oi luxurious living, can never be sufficiently grateful to those who composed that little band of adventurers; we can never fully appreciate what hardships those forbears faced and endured, more for the comfort and profit of generations to come than for their own advancement and happiness.

They had visions of a wonderful future when they started on their journey to an unknown land. They left comfortable homes and their circles of loving relatives and friends to fare forth on adventures of which they little dreamed. The fact that their journey was accomplished without serious mishap, was but an item to the credit of their good fortune. It was when they set foot on Ohio soil that they began to realize what an undertaking they had engaged in. The vista of highlands and unbroken forest that spread before them as the bows of their little vessels ground onto the sand of Lake Erie's beach, was anything but reassuring or promising. They knew not what lay behind that veil of standing green, that stretched as far as the eye could see up or down the coast. They knew this was the Redman's land - that in all probability he would not accept gracefully the intrusion of the hated white man, who had been gradually and surely pushing him back toward the setting sun, compelling him to relinquish his rights and abandon the happy hunting-grounds of his forefathers.

The newcomers knew that, by treaty, the Indians had ceded this territory to the government of oppressors; they also knew the treacherous: disposition of the Redskin, and that doubtless many had remained on their former possessions through hope that they would not be disturbed. For these Aborigines to withdraw to new abodes meant that they must encounter other tribes, who might not prove very hospitable, but-were more likely to resent the encroachment. It seemed more desirable that they remain where they were on the chance that their presence might intimidate the Palefaces from the East, who came to take up the land.

Arrived at their destination, the voyagers took a little time to explore the surroundings before they decided where they would locate to establish a settlement. Finally they decided upon a location and proceeded to erect crude dwellings. History says the first house built in Ashtabula County was put up at this time. The men of the party who were not busy on the survey, had little else to do than take such steps as would be necessary in preparation for meeting the rigors of the winter that was coming. They worked together, helping each other when and where needed, and the first snow fall found the strangers comfortably housed and fortified for what was to follow.

They found abundance of game, both large and small, right at their door, as it were, and the lake and river abounded in fish and amphibious animals that afforded good food.

In obtaining materials for their buildings, trees were cut down and other growth cleared away, whereby space was afforded for the tilling of the soil, when spring should come again.

Although they missed their comfortable homes back east, when the cold and stormy days of the winter came, they suffered few real hardships during those few months, because they were well housed, had plenty of fuel-and abundant food. To shorten the hours, they indulged in social intercourse, visiting each other's cabins, arranging evening entertainments, and laying their plans for the future. Every time that a man of the party went beyond the immediate confines of their settlement, he had new tales to relate upon his return, of discoveries made.

Every new prospect was a source of interest. They soon found that there were forests of maple from which they might extract the sap in the spring, and regale themselves on the delicious product. In the fall, the men came home laden with shack of every variety, and nutting expeditions were popular with the young people, whose particular care it was to see that abundant stores of various kinds were put away to cure for disposal, 'when the cold season of short days and long nights should come on.

Sitting in front of the fire-places from which big logs were spreading their cheerful radiance and, heat, they thought. and talked of those whom they had left behind, who were enjoying more secure habitations and educational and religious advantages. But they were not daunted; they had left with the full determination to take whatever came their way in the future, to meet the hardships with courage and brave the dangers, be what they might. So they accepted their chosen lot gracefully and looked hopefully forward to the future and what fortunes it might bring.

After unloading their household goods, working implements, stores of food and other cargo, the surveyors lost little time in setting about the business that had brought them. They set out for the southernmost boundary of the Western Reserve, to ascertain the exact point at which the western line of Pennsylvania was intersected by the twenty-first degree of north latitude, and from that point they laid lines north and south, five miles apart, toward the west, and similar lines east and west, the same distance apart, thus blocking out the Reserve into sections five miles square, which were to constitute townships. This original survey extended only as far west as the Cuyahoga River, as that portion of the Reserve lying west of that line was still in possession of the Indians, from whom it was not finally taken over until 1805.

'To facilitate description, the latitude lines were numbered''as townships and the meridian lines as ranges. The base of the survey having been the southeast corner of the section, that block, Williamsfield, was range 1 and township 8; Andover, the next township north, was in the same range, and township 9, and so on, up the first range to the lake. In the other direction, Wayne was in range two, and was township 8, ranges 3, 4 and 5 succeeding toward the west.

When the work of surveying had been finished in accordance with the company's plans, the land was divided among the various members of the Connecticut Land Company. Three thousand dollars constituted one share, and in accordance with the number of shares owned, the land was divided among the owners, each of whom received a deed from the Connecticut Land Company for his individual portion.

Nehemiah Hubbard, a member of the Connecticut Land Company, whose home was in Middletown, Conn., had extensive interests in the company's holdings, and he became owner of a large share of the land which is now Ashtabula Township, Plymouth and a large portion of Sheffield.

The question of apportionment among the stockholders of the company, gave rise to a rather perplexing proposition. The company having bought the tract for $1,200,000, divided the holdings of the 52 stockholders into four hundred shares, thus making each share of a value of $3,000. Some of the members had invested heavily and held large blocks of the stock, while there were others who held but one share. In order that the large holders might not have an advantage over the others and get possession of the most desirable portions of the land, it was decided that the fairest method of division would be by lottery, which means would assure

To this end, a committee of equalization was appointed to make the division according to the plan of the company, which contemplated, first, the setting aside of certain parts of the Western Reserve to be offered for sale to actual settlers. It was decided to retain the best four townships in the eastern part of the Reserve, to be the first partitioned among the stockholders, after the manner above mentioned. These townships were surveyed, so as to average one hundred lots to the township, thus forming four hundred lots, or one for each share of stock. When it came to the drawing, each holder participated in proportion to his holdings.

The townships chosen for this first drawing were: No. 11 in range 7, and Nos. 5, 6 and 7, in range 11. This reservation included what is now Perry, in Lake County; Northfield, in Summit County; Bedford and Warrensville, in Cuyahoga County. Eventually, the territory that now constitutes the County of Ashtabula, came into a drawing and was disposed of by lot and chance, like the others.

Chapter Il Our Predecessors

INDIANS - ALGONQUIN AND IROQUOIS TRIBES - "ASHTABULA" - INDIAN VILLAGES - MASSASAUGA - INDIAN CUSTOMS - ABUNDANT GAME AND FISH - INDIAN WARS - ASHTABULA RIVER - CHIPF AMIK.

The surveying party who landed at the mouth of Conneaut Creek in 1796 were not the first white persons who had penetrated thus far into the western forests, but they were the first to come to the then wild West with a view to establishing for some of. themselves permanent homes; the first to constitute a colony with the declared object of starting the development of the unknown resources of this new Western Reserve of the State of Connecticut.

They found footprints of moccasins only, but not many of them, as, by treaties consummated prior to that period, most of the Red Men had retired to other sections of the country, said retirement being of the nature of retreat from the onward progress of the white man.

The Indians who inhabited the south shore of Lake Erie in this section last prior to the invasion of the white man, were said to have been of the Algonquin and Iroquois tribes. This, however, had been a prolific hunting and fishing resort, and representatives of numerous tribes came here periodically to indulge in the sport and replenish their larders at home in some other territory.

The township of Windsor, than which there is none more picturesque in the whole county, was one of the favorite places of assemblage for the hunting braves. It is said that as many as four or five hundred Indians would constitute the temporary colonies attracted in season by the excellent sport afforded by the wilds of that interior township. Among the tribes represented, who met in friendly association, are named the Ottawas,

The name "Ashtabula" was derived from the Indians and is variously translated as meaning "Beautiful River', "River of Fish', "Many Fish", "Fish River", "River of Many Fish', etc. At any rate it seems to have reference to the river, the course of which, with its tributaries, embraces many wonderfully picturesque scenes, the most attractive of which are almost within the limits of Ashtabula city.

Where the Algonquins came from, history does not relate. Neither does tradition. The Massasaugas were of the Delaware family. Both were friendly, as a rule, with the white newcomers, and gave the latter very little trouble. :

These tribes had their villages in different sections of the county, Conneaut, Wayne, and Andover being the most prominent. Near Andover, in the vicinity of Pymatuning Creek, there was a large village that covered nearly an acre of ground. Many implements of stone, arrowheads and other relics of the day when the Red Man held sway have been found on and about the site of this village.

In fact, evidences of the Indian occupation or visitation have been found in nearly every section of the county and many homes now have treasured relics that were picked up by the occupants' ancestors, or even up to very recent years by themselves.

The Massasaugas were a very religious tribe and even after the advent of the whites there were enough left to hold their periodical feasts and rites. Relative to this, the following is taken from historical sketches of Ashtabula County written in the '50s by Joel Blackeslee, historian:

"They are described by the early settlers as occasionally holding their dances and pow-wows for heathen worship on the site of the old fort. Some of these were performed with great solemnity. One has been described by Joshua Fobes as follows: 'They arranged themselves in a circular form around a large fire, one of them with a sort of drum, beating on it to mark the time, while the rest, stooping forward, kept up a sort of jumping dance, with much prolonged activity, all the time singing the words "He-up-a-he-oh-a, He-up-a-he-oh-a", in a monotonous manner.'

"One of their modes of worshiping the Great Spirit was described to Mr. Joel Blakeslee by a lady, one of the first settlers in Williamsfield, who often visited the Indian camp, and in the night season witnessed the solemn ceremony. She describes it as follows: 'When the hour arrived, the worshipers arranged themselves in two lines, one of males, the other of females. Three or four Indians, drummers, sitting on the ground with their single-headed drums and single drumsticks, struck up the solemn tones, accompanied with the voice. At that, all parties in both lines commenced an active and regular motion to and fro toward one another and back again, all keeping exact time with their feet to the drum, while their voices, united in solemn tones, chanted aloud the following notes: '"Weter-weter we-hah; Weter-weter, we hah; Weter weter we hah, hah. How-we-ah, How-we ah hah. How-we ah, How we ah haw wah. Hightonne-ah, High tonne ah hah wah; High tonne ah, we a hah wah."

"'This tune, expressed in a plaintive voice and accompanied by the melancholy sounds of the drums and the measured tread of the dancers, gave an air of solemnity to the whole. To witness one of these exhibitions of a savage worship at midnight, by moonlight or torchlight, in the otherwise silent hours of the night when all nature was hushed in soft and deep repose, was indeed impressive'.

"This company of Massasauga Indians consisted of 20 or 25 families, who lived by hunting until about the time of the arrival of the whites. Friendly intercourse was kept up between them and the settlers, and through the efforts made in their behalf, they soon became more civil, and turned their attention to the cultivation of the soil and raising of cattle.

"It is told of them that, notwithstanding the efforts made in their behalf, the Indians played a trick with some of their benefactors which showed their inherent treachery. Good old Father Wakeman engaged to let them have an excellent piece of ground for corn land, consisting of about five acres. He prepared the ground in good season and style, expecting that the Indians would work upon the halves. The Indians came and were punctual to their contract, and about the time the corn was to be gathered, Mr. Wakeman was so well pleased that he told his wife to prepare a good dinner for the whole gang, as he would give them a good feast for their faithfulness.

"Just at this time one of Mr. Wakeman's friends came and asked him what had become of his corn. Mr. Wakeman started over the ridge which lay between his land and the cornfield, but when he arrived at the

"Wakeman then directed his course to the Indian camp, where he found the Indians, old and young, feasting on roasted corn. They had carried the whole crop on their backs, going a considerable distance around through the woods to prevent discovery, and had taken it to the camp. Mr. Wakeman concluded, the next time, to till his own land."

The surface of the Western Reserve, especially the county of Ashtabula, was not like that of New England - made up of rocky hills and ledges of granite and with the exception of along the streams emptying into Lake Brie, there was not much that might be called romantic or beautiful in the way of scenery. For about five or six miles back from the lake these streams had cut deep gorges; in many places more than 100 feet deep.

The banks of these streams and of Ashtabula Creek especially, were covered with a heavy growth of pine and hemlock, whose branches overhung the gorges and together with the giant sycamores growing upon the flats and occasionally black walnut, they were dark, gloomy recesses in the woods. In many places they were very narrow and the banks steep. They were given the name of "gulfs,"' where the sun seldom penetrated even in the summer. Along the valley of these streams there was a profusion of wild flowers.

These gulfs furnished retreats for the wild animals which often made them their abode. The upland was covered with a very heavy growth of timber - giant oaks, white woods, chestnut, hickory, elm, sycamore, sugarmaple, with here and there a grove of black walnuts, covered the land. There was not much underbrush among these trees. Many of them were over 100 feet in height, 50, 60 and 70 feet to a limb and from two to five feet in diameter, affording an excellent home and range for bear, elk, deer, panthers, wild-cats, raccoons, hedge hogs, foxes and other smaller wild animals, which made this section the great hunting ground of the Red men from both East and West.

The streams abounded in fish, among which were the sucker, bass, pike, muscallonge, pickerel. The muscallonge was a royal fish, reaching sometimes the weight of 40 pounds. For several years after the first settlers reached Ashtabula, the Indians in large numbers made their annual visits here for the purpose of hunting, fishing and trapping. Also for the purpose of making sugar from the sap of the sugar maple, the time for making which was in the early spring. They came usually in September and remained until late in the spring.

The intercourse between the early settlers and these Indians was in the main of a friendly character. They often furnished settlers with meat in exchange for something of more value to them. This section of the country never heard the war-whoop of the Indian, nor witnessed a midnight assault upon the white settlements, burning of houses nor the massacring of the inhabitants. It was never what might be termed "bloody ground." True the Indians did not always refrain from helping themselves and sometimes one who had imbibed too much fire water became impudent and occasionally made trouble.

The reason for this peaceful condition of affairs is found, according to the best traditions gathered from the head men, in the previous events which took place before there were any white settlers here or written history.

Years before the advent of the white man there dwelt upon the south shores of Lake Erie a powerful war-like tribe called Eries. They had conquered and either exterminated or amalgamated several smaller tribes and become the dominant powers in this region. They were known under the general term Algonquins.

There existed also at the same time another powerful body of Indians known afterwards as the Six Nations and called the Iroquois. Their home was in the state of New York and the extent of their territory reached from the Mohawk Valley westward to near the present site of Buffalo.

Each of these tribes had heard of the war-like character of the other and each lived in fear of the other. The Eries feeling themselves in danger thought to test the endurance of the Iroquois, so sent by messengers a challenge to them to select 100 of their best warriors to meet a like number of the Eries for a friendly contest in athletic sports.

Not long after, the challenge was again renewed and again declined. A third time the challenge was repeated and at the council heard to consider it the younger braves of the Iroquois decided to accept.

In due time the two bodies of warriors came together with the chiefs and leaders present. They met at a point not very far from Buffalo. Unexpectedly to the Eries the Iroquois won all their games. This angered the Eries but they were in the presence of a friendly tribe and on neutral ground and the chiefs of the neutral tribe invited the opposing tribes to a feast they had provided: During the feast the Eries made another proposition to the Iroquois to select ten men from each side to meet and wrestle, man with man, and the victor should kill his opponent.