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Pioneer and General History of Geauga County (Burton, Ohio: Hist. Society of Geauga, 1880) |
 (view enlarged image of title) |
the Henry family, pp. 137ff | Dencey Thompson, p. 138 | the Giles family, pp. 143
the Wilber family, pp. 167ff | the Stafford family, pp. 181ff | Incidents of Pioneer Life (1881)
Capt. Henry of Geauga (1942) | "Rigdon/Book of Mormon" (1945) | Rigdon at Bainbridge
Auburn/Bainbridge Census: 1820 1830 | Pioneer Women (1896) | S. W. Geauga Pioneers
History of Lake and Geauga Counties (1878) | Wm. Crafts' Early History of Auburn (1868)
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1798. PIONEER AND GENERAL HISTORY OF GEAUGA COUNTY WITH SKETCHES OF SOME PIONEERS AND PROMINENT MEN PUBLISHED BY THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF GEAUGA COUNTY. 1880. |
See also the SW Geauga Co. Pioneer Settlement web-page |
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C O N T E N T S. GENERAL COUNTY HISTORY.
TOWNSHIPS.
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Township No. 6, in the ninth range of the townships in the Connecticut Western Reserve, is situated in the southwest corner of Geauga county, and contains sixteen thousand one hundred and thirty-eight acres of land. Originally it was divided into three tracts, the lines of which run from the east to the west lines of the township. Tract one consists of all the north part of the township, and contains six thousand and three acres of land, and was purchased of the Connecticut Land company, November 3, 1798, by Samuel Lord. The south line of tract one is the north line of land now owned by Pierce Whipple. Tract two is the central part of the township, and contains four thousand and forty-three acres, and was purchased of the Connecticut Land company, in 1800, by Judson Canfield, David Waterman, James Johnson, Nathaniel Church, Elijah Wadsworth and Frederick Wolcott, in common. In 1801 a deed or partition was executed, giving to each of the above named purchasers their proportion of the tract, viz: Judson Canfield, 1,636 acres; David Waterman, 680 acres; James Johnson, 868 acres; Nathaniel Church, 346 acres; Elijah Wadsworth, 512 acres, and Frederick Wolcott, the balance. The south line of tract two is the south line of the land now owned by Rufus Pettibone, and was purchased of the Connecticut Land company, September 10, 1878, by Nathaniel Gorham and Warren Parks, and, December 19, 1798, was sold by Gorham and Parks to Benjamin Gorham. March 7, 1815, Simon Perkins purchased of Benjamin Gorham the west part of tract three, containing 4,000 acres. Soon after Calvin Austin purchased the balance, and for a time township No. 6 was called Austintown, in honor of Mr. Austin. Each of the tracts one, two, and three, were subdivided into lots. Tract one has forty-eight lots, numbering from south to north across the tract. Tract two has twenty-eight lots, of unequal size, numbering from west to east. Tract three has thirty-two lots, of nearly equal size, commencing to number at the northeast corner of the tract, thence south and north across the tract. TAX SALE. All of lots fifteen, thirty-four, thirty-seven to forty-eight inclusive, containing one thousand and nine hundred and fifty-eight acres, in tract three, was sold to Asa Foot, December 26, 1826, for the sum of forty-seven dollars and thirty-seven cents, being the tax due for 1824 and 1825. It was subsequently redeemed by Samuel Lord, for one hundred dollars.ROADS. The Chillicothe is the oldest road, having been surveyed under the direction of the State, by Edward Paine, in 1801. The line of the road is north and south, a little east of the center of the township. There are two other roads running north and south, between the Chillicothe and the east line of the township, which extend across it. West of the Chillicothe there are none extending across the township, north and south, and only one leading east and west across the township, and that the center road, leading from Auburn, on the east, to Solon, Cuyahoga county, on the west. There are other roads leading westerly,122 HISTORY OF GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO. but not continuously, on account of natural barriers near the streams in the western part of the township. There are two railroads running through the township. The Atlantic and Great Western railway crosses the southwest corner, making nearly two miles of road in the township, with a small station, known as Geauga Lake. The Canton, Bridgeport and Painesville railway crosses the northwestern corner, with about one mile of road in the township. This road is completed only from Solon to Chagrin Falls. STREAMS. The main branch of the Chagrin river enters the town from the south a short distance west of the center line, its source being the Harmon pond in Aurora. It continues its course northerly, and leaves the town on the west line north of the center line, continuing to run northerly to Lake Erie. A tributary of the Chagrin runs through the south part of Auburn and Bainbridge, leaving the latter at Centerville Mills, about one hundred rods from its confluence with the main branch in Aurora.Another tributary known as the Plumb Bottom creek (it derived its name from the great number of wild plumb trees which formerly grew along its margin), rises at a spring a few rods west of the west line of Auburn, near the road leading from Auburn to Bainbridge, thence running westerly to its confluence with the main branch at a point directly west of where it rises. Nearly all the streams and the tributaries in the township are the outflow of pure springs which issue from the fissures of the drift rock, which underlies the town. So numerous are the springs that few farms lack a supply of pure spring water. Geauga lake (formerly known as Giles pond), is situated in the southwest corner of the town in lot twenty-eight, tract three, and is the head water of Tinker's creek which empties into Cuyahoga river. The waters of this lake are very pure and of great depth. On the south of it is a beautiful gravel beach. Its location, geologically, is an anomaly, being in a basin-like depression within less than one-half a mile of the deep ravine, through which the Chagrin river passes, with its drainage in the opposite direction from the river. TIMBER AND SOIL. The timber consists largely of beech and maple, with an abundance of white ash and a limited supply of oak and chestnut. Whitewood, cucumber, basswood and cherry are quite abundant, and along the streams some black walnut is found.The soil is a deep sandy or clay loam, bordering in many places on sand very rich and productive. Stone is abundant for building purposes. The principal quarries are found on land owned by J. Patterson, K. W. Henry, R. P. Osborn, and William Hutchins. ORGANIZATION OF THE TOWN. At a meeting of the county commissioners held at Chardon on the first Monday of March, 1817, township number six, in the ninth range, was given the name of Bainbridge, which included what was subsequently called Auburn. When the separation from Auburn took place is not positively known. The chattel tax duplicate of 1817 contains names of tax payers who then resided in Bainbridge, which included the territory which is now Auburn, and in 1818 those names were separated, and are in Auburn and Bainbridge townships. Hence I conclude the separation took place in the summer of 1817.Who the first township officers were, or when or where the first election took place it is impossible to determine, as the records are lost. HISTORY OF GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO. 123 SCHOOLS. The citizens of the township have always manifested a due appreciation of educational advantages and have taken much interest in their common schools. There are ten school districts now in the township, four of which are union districts, composed of the territory from Solon on the west, and Aurora on the south, annexed to Bainbridge for school purposes. There has always been a good supply of resident teachers. Among the most efficient and experienced of the present time, are: C. M. Foot, J. W. Scott, S. J. McFarland, A. R. Phillips, J. J. Bliss, Sylvia Pettibone, Fanny McCollum, Mary Whipple, and others of less experience who bid fair to become teachers of the first rank. In addition to the common schools, select schools have been taught at different times in the township. One is now in session which is being taught by J. J. Bliss. The total amount of money expended for tuition, and other school purposes, during the last six years was nine thousand seven hundred and forty-one dollars and ninety-eight cents. The first school in the township was taught in a small log house, near George Smith's, by a young man from Windham, named Skiff, in 1816.CHURCHES. The pioneers of Bainbridge were men of early christian training, and had much of the puritanic regard for the rights and influences of religious society, and at a very early day religious meetings were held in the township, and on the ninth of June, 1819, the Congregational church was organized by John Leslie, a traveling missionary. The following persons were its first members, viz: George Smith, Susanna Smith, Jonas H. Childs, Gideon Russell, Justus Bissell, Jonathan Ely, Asahel North, Jemima Russell, Nancy Bissell, and Rebecca Wilber. Soon after Lydia Childs' and Hannah North's names were added, making twelve members. Jonas Childs was chosen moderator, and Asahel North, clerk. For many years it was a very prosperous and flourishing society, and early in its history, 1832 and 1833, erected a very commodious church building on land leased for that purpose from Joseph North. In 1839 and 1840 there was quite an extensive revival of religion, and the church received many accessions, but soon dissensions arose and some withdrew from the society, and very few were added to its numbers for many years. In 1850 Oliver O. Brown, a man of little moral worth, purchased the farm from which the site for the church was leased, claiming that he had bought the site and made an effort to prevent religious services being held in the church. Becoming exasperated by some denials of his right to the property, he entered the church, October 13, 1851, tore out the pulpit and its adornings and burnt them in front of the church. The society soon took the necessary legal measures and defeated his purpose to hold the property. By death and removal the society's numbers gradually decreased, and about nine years since the church building was sold for secular purposes. Among the pastors of this church were: J. A. Halleck, Sherman B. Canfield, S. G. Clark, Bridgman, Parmelee, Childs, and Ward. The last scheduled pastor was Rev. Mead Holmes.The Methodist Episcopal church was organized in the spring of 1822, by Rev. B. O. Plimpton, with thirty members. Harvey Baldwin was appointed class-leader. The principal members were: Joseph Ely and wife, Phillip Haskins and wife, P. D. McConoughey and wife, Asahel North, Jr., and wife, Jonathan Daniel and Wesley McFarland, with their wives, John Henry and wife, Gordon Kent and wife, Orrin Henry, Joseph Witter and wife, and Oliver Wheeler and wife. Services were held in private houses first, and later, in the log house built for a town hall. Some years later a small church was built at 124 HISTORY OF GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO. the center; at what date we are not advised. In 1866 the old church was sold to the township, for a town hall, and a new one erected in the summer of 1867, on the site of the old hotel (kept by Stewart and others), at a cost of about six thousand dollars. We have the names of all the ministers who have labored for the society since its organization in 1822, but the list is lengthy and we name only those who were among the first, viz: William Sawyze was the first presiding elder; B. O. Plimpton the first minister sent here by the Erie conference. Then followed Ira Eddy, William H. Collins, Orrin Gilmore, P. Green, W. C. Henderson, H. Hopkins, C. Jones, J. McLean, T. Vaughn, A. Bronson, W. B. Mack, D. Goddard, J. J. Stedman, and many others. The name of the present pastor is T. B. Tait. There is now a flourishing Sabbath-school connected with the church, of which C. E. Chase is superintendent. In 1877 a Universalist society was organized by Rev. Wilson, of Akron. Services are held in the town hall every alternate Sabbath. A Sabbath-school has also been organized, with Miss Lizzie Shaw as superintendent. Rev. G. L. Perin, pastor. EARLY SETTLERS. In commencing the biographical history of the settlement of Bainbridge, we append a sketch of the McConoughey family, the first who settled in the township, the principle part of which was obtained from notes, written by Rev. A. N. McConoughey, the youngest of the family, and the first child born in the township.David McConoughey was the first settler in what is now the township of Bainbridge, having moved within its limits on Thanksgiving day, 1811. He was of Scotch-Irish descent. His grandfather (also named David) emigrated to America from the north of Ireland, soon after his marriage, about the year 1725. He first settled in what was then Watertown, near Boston, Massachusetts. There his son David was born, in February, 1732. In 1752, the family removed into what is now Blandford, Hampden county, Massachusetts. There the grandfather, and father of David (third) died; the latter, in 1806, aged seventy-four years. He was a soldier in the patriot army of the Revolution. He served with credit, and received an honorable discharge and a land warrant for his services. He had a fine education, and was the clerk of the township of Blandford about twenty years. His son, David McConoughey (third), was born in Blandford, Massachusetts, August 6, 1787, and died in Bainbridge, September 25, 1849; aged eighty-two years. His wife was Mary Carter. She was of Scotch, English, and Welsh ancestry. Her father was Scotch, her mother English and Welsh. Her great-grandfather was a Scottish nobleman, tracing his descent from a sister of Robert Bruce. The name was originally McCarter, but one of his progenitors, for his gallantry in battle, received the honor of knighthood, with a change of name to Cartter. The progenitor of the family in America came over about the year 1700, and settled in Virginia. His plantation was destroyed by an incursion of the Indians, upon which event he removed to Massachusetts, and settled in Boston. His only son, James Bruce Carrter, was educated at Harvard college, for a minister of the gospel, but preferred the sea to the pulpit; was owner and captain of an East Indiaman, and for many years was a successful trader. After a time fickle fortune deserted him. His vessel, with its cargo, were lost at sea; he narrowly escaped with his life. In reduced circumstances, he took up his abode in Westfield, Massachusetts, and engaged in teaching Greek and Latin, in which he was an accomplished scholar. He taught the first school ever taught in Blandford, where, for a time, he resided. His son, Nehemiah, was born in Westfield. His eldest daughter, Mary Carrter, was born in Westfield, June 22, 1770; was married to David McConoughey (third) in 1792, and died in Oberlin, Ohio, January 22, 1864; aged ninety-three years and HISTORY OF GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO. 125 seven months. After having shared life's toils, its joys; and sorrows for more than fifty-seven years, this venerable couple repose side by side at the summit of a beautiful eminence, in the northeastern part of the township, and very near the home of their later years. There, also, rest the remains of many of their descendants. The family left Blandford, Massachusetts, November 9, 1810. The family consisted of father, mother, and six children, three of each sex. The eldest, a son, nearly nineteen years of age; the youngest, a son, about three years old. The journey at that season of the year was extremely tedious and dreary. The distance of nearly six hundred miles, through mud and snow, with one yoke of oxen, and one horse, was traversed in fifty-three days. Of what occurred during the journey we have no account, save of the last night, which was spent in the woods in Bedford, the second town west of Bainbridge, where they encamped for the night, and were serenaded through the weary hours by bands of hungry wolves, who seemed chanting their own death song, as well they might at the coming of this family, who aided very much in their extermination. On the first day of January, 1811, they arrived at the cabin of Samuel McConoughey, a younger brother of David, who had settled in the northwestern part of Aurora, in 1806. Here the family remained till the following November. In the early part of the year 1811, Mr. McConoughey purchased one hundred acres of land of Benjamin Gorham, in the southeast corner of Bainbridge, in lot three, tract three, now owned by Lucas Hurd. Upon this land the father and sons commenced clearing away a portion of the forest, and building a cabin, which was ready for occupancy, and to which the family moved on Thanksgiving day, 1811. It was a rudely constructed cabin, eighteen by twenty feet, of round logs, a huge fire-place, a puncheon floor made of logs split, and the flat surface upwards, a stick chimney, plastered inside with clay mortar to prevent it taking fire (a precaution not always successful), without chamber floor, a cover of long split shingles, held in place by heavy poles, one door opening north, and not a pane of glass in the apertures which served as windows. The scanty supply of furniture was brought from the old home, with the exception of a few articles manufactured by the family. For a short time there were no other inhabitants in the tract of wilderness now known as Bainbridge. To the east of them, lay what is now Auburn township, in which there was no human habitation, their nearest neighbor being the brother in Aurora. Between the two cabins lay nearly six miles of unbroken forest, infested with bears and wolves, intersected by streams of water, and dotted with black ash swamps, which must be traversed in visiting the nearest neighbor and friend. We fancy there were many sad, lonely hours, in which the friends of their early life and dear old home were tearfully remembered. But they were people of much practical sense; and the wife and mother had a purpose in coming to that wilderness home, which, if accomplished, would repay her for all the toil and privation of the undertaking. She was striving to save her family from the blighting curse of intemperance, which threatened the destruction of all she held most dear. The result proved the wisdom of her attempt, and rewarded her sacrifices and sufferings. She had a great deal joy of seeing her husband become a christian and total abstainer from all intoxicating drinks, and to see her children grow up intelligent, respectable people, utterly abhorring rum and rum-sellers. Mr. McConoughey was a quiet, unambitious man, of clear perception and unquestionable integrity. He was never wealthy, and never aspired to be. When about fifty years of age he became a christian, and a year or two later united with the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he remained a worthy member till his death. His wife was also a member of the same church. 126 HISTORY OF GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO. Mrs. McConoughey was far more aspiring and ambitious than her husband, and was more energetic and enterprising. She possessed a very superior intellect, and retained her faculties unimpaired till the last hour of life. She was a kind and devoted mother, and a true christian. The sons of the family were all bred to farming, which occupation they all engaged in through life, with the exception of the younger one, Austin N., who, after marriage, studied four years at Oberlin college, and graduated in theology at that institution; was ordained to the gospel ministry by the Lorain Congregational association in August, 1842, and has been engaged in the ministry about thirty-eight years. During a few last years of David, Jr.'s, life he studied and practiced medicine, with marked success. The daughters all married farmers, and were all estimable women. The eldest son, Colonel P. D. McConoughey, was one of the famous hunters of this section, killing deer, bears, elk, and wolves, in great numbers. It is said he was known to have killed as many as five bears in a single day. On one occasion, while hunting in company with Josiah Nettleton, he killed four full-grown deer, and Nettleton, five, in little more than half a day -- Nettleton lending his rifle to McConoughey, with which he killed his fourth. The father was also a hunter of some note, killing scores of bears and wolves. A bear story is related of the two hunters and a famous bear dog, which may be of interest. A very large hollow tree had been felled for bears. Porter, and his cousin Jarvis McConoughey, had fired through a small opening at a bear inside of the tree, when the dog rushed into the large hollow, attacked the bear, which was but slightly wounded. The howls and growls which were heard by the hunters indicated that a furious battle was raging, in which bruin would be the victor. The father instantly threw off his coat, and went down the hollow to the rescue of the dog. It was twenty feet from the entrance to the scene of action. Here he seized the dog by the hinder legs and slowly worked himself back until Porter could reach his feet, and by his assistance all were drawn out together, the dog and bear locked in a mutual grip by teeth and claws. The bear, which was a very large one, weighing over four hundred pounds, was instantly run through the heart with a lance, called the bear-spear, in the hands of the senior. On examination the tree was found to contain two more bears, each of more than half the size of the mother. As before stated, there were six children of the McConoughey family, who came with the parents to Bainbridge, of whom Col. Porter D., the eldest, was born in Blandford, Massachusetts, March 18, 1793, and died in Bainbridge, June 19, 1867. He was twice married; first to Miss Margaret Nettleton, in 1821. Eight children were born of this union, seven of whom survived the father, and five are still living. The mother died in 1848. The second marriage of Porter was in 1851, to Miss Elvira Marsh, of Chagrin Falls. Five children were born of this marriage, four of whom are living. His widow is still living, and resides in Oberlin, Ohio. Mary E., the eldest daughter of David, was born at Blandford, Massachusetts, March 20, 1795, and was married twice. First, to Zebina Kennedy, of Aurora, February 22, 1813. This was the first marriage in the township of Bainbridge. The ceremony was performed by Esquire Blackman, of Aurora. Mr. Kennedy lived but a short time after his marriage, having some connection with the soldiers near Lake Erie, where he visited and contracted a disease from which he died, very soon after his return, and in less than three months after her marriage, the young bride was called to exchange bridal robes for widow's weeds. She was married the second time in August, 1814, to Julius Riley, of Aurora (the ceremony at each marriage was performed by Esquire Blackman, of Aurora). By this marriage she became the mother of six children, five of whom HISTORY OF GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO. 127 survive her. She died in Aurora, April, 1867. Her husband is still living. The second daughter of the Conoughey's, Selina M., was born in Blandford, January 19, 1797. She was married March 20, 1826, to Horace Crosby, of Bainbridge. The fruits of this marriage was one daughter. Mr. Crosby died in Oberlin, February 26, 1873. Mrs. Crosby is now (1878) living in Oberlin, where she has resided over forty-three years. She is nearly eighty-two years old, still retains a great degree of mental and physical vigor, has walked to church, a distance of a mile, within the past year, but for a number of months has been feeble, with little prospect of recovery. Sally, born at Blandford, March 17, 1799, died in 1802, and sleeps in Blandford. The youngest daughter, Portia Ann, was born in Blandford, May 21, 1801. She was married to Asahel North, Jr., July 4, 1822, by P. D. McConoughey, esq. Seven children were born of this marriage. She died April 4, 1870, at Clyde, Ohio. Her husband still survives her. David C. was also born in Blandford, September 30, 1804. He was twice married -- first, to Eliza Howard, of Mantua, in 1832. To them nine children were born. His wife died in Minnesota in 1858. His second marriage was with Mrs. A. McWhorter, in 1862, by whom he had one son. He died January 15, 1874, at Milan, Ohio. His widow is still living. Eli Hector was born January 1, 1808, in Blandford. He was also twice married -- first, to Miss Amanda Snow, of Mantua, by whom he had four children. She died in Illinois in 1848. He married again in 1849, Mrs. Samantha Wooster, by whom he had two children. He died in Cornwall, Illinois, April 5, 1869. The youngest of this family, Austin Nehemiah, was born in Bainbridge, August 30, 1812, and married Miss Martha M. Nettleton, April 1, 1835, in Bainbridge. There were five children born of their marriage, four of whom are living, as are also the parents. Very soon after the settlement of the McConoughey family in Bainbridge, came Jasper Lacey and family, and settled on lot seven, tract three, now owned by Leverett Gorham. They remained but two or three years, and removed to Aurora, Portage county. In 1813 a son was born to them, which was the second birth in the township. The third family that settled in the township was that of Gamaliel H. Kent, who emigrated from Suffield, Connecticut, in 1805, and stopped in Warren, Ohio, one year, when they removed to Aurora, Portage county, where they remained five years, whence they removed to Bainbridge in 1811, and took up lots six and nineteen in tract three, upon which the elder sons, Elihu L. and Gamalial, Jr., had cleared a few acres. In the autumn of 1811 they built a log cabin and sowed a small piece to wheat, which was the first sowen in the township. Mr. Kent's family, at the time of their arrival in Bainbridge, consisted of wife and five children, three sons and two daughters, all of whom eventually married and settled in the neighborhood of the homestead. The eldest son, L. Elihu, married Clarissa Blish, of Mentor, and resided on the homestead till his death, which occurred September 14, 1827, at which time he was thirty-seven years old. She is remembered by those who formed her acquaintance in her earlier life, as a woman whose mental endowments were far above the ordinary. She is now nearly eighty-five years of age, and retains her mental and physical vigor to a remarkable degree. She resides with a niece in Solon. In the winter of 1813 Mr. Kent's house, with nearly all its contents, was burned. A quantity of flax had been placed under a shed and around the house to dry, why, by some means, took fire, and a strong breeze blowing at the time, the flames were 128 HISTORY OF GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO. soon beyond control. In the excitement an empty cupboard was carried carefully out and saved, while one which stood near it, filled with valuable articles, was left for the fire to consume. After the destruction of their house, the family went to Aurora, where they remained until a new one could be constructed. The work was immediately commenced by men who came from Aurora, through the woods, bringing their lunch (which was frequently frozen before noon), and returning home at night. The family moved to their new cabin in February, which was without chimney, door or windows, and in that condition they spent the remainder of the winter, which was a very severe one. Mr. Kent and son, Elihu, purchased the first dry goods and groceries offered for sale in the township. The stock of good was very limited in quantity and variety, consisting of such articles as were considered indispensable. Some were sold on credit, and the accounts were written with chalk upon the side of the house. Paper was not easily obtained at that period. The business was very soon abandoned. Mr. Kent, like most of the pioneers of the Western Reserve, was of New England birth and education. He was an intelligent, honorable man, and much esteemed by the community in which he resided. His family were among the most intelligent and cultured of that period, as are also many of their descendants of the present time. Mrs. Kent was her husband's superior in some respects. She possessed a clearer intellect and more will power. She was a woman well fitted to share the toils and privations of pioneer life, one who was ever ready to bear her full share of its burdens. In 1818, while yet neighbors were few, and they widely separated with roads nearly impassable lying between, Mrs. Kent felt that it would be for the public good to improve the roads (and thereby their condition), to that end she appointed a day and place of meeting, and requested every man, woman, and child, who was able to assist in any way, to be ready at the time, and place appointed, to work on the road. Nearly all complied with the request, and by her direction the men felled the trees, the larger boys trimmed off their branches and cut undergrowth, while the women and children carried and piled the brush. By night they had cleared a road broad enough for a wagon to pass, from the cabin of Mr. Kent to that of George Smith, which was situated more than half a mile eastward. When the work was completed, Mrs. Kent provided supper for the company. In the summer of 1817, Mr. Kent built the first frame house in the township, which is still in a good condition, having been recovered in 1876. Mr. Kent was engaged in farming all his life, and he occupied the farm which he purchased in Bainbridge in 1811 until his death, which occurred April 30, 1831, at which time he was sixty-six years of age. The second daughter, Laura, married Harvey Baldwin of Aurora, October 24, 1818. Two sons were born of their marriage. After a few years the parents separated, and both after a time, left the place, and after a few years had passed, each married again. Mrs. Baldwin married a Mr. Fobes, from whom she separated, and is now living with her third husband in the vicinity of Cleveland. Mr. Baldwin first purchased a lot which is a part of the farm now owned by Delos Root, and the house, a log one, stood on the east side of the road, a few rods north of the residence of Mr. Root. The eldest daughter, Delia, married Russell G. McCartey. He purchased the farm, of which Mrs. Amarilla Root now owns a part. Mr. McCartey resided upon the farm until the spring of 1853, when he sold his farm to Lyman Fowler, and removed to Dover, where he died about two years later. To Mr. and Mrs. McCartey were born seven children, six of whom, three sons and three daughters, lived to adult age. The eldest son, Henry, completed a college HISTORY OF GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO. 129 course, and was stricken with consumption, of which he died a few months later. Subsequently, two daughters and a younger son died of the same malady. The father was also a victim of consumption. Mrs. McCartney is still living, and resides with her son in Iowa. The surviving daughter resides in Wisconsin. Gamaliel H. Kent, second son of Gamaliel and Deborah Huntington Kent, was born in Suffield, Hartford county, Connecticut, and came with his father to Bainbridge in the winter of 1811 and 1812. He assisted his father and other pioneers in clearing the heavy forests from their farms until his marriage, which occurred in May, 1824, when he was united in marriage with Ann Eliza Granger. In the winter of 1825 they settled on a farm of fifty acres, of which Nichols and son now owns a part. He had previously cleared a few acres, and erected a log house near the large spring (now used by Nichols' cheese factory). He remained on the farm about eight years, built the barn which is still standing, planted an orchard of apple trees, many of which are in good bearing condition, and left standing the young maples which form what has been known as Andrews' grove, where various public gatherings, picnics, celebrations and religious meetings are held. Mr. and Mrs. Kent were parents of eight children, four of whom were born in this their first home, viz; Ann Eliza, Hortense, Oliver G., and Augusta D. In the spring of 1833, Mr. Kent sold his farm of fifty acres to Alfred Thompson, and purchased two hundred acres of unimproved land in the west part of the town. He removed from the first home in April, and himself and family boarded with the family of J. Carver, in Solon, while he was preparing a home on the new farm. He cleared a small piece of ground, and built a log house, to which he removed his family in May, at which time there was neither door, chimney, nor windows, and only a loose rough floor in the cabin. For a few days the cooking was done out of doors, and two crooked sticks were driven in the ground with a pole and log-chain to hold the kettles over the fire, while a covered, flat iron kettle did duty as an oven. During the summer he cleared twenty-one acres, and sowed it to wheat in the fall. Here the remainder of his life was spent in improving and beautifying his home. He was a man honored and respected as a citizen, and much esteemed in all the relations of life. He held many offices of the township in its early history, and in 1850 was elected to the State legislature. He died May 28, 1871, having been a resident of the township sixty years. Four children were born in the home where the father died -- Gameliel H., Jr., Amelia V., Eugene E., and Clarence E. The family married and reside within a few miles of the homestead. The eldest daughter, Ann E., married Henry Root, and resides in Mantua. Hortense I. Sturtevant resides in Cleveland. Oliver G. was married to Lucy Baldwin, of Aurora, and resides in Cleveland, where Mrs. Kent died, October 13, 1873. Augusta was married to L. W. Joy, of Kansas, and resides in Cleveland. Gamaliel H., Jr., married Emily Bently, and resides in Bainbridge. Amelia V. married James G. Coleman, and resides at Chagrin Falls. Eugene E. married Lucinda Bayard, of Chagrin Falls, and resides in Bainbridge. Clarence E. married Ella J. Robins, of Warren, and lived on the homestead till his death, which occurred about two years later. The north and west part of the township was settled much later than the south part, Mr. Kent being the first who moved to that part of Bainbridge. Very soon several families were added to the neighborhood, among whom were the Haydens, Holbrooks and Nieces. Alexander Edson, youngest son of Gamaliel and Deborah H. Kent, was born in Suffield, Hartford county, Connecticut, April 20, 1802. When he was about three years old his father emigrated to Ohio, where his children all accompanied him and shared the labors and privations of pioneer life. In 1812 they settled 130 HISTORY OF GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO. in Bainbridge, where their parents spent the remainder of their lives, cared for in their declining years by the subject of this brief sketch, who is the only man living in the township whose residence dates from so early a period. Many changes have occurred in the years intervening, which Mr. Kent has noted with mingled feelings of pleasure and pain. The forests which covered the whole face of the country for miles around have steadily receded, and in their stead are seen cultivated fields and tasteful, attractive homes. Other changes have also occurred. Friendly, familiar faces have passed away in rapid succession till nearly a generation of strong, brave men, and earnest self-reliant women have laid down the burdens of life and are hidden forever from our sight. Sad changes have come to the household of this pioneer. The parents and brothers are gone, five children and the gentle, loving companion of his early manhood and one of his later years have been called away, and he, having nearly reached four score years, is waiting "Only waiting till the shadows are a little longer grown," and all too soon, the few remaining links which connect the present with the past generation will be severed. Mr. Kent has occupied the farm to which his father moved, when he was but nine years old, until the present; a period of nearly sixty-seven years. He was married November 8, 1826, to Miss Lucy M. Bull, of Lebanon, New York. From this union seven children were born, viz: Lyman E., who married Emily C. Eggleston, October 7, 1856; she died, in 1858, and he was again married to Mrs. Anna Leonard, who survives her husband, who died May 16, 1862. He was a young man of genial temperament, intelligent, and highly esteemed by all his associates. Rebecca M., married Thomas Briggs; died August 7, 1860. Delia E., married Henry C. Ely; she died September 24, 1862. Laura A., married Austin Z. Mason; her death occurred April 12, 1865. Hampton H., married Jerusha Pettibone, in 1870, and resides in Austin, Minnesota. Elizabeth B. and Lucy M., both unmarried, live on the old homestead. Mrs. Kent died September 14, 1841, and in October, 1842, Mr. Kent was again married to Hannah Morford, of Solon. From this marriage four children were born: Abiah A., who died June 23, 1853. Alexander H., who married Addie Eggleston, and resides at the center of Bainbridge. Cassandra married Lucas Hurd, and resides in Bainbridge. Henry M. resides in Auburn. In the latter part of the same winter in which Mr. Kent settled in Bainbridge, Alexander Osborn, sr., arrived, having previously traded land which he owned in the State of New York, to Benjamin Gorham, for three hundred and twenty acres in lot eleven, tract three, in the south part of the town. Mr. Osborn emigrated from Blandford, Massachusetts, where he left his family, consisting of wife and six children (Russell, Maria, Alexander, Jr., Sally, David C., and Melissa), and came to prepare a home, to which he purposed removing them the next fall; but during his absence his wife and youngest daughter died. The remaining children were placed with relatives, where they remained until their father returned to the old home, in the winter of 1813-14. He came back to Bainbridge in the latter part of the same winter, bringing his oldest son, who was about fourteen years old, with him. The younger ones remained with their friends, being too young to endure the fatigue of so long a journey and the privations of pioneer life, without the patient, loving care of a mother. Mr. Osborn started on his return with a span of horses and sleigh, with which he traveled three days, when the snow went off, and he was obliged to trade his sleigh for a wagon, with which he pursued his journey for a week, when he found it necessary to exchange his wagon for a sleigh, with which he nearly completed the journey; stopping a few miles north of Warren, where he was delayed three days by a heavy rain storm, which made the streams impassable. They came in on the road running from Warren to Cleveland, by the way of Hudson, which, after HISTORY OF GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO. 131 the snow went off, was extremely bad, and scarcely passable. After several accidents and delays the father and son reached their lonely cabin, where they lived alone till Alexander, Jr., came, some three years later; Russell having visited Massachusetts for the purpose of accompanying him back. In the fall of 1817, Russell made a second trip to Massachusetts, and on his return in the following winter, his eldest sister, Maria, came with him. Soon after her arrival, their cabin, with all its contents, was burned. Among other articles of value was a fine new rifle, and a quantity of books, which were particularly prized, as new ones could scarcely be obtained at any price. A new cabin was soon erected, in which the family commenced housekeeping with a scanty supply of furniture, mostly of their own manufacture. The younger son, David, came later with Jonathan Osborn, an uncle, who settled in Ashtabula county. David remained several years in Bainbridge, but after his marriage lived several years in Munson, from whence he removed to Illinois. The younger sister remained in Massachusetts, where she married, and died, leaving five children, who now reside in Connecticut. The elder sons aided in clearing and improving the farm, a few years, when each purchased land adjacent to the homestead. Russell planted the first apple trees in the town, on his father's farm, having brought the seeds from Massachusetts. Seven years from the time of planting many of the trees bore fruit. Several orchards now in bearing were taken from the nursery which he planted. There are trees yet standing thickly together on the old nursery ground. Russell first took up fifty acres of land where Henry Haskins now lives, upon which he chopped a few acres, and built an ashery, where he made potash, which he took to Pittsburgh with an ox team, where he could always get cash for that article, with which he purchased a few dry goods and groceries for the convenience of his neighbors and his own profit. He married Ruby McConoughey, of Aurora, built a log house on land now owned by William McCollum, a few rods south of the old cemetery, on the east side of the road. In 1831 he sold to Stephen Goodman, and purchased the farm now occupied by Joseph Eggleston, where he resided till 1834, when he sold to Jeremiah Root, and removed to Mantua, where he was engaged several years in the mercantile business. He now resides in Cleveland, is seventy-nine years old, and quite vigorous. He has two sons and one daughter. The eldest son, R. P. Osborn, resides in Bainbridge; Alexander, Jr., son of Alexander sr., married Anna N. Creager, of New York, and settled on the farm now occupied by Evan Richard, in lots five and twelve, tract three, where he resided until his death, which occurred April 25, 1863, at which time he was sixty years and six months old. He was a member of the Methodist church about twenty-three years; a man just and true in all the relations of life. His wife survives him and resides in Bainbridge. They were the parents of ten children -- Lorinda A. married William Howard; Caroline E. married Robert Hood, and resides in Chicago; John A. married Julia Sly, of Oberlin, and resides in Iowa; David Edson was killed in the battle of Chaplin Hills, near Perryville, Kentucky, October 8, 1862, in the twenty-third year of his age -- he was a member of Company F, One Hundred and Fifth Ohio volunteer infantry; Mary C. married Dr. Azel Hanks, and resides in Iowa; Lorette M. married S. J. Hood, and died November, 1870, aged twenty-six years; Addie E., the youngest of the family, married Charles F. Phillips, and resides at Chagrin Falls; Watson C., unmarried, resides at Virginia City, Nevada; Bertley H. died at the age of nine years; Eliza F., the fourth daughter, died November 16, 1866, at the age of twenty-two years; Maria, the eldest daughter of Alexander Osborn, Sr., married Robert Smith, Jr., resided some years in Bainbridge, and removed to Farmington, Trumbull county. 132 HISTORY OF GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO. After the arrival of Alexander Osborn in the winter of 1812, there seem to have been no accessions to the settlement, previous to the arrival of George Smith and family, consisting of wife and five children -- three sons and two daughters. One child, a boy of seven years, died on the way. The children were George, Jr., Harriet, Laura, William and Dillingham. The eldest son had attained to manhood, the youngest was nearly fourteen, and the daughters were young ladies, making an important addition to the population of the little settlement, which came to be Bainbridge, where they arrived in the latter part of February, 1814. The family emigrated from Washington, Berkshire county, Massachusetts. They came with a sleigh, two yoke of oxen and one horse, the sleighing being fine until the last day of the journey which occupied four weeks. They were detained three days at Leroy, New York, by the death and burial of one of their number, a boy, seven years old, who died of whooping cough, with which he was attacked previous to their departure from their old home. With sad hearts they resumed their dreary journey, rendered far more dreary by the recollection, which must haunt them through the succeeding years of the death of their darling, far from home with none but stranger hands to close the sightless eyes, robe the little form for the last time, and perform the sad burial rites. When, within one day's journey of their destination, the snow was thin, and the roads so rough, the family were obliged to walk most of the distance. Mr. Smith settled on the farm, from which Jasper Lacy, sr., had removed, purchasing that and additional lands amounting to nearly four hundred acres, for which he paid three dollars per acre. Mr. Lacy had cleared a few acres, and built a log house on the land, which he had occupied. The house was without doors or windows when Mr. Smith moved his family into it, but spring was near at hand, and they suffered less from exposure than many who came earlier in the season. They brought very little furniture with them for a few weeks, and they had no other table than a large chest. Rough benches made of split logs, served as a substitute for chairs, while a saucer of lard in which was placed a narrow strip of cloth, did duty as a lamp. Mr. Smith sold most of the land which he purchased, detaining one hundred and fifteen acres, where he resided until his death. His house was the first in the township, where religious services were held. It was used several years as a place of public worship, by the Methodist and Presbyterian denominations. Elder B. O. Plimpton, it is claimed, preached the first sermon in the township at the house of Mr. Smith. Rev. John Seward, of Aurora, frequently preached at the same place. Here, also, the first religious awakening commenced as the fruit of their united labors. Mr. Smith was a large, muscular man, well fitted to endure the fatigue and hardships of pioneer life, but one whom phrenologists might say had not properly cultivated the organ of locality. Consequently, he was more easily bewildered in the dense forests which surrounded his home, than were most of his neighbors. This defect was occasionally the source of serious inconvenience to himself and anxiety to his friends. To illustrate this, we will relate an incident which occurred in his experience. About two years after his arrival in the township, it became apparent that the services of a physician would be required in the family, and Mr. Smith started for Aurora (a distance of five miles through the woods), to secure the attendance of Dr. Owen, who had established himself at that place. About sunset, in company with the doctor, he set out to return, when within a mile and a half of Smith's cabin they were overtaken by a thunder storm, making it very dark. The doctor, being wholly unacquainted in the locality, and Smith, very uncertain as to their whereabouts, they hitched their horses and decided to remain in the woods until morning. As soon as there was sufficient light in the morning they proceeded, as they supposed, to the HISTORY OF GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO. 133 house of Smith; but what was their surprise, upon reaching the house, to find that it contained the family of David McConoughey (a neighbor living two miles southeast of Smith's), instead of the family of Smith. After partaking of breakfast, which Mrs. McConoughey prepared for them, and securing McConoughey for a guide, they again started for the cabin, where they arrived, weary, wet, and the doctor very blue, having on a new suit of the old style of blue drilling, which cold water would fade. It had rained all night, and his nether garments and his person, were nearly as blue as his outer ones, and as wet as rain could make them, and in sorry plight with which to enter a sick room. Here was a dilemma -- something must be did, and did quickly. Accordingly the M. D. donned a suit of his host's best, and waited patiently while his own were washed, dried and ironed. The daughter born that day (now Mrs. Maria Gorham) to Mr. and Mrs. Smith, very considerately deferred putting in an appearance until arrangements were completed for her proper reception, thereby securing, very early in life, a reputation for patience and kindly regard for the wishes of others, which she still retains. Mrs. Gorham was the first female child born in the township, and the eldest of three, added to the family of Mr. Smith during his residence here. Mr. and Mrs. Smith joined the Congregational church at its organization, and remained members until their death. Mr. Smith was much esteemed as a neighbor and citizen, and had the kindly regard of all through his life, which terminated July 25, 1861, when he was ninety-three years and six months old. His wife, Susannah, died August 6, 1856, aged eighty-two years. Their eldest son, George, Jr., settled on a part of the farm now owned by John K. Smith; remained there a few years, and removed to Illinois, where he died many years ago, leaving one son and one daughter. William, the second son, married Nancy Bowler, and resided with his father on the farm in Bainbridge several years, when he removed to the center and engaged in the mercantile business, where he remained but a few years and sold his store, removed to Cleveland and engaged in buying cattle. While engaged in that business he took passage on a railway train for Buffalo, where the train on which he was a passenger had arrived when it collided with a freight, and he was so badly scalded that he lived but a few hours. He left one son and one daughter. George's eldest daughter, Harriet, was united in marriage with David McIntosh, November 2, 1818, by the Rev. J. Seward. Both are living in Shalersville, Portage county. Mrs. McIntosh is nearly eighty years old, and retains her faculties remarkably for one so advanced in years. She is the only one living of the family who came into the township with her father in 1814. Laura, the second daughter, became the wife of Lyman Fowler, and resided in Bainbridge till 1857 or 1858, and then removed to Newburgh, where she died. Maria, the third daughter, married Leverett Gorham. She has resided all her life on the homestead where she was born sixty-two years ago. She is the mother of three daughters and one son. In the fall of 1814 Robert Smith came from Washington, Massachusetts, and purchased five hundred acres of land of Benjamin Gorham, in tract three, for which he paid one dollar and fifty cents per acre. The family of Mr. Smith, then consisting of wife and six children, three of each sex (four sons were added to the number in Bainbridge), found a temporary home with the family of George Smith, a brother of Robert, until a small piece of ground could be cleared and a cabin built, which was accomplished in five or six weeks, and the family removed to the log house, which served as home eight years. This was replaced, in the summer of 1822, by a very fine and commodious framed house, the first framed house built in the township. It is still standing and occupied, though in a very dilapidated condition. 134 HISTORY OF GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO. Mr. Smith came from Massachusetts with a span of horses and wagon. The roads were muddy and very rough, making it necessary to travel slowly. They were six weeks making the journey, which can now be made in twenty hours. For many years Mr. Smith was quite extensively engaged in agricultural pursuits, in which he was very successful for a time, but towards the latter part of his life became somewhat involved [sic], and sold his farm to his son, John K. Smith, who still retains possession of it. Mr. Smith died April 11, 1853, aged seventy-seven years. His wife, Sarah, died October 15, 1865, aged eighty-five years. Nearly all their children settled in Bainbridge. Thomas married Emeline Eggleston, and resided on the farm now occupied by Mr. Abbott, in the southeast corner of Bainbridge, until his death, which occurred February 22, 1855, when he was fifty-three years old. After his death his heirs sold the farm and removed to Allegan county, Michigan, where several of them still remain. Mrs. Smith was the mother of ten children, nine of whom survived her. She died in Michigan, of injuries received at the burning of her house. Robert, Jr., second son of Robert Smith, sr., married Maria Osborn, and purchased the farm a part of which is now owned by John Hopper. He removed to Farmington, remained ten years, and returned to Bainbridge. In 1848 he removed to Illinois. Soon after he joined a company bound for California, the Eldorado of the world. He had just arrived there when he died from the effects of poison administered by a young man of the company for the purpose, as was supposed, of obtaining a few hundred dollars in cash which he had on his person. Rachel, second daughter of the Smith family, married George Wilber, and settled in Auburn, where they resided for some time, when they removed to Aurora, Illinois, where they now reside. They are the parents of nine children, six of whom are living. The eldest daughter of Mr. Smith married Dr. David Shipherd, December 25, 1832. They resided till their death in Bainbridge. The youngest daughter married Orlando Giles, and is now a resident of Bainbridge, and the only one of the family left in the township. Mr. and Mrs. Giles have four sons and a daughter, all of whom are married. Albert, the third son, died unmarried, in 1839, at the age of twenty-five. Bainbridge, the fourth son, married Miss Dodge and settled in Illinois, where he engaged in the legal profession. The fifth son, John K., has been twice married -- first, to Miss Lucinda Clover, of Bainbridge, who died in 1854. In 1856 he married Mrs. Clarinda Loveland, of Parkman. He resided in Bainbridge till the spring of 1877, when he removed to Akron. The youngest son, Edwin, married Emeline Bidwell, and removed to Iowa some years since. In the month of April, 1816, Enos D. Kingsley, of Becket, Massachusets (who had a short time previous married Miss Sally Harris), arrived and purchased land in lot two, tract three, being a part of the farm now owned by Nathan Kingsley. Here he built a log house and commenced life in the woods, in earnest. In the following November a daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Kingsley. This was the second female, and the fourth child, born in the township. On the ninth day after the birth of the daughter the mother died, leaving her helpless infant to the care of strangers. What her young heart must have suffered, in view of the prospects, none but a mother can realize -- far from the home of her childhood, with no mother or sister near to counsel and sympathize with her in her sorrow, or to whose care she might commit her little one. Mrs. Kingsley was a very intelligent, refined and amiable woman, much beloved by her acquaintances. Hers was the first death which occurred in the settlement, and was regarded as a great affliction to the community. The remains were HISTORY OF GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO. 135 carried on a bier, through the woods, to Aurora for burial, a distance of more than five miles, with no road except what was cleared by men detailed for that purpose. The ground was very muddy, and the men frequently lost their shoes in the mud and mire. Some of the most able bodied men in the procession pronounced it the hardest day's work they ever performed. The husband was so much overcome by this sudden bereavement that it was feared his reason might be permanently affected. He was therefore advised to return to his friends in New England -- which he did -- remaining a short time, and again returning to Ohio. On the sixteenth of January, 1819, he was married to Miss Mary Mann, of Mentor. Again Mr. Kingsley's second courtship, though brief, was somewhat romantic. Being called to Mentor on business, while passing through Kirtland on his way thither, he came to the Chagrin river, which was very high from recent rains, and running very rapidly. There was no bridge across the stream, and he, being on horseback, started to ford it. When about half way across he discovered a lady trying to cross on two trees which had fallen, one from either bank, and meeting midway of the stream. On reaching the bank he hitched his horse and went to the assistance of the fair one, who proved to be Miss Mary Mann, and who was teaching school in that vicinity. Her intrepidety won his admiration, and on reaching terra firma he introduced himself and stated to her his circumstances. They spent some time in conversation, and, when they separated, their vows were plighted to take passage on the ship "Matrimony," and cross the ocean of life together. A few weeks later they were united in marriage, and removed to the farm formerly occupied by Mr. Kingsley. Four children -- two sons and two daughters -- were the fruits of this marriage. Two or three years subsequent to his marriage, Mr. Kingsley had an attack of rheumatism which rendered him unable to labor for many months. Added to this misfortune was that of the loss of all their stock of cattle by murrain, and but for the persevering efforts of Mrs. Kingsley, and the assistance of neighbors, the family must have suffered for want of the necessary comforts of life. During the disability of her husband, Mrs. Kingsley performed the labor of her household, spun and wove for their neighbors, chopped, piled and burnt brush, and helped to prepare a piece of land for cultivation. To her habits of untiring industry, strict economy and skilful management may be attributed a great measure of the success which ultimately crowned their labors. Mr. Kingsley was universally respected as a citizen, held several offices of trust in the township, and was a member of the Congregational church for many years. He died October 21, 1870, at the age of seventy-nine years. Sally H., daughter of Enos D. and Sally Harris Kingsley, married John M. Fitch, settled in Windham, Portage county, and remained several years, when they removed to Bainbridge, where they now reside. They have one son and one daughter, both residents of Bainbridge. Faber, the eldest son of Enos and Mary Kingsley, married Theresa Hartshorn, and resides in Bainbridge. They have two daughters. Arvilla Kingsley married James Thompson, and resides in Solon, Cuyahoga county. The third daughter, Jane, married Warren S. Fairbanks, of Troy. They reside in Bainbridge. They have two daughters. Nathan D. has been twice married; first to Caroline Asper, who died in 1867; the second marriage was to Eunice Lewis, of Farmington. They reside on the homestead. Mary, second wife of Enos Kingsley, died June 6, 1875; aged seventy-nine years. The year 1817 witnessed the arrival in Bainbridge of John Fowler, Joseph Ely, and Simon Henry, and their families. John Fowler, with his wife, two sons, and Lucinda Howard, a niece of Mrs. 136 HISTORY OF GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO. Fowler's, came from Washington, Massachusetts, in the spring of the year above mentioned, and moved into the house of Enos Kingsley (then vacant), and remained there until a log house could be built on land purchased by Mr. Fowler of Jonathan Ely, Robert Smith and Elihu L. Kent, situate in tract thirty-three, lots nine and ten; amount, one hundred and eighty-three acres. The house was soon completed, and the family removed to it. In 1824, an additional purchase of fifty-four acres was made of Alexander Osborn, sr., and later other purchases were made. Mr. Fowler was born in Sommers, Connecticut, from whence he removed to Washington, Massachusetts, where he worked at the saddlers' trade. After his settlement in Ohio his principal business was farming, in which his youngest son, Lyman, was engaged with him. In 1847, Lyman purchased the farm of Asahel North, Jr., to which they removed. In 1858, he sold the North farm to R. P. Osborn, and removed to Newburgh, where John Fowler died. He was a very estimable man, and was the first justice of the peace elected in the township. He died at Newburgh, March 14, 1861, at the age of eighty-six. Jerusha, his wife, died February 21, 1846, aged sixty-one. Horatio, eldest son of John Fowler, married Jemima Russell, of Russell township, May 31, 1821, and purchased land in tract one and lot twelve, now owned by heirs of Otis B. Bliss. He resided upon this purchase till the spring of 1832, when he sold to William Phillips, and purchased land in tract two, a part of lots fifteen, sixteen and seventeen, now owned by Justin Fowler. He removed to this farm, and continued to occupy it till his death, in August, 1873. Lyman married Laura Smith, and resided with his father till the death of the latter. After his removal to Newburgh, he engaged, to some extent, in real estate speculations, which proved quite successful. He was a very enterprising, intelligent and influential man, and held in high esteem by all. He died in Newburgh, in 1876, aged seventy-five years. His wife died two or three years previous. They were parents of three children. The daughter, Jerusha, married Harvey Hollister; she died in 1866. The sons, John and Edwin, both reside in Newburgh; the latter is a very skilful physician. The children of Horatio and Jemima Fowler were: Louisa, who married Joseph Burgess, and resides in Orange; Marvin married, and lived in Cleveland, where he died in 1877; Harriet, unmarried, resides at Chagrin Falls; Emily married Philip Cockerel, lived and died in Orange; Norman was killed at the battle of Gettysburg, and he was a member of a Minnesota regiment; Laura died unmarried in March, 1867; Justin married Helena Christdor, of Cleveland, and resides in Bainbridge; Alfred married Lucina Hall, and resides in Newbury; John, a son, about three years old, died, and was the first person buried in the old south burying ground in 1823 -- the ground was donated to the town, by John Fowler, sr. Mrs. Jemima Fowler died March 23, 1866. Next after the arrival of the Fowlers, Joseph Ely, wife and four children came from Middlefield, Massachusetts, and arrived in Bainbridge about the last of June, and lived in the house of Enos Kingsley (which seems to have been a temporary home for many of the settlers) till October. There was neither chimney, door, or windows in the house. Soon after their removal, there was quite a severe snow storm, which continued several days, in which Mr. Ely worked, taking cold, which resulted in rheumatism, disabling him for several months, and preventing him from finishing his house till spring. The family spent the winter in it with blankets hung up for doors and windows, while green logs piled up a few feet high, served for a chimney. When a fire was built, the smoke was as likely to fill the house as to go out of doors, and frequently the children were obliged to go to bed to keep warm and avoid suffocation from HISTORY OF GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO. 137 smoke. Towards spring Mr. Ely's health improved, and with the assistance of his brother, Jonathan, he made about four hundred sap troughs, which enabled him to make quite a large quantity of maple sugar, which he sold for twenty-five cents a pound. For some years subsequent, wheat and maple sugar were the principle sources of revenue to pioneers of this section. Wheat could not be sold for more than fifty cents per bushel, and seldom for cash at that figure, consequently many depended upon the sale of their sugar for money with which to pay taxes, as that article sold readily for cash, at a high figure. Mr. Ely settled on the farm now owned by Atremas Howard, Jr., in tract two, lots fifteen and sixteen, which he purchased of Nathaniel Church, previous to his removal from Massachusetts. He resided on the farm till his death, which occurred March 20, 1870, at which time he was eighty-one years old. He was a man who possessed an intellect of high order, but like many men of his age, he had few educational advantages. He took a lively interest in whatever seemed for the public good, and was ever ready to assist the unfortunate. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church about fifty years, and class-leader several years. Ruby, his wife, died in December, 1854. Cordelia, the eldest daughter, died some years previous. The youngest daughter married Albert Haskins, and resides in Bainbridge. They have three sons. Alonzo J. Ely married Ruby Howard, and settled on the farm now owned by his son, Leander A. Ely. He died in 1857, aged forty-six. His wife died in 1863. They left a son and daughter. The second son, Rev. L. W. Ely, has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church thirty-six years. He is an earnest student, a profound reasoner, and possesses mental capacity far above the average. He is regarded as one of the most efficient members of the Northern Ohio conference. He is now stationed at Mentor, Lake county. He married Miss Lorette Eddy, daughter of Elder Ira Eddy. Cyrus married Pamelia Brown, in 1842, removed to Meadville Pennsylvania, where he studied at Allegheny college about three years, with the intention of entering the ministry, but abandoned the idea, and returned to Bainbridge and settled on the homestead, which he sold after his father's death. He now resides at Chagrin Falls. * On the eighteenth of September, 1817, Simon Henry and family started from Washington, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, and arrived in what is now Bainbridge, on the first of November. The family consisted of himself, wife, and ten children -- Orrin, William, John, Rhoda, Nelson, Ann, Mary, Calvin, Milo, and Newton. Orrin and John came on the season before, cleared a piece of ground, raised some corn, and built a cabin to receive the family. They settled on lot fourteen, tract three, the first land being procured of Simon Perkins in exchange for the Massachusetts farm. Subsequent purchases were made from Medad Eames, and others. In Washington they were neighbors of George and Robert Smith, and John Fowler, who had preceded them to Ohio by a year or two. George Smith's family were their nearest neighbors, and when they parted with them it was without hope of meeting them again. Two years after the departure of the Smiths, they decided to try their fortunes in the wilds of Ohio, so, bidding good-by to their friends, they started on the wearisome forty days' journey. The last night of the journey they stayed at Hudson's Corners, in Chester. Between there and the center of Bainbridge there was but one house, and that without a tenant (built and afterwards occupied by Gideon Russell, of Russell township). Orrin, the eldest son, met them in Chester with two fresh teams, _________________ * From notes by N. C. Henry. 138 HISTORY OF GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO. and the Smiths and Fowler came up soon after and kept them company through the day. Their meeting with these friends can be better imagined than described. With George Smith and Simon Henry, especially, was this a glad meeting. They worked together while young men, clearing their rugged mountain farms, and when, after a separation which both thought final, George Smith rode up to them, those men of fifty years could only clasp hands, while the starting tears expressed what their tongues refused to tell. With the help of the fresh cattle their own jaded ones were enabled to be at nightfall within a half mile of their future home. This now smooth meadow was then a black-ash swamp, and after struggling over roots and through mud till about half way across, the wagon settled hopelessly down in the more, and in spite of all the drivers could do, had to be abandoned for the night. The mother and smaller children were carried to dry land by the grown up sons (the girls, and Calvin, a boy of nine), had been sent off before dark on the horses of their old neighbors, and were already among friends. Packing on their backs the necessary articles for cooking, they went on foot to the cabin which the sons had built, whose ample chimney gave them a view of the tree-tops waving in the November wind. They were the ninth family in the township, and with three young men and as many young women, made an important accession to the isolated settlement. When the sons came to want homes of their own, their father settled them on farms near himself. Orrin married. Densey Thompson, and settled on the farm west of and adjoining his father's. Still farther west, William and John settled. Calvin owned, but never occupied, the farm now occupied by Sullivan Giles; Nelson was to remain on the homestead with the parents, but feeling called to a higher work, he entered the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal church, and went to Missouri, where he married, and resided till his death, in 1853. He was a very able and devoted minister. Orrin, after about thirty years' residence where he first purchased, sold and removed to Iowa, and died about 1873; William and John both remained on their farms until their decease; John died in 1868; William, in 1860. After the removal of Nelson, Calvin married Lorette Jackson, of Auburn, and resided with the parents, though subsequently he also became a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church; he never removed his family from the homestead, where he died in 1853. He was highly esteemed as a minister and citizen. Milo married Chloe A. Osborn, and resided a few years on the farm now owned by Oscar Niece; from thence he removed to Illinois, and died near Nauvoo. Newton went to sea, and was mate of a whale ship at the time of his death. He was buried in the Pacific ocean. The three daughters married and spent most of their lives in Bainbridge. Rhoda married Robert Root, and is now (1878) the only survivor of the twelve who came from Massachusetts sixty-one years ago; Ann married Jasper Lacy, and died at Chagrin Falls in 1852; Mary married Elijah French, and died in Bainbridge in 1877. The mother, Rhoda, died in 1843, and the father in June, 1854, aged eighty-seven years. He was the second justice of peace elected in the township, and previous to his removal from Massachusetts he was elected representative to the legislature of that State. There are now forty grandchildren, about sixty great-grandchildren, and ten great-great-grand-children who are descendants of this couple, most of whom are residents of the western States and territories. Calvin left two children -- the daughter, Julia, married and resides in Newburgh; the son, Nelson C., married Mary Chase. He owns and occupies the homestead of his grandfather. K. W., the only surviving son of William Henry, resides on the farm where his father lived and died. He married Rose Case. His mother also resides with him. She was a daughter of Samuel McConoughey, of Aurora; is about seventy-eight years old, and very hale and vigorous. HISTORY OF GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO. 139 Her three surviving daughters are married -- the eldest, Emerett, married A. S. Willey, and resides in Bedford; Caroline, married Carl Blair, and resides in Aurora; Florence, married Girdon Riley, and also resides in Aurora. Harrison, the second son, and two daughters, Jane and Ellen, died in youth, and Carlos, the eldest, at middle life. The farm of John Henry is occupied by his widow, and owned by her and her son, Charles E. Henry who resides in Cleveland. He is the well known detective in the United States mail service. Simon J. removed to Michigan some years since. The daughters married. The eldest, Maria, married S. P. Goodsell, and has resided for some years in Bainbridge. Martha Ann married Henry Brewster, and resides in Bainbridge. Eliza married James Brown, and resides in Newburgh. Newton, the second son, is a Methodist minister. He has no settled place of residence. The next arrival in the township, after that of the Henrys, was that of Jonas H. Childs, afterwards know as Deacon Childs. He was born in Becket, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, February 18, 1791; was married to Lydia Kingsley, of the same place, in 1811. In 1812 he was drafted into the army, and went to Boston; was soon discharged and returned home. In 1816 he visited Ohio, making most of the journey on foot, and returning in the same way. While here he purchased land from E. Wadsworth, in lot fifteen, tract two, to which he removed his family, in the winter of 1818. The family consisted of himself, wife and two boys, the eldest about three years old. Four children were born after their settlement in Bainbridge. On their arrival here they occupied the house of Enos Kingsley (a half brother of Mrs. Childs) while a cabin was being built on their place, to which they removed in the spring, and occupied several years, when a large brick house was erected on the corners nearly opposite the residence of C. S. Sanderson, where they resided until the marriage and removal from home of all their children. Being left alone, and unable to do the work of the farm, Mr. Childs, in 1852, sold to Artemus Howard and removed to the center of the township, where he resided about fifteen years, when he went to live with his daughter, Mrs. A. Howard, on the homestead where Mrs. Childs died, August 4, 1868. Two years later he went to Kirtland to live with his youngest son, where he died, March 18, 1875, at the age of eighty-four. He was a worthy member of the Congregational church about fifty-six years, and many years held the office of deacon. Jonas Milton, the eldest son, married Charlotte Beckwith, and settled in Russell where he now resides. Albert H. was married, in 1842, to Maranda Ely. They have four children. Mrs. Childs died in 1872, in Bainbridge where the family reside. Stephen, third son of Jonas Childs, married Nancy Warren, in 1841. Alanson married Charlotte Kingsbury, by whom he had two children. She died in 1860, and he married Sarah Walters, of Russell; they now live in Michigan. Amanda married Artemas Howard in 1846. They were parents of two children, and resided in Bainbridge till their demise. Abigail, second daughter of Jonas Childs, married Thedore Burgess, in 1846. They reside in Cleveland. Justus Bissell, a native of Middlefield, Massachusetts, came in February, 1818, and settled at the center, where C. Edick now lives. He moved from Aurora, where he settled ten years previous. P. D. McConoughey had cleared a few acres on the land at the center, with the intention of settling there, but sold to Bissell and bought in the northeast part of the township. Mr. Bissell kept the first post-office established in the township. He served as postmaster many years. The office is still known as Bissell's post-office. He also kept the first tavern in the place, for which purpose he built the house now occupied by Christopher Edick. Mrs. Bissell died in March, 1823. In June, 1825, Mr. Bissell married a Mrs. Calkins, who died in February, 1855. After the death of his second wife he sold his farm in Bainbridge, and spent the 140 HISTORY OF GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO. remainder of his life with his children. He died at the residence of his son-in-law, Benjamin Bidlake, esq., in Munson, September 22, 1874, at the age of ninety two years. He was a very estimable citizen. He was the father of ten children, none of whom are now residents of Bainbridge. The two eldest sons, Randall and Amariah, died each at the age of twenty-four. The eldest surviving son, Dr. Onzo, resides at Grand Rapids, Michigan. Pizarro and Lorenzo reside in Ashtabula county. The eldest daughter married Noel Forbes, and died a few years later. Sabrina married Benjamin Bidlake, and died in Munson, in 1878. Jane married Dr. Merchant Baldwin, and resides in Allegan county, Michigan. Dr. Baldwin died September 1, 1878. Nancy married Henry Foster, and removed to Michigan, where she died. Lavencia married Levant Johnson, and resides in Chardon. In the fall of 1818 the township received quite an addition to its population by the arrival of Daniel McFarland, sr., and Philip Haskins, with their families, and two men who came as teamsters, numbering seventeen persons. They were natives of Adams, Massachusetts, from which place they emigrated in April, and arrived in Bainbridge in November. They had no particular location in view, but thought to travel leisurely, and when they should find a place to meet their desires and expectation, there they would settle and make their future home. When passing through the central part of New York State, one of the men drove into a small lake to water the team. The bottom proved treacherous, and in turning to drive out the load of goods capsized, scattering beds, bedding, etc., in the water. They fished out all that could be found, spread them on the fence and bushes, and waited a day or two for them to dry. In this State they also stopped several weeks to visit friends. When they arrived at Saybrook, Ohio, they were favorably impressed with the location, and were nearly persuaded to purchase a tract of land from parties who claimed to be in possession of many hundred acres in that vicinity. As they considered the supply of water insufficient, they decided to prosecute their journey, which decision proved fortunate, as those who subsequently bought of the Saybrook company, could not obtain a good title, consequently lost the money they invested. From Saybrook the emigrant party directed their steps to Bainbridge, which they entered by the road running north from the center. As they approached the stream which intersects the road about a mile from the center, they paused to rest, and refresh the weary teams. At their feet, ran the clear, sparkling brook, and on either hand, rose gently sloping hills, covered with majestic forest trees. The beauties of the scene won the admiration of the weary band, and the father exclaimed, "This shall be our home," and there their home was soon afterwards made. They soon passed on, and reached, at nightfall, the cabin of Justus Bissell, then the only one at the center of the township. They remained with Mr. Bissell three weeks. Of the McFarlands who came at this time was Daniel, Sr., and wife, Clarrissa (then a young lady), three unmarried sons (Shaderach, Charles, and John), W. Abel, a married son, with wife and one child; their son-in-law, Phillip Haskins, his wife and three children. Two married sons came later. Immediately after their arrival, Daniel, sr., purchased two thousand acres of land of Lord and Barber, in tracts one and two, for which he paid two dollars and fifty cents per acre. Upon this, near the stream mentioned, he cleared a small piece, and built a double log house, which they all occupied a few weeks. During the first night which they spent in their new cabin, they were serenaded by a pack of hungry.wolves, by which the elder Mrs. McFarland (who supposed them to be Indians) was so badly frightened as to cause hemorrhage of the nose, which nearly cost her life, and from the effects of which she never fully recovered. Haskins built a cabin, and in February moved to a farm east of, and adjoining HISTORY OF GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO. 141 that of McFarland. Abel settled on the north part of his father's purchase. In 1820 Jonathan and Daniel, Jr., sons of Daniel, Sr., came on with their families. Jonathan settled north of his father's, on the farm now occupied by Lovina McFarland. Daniel, Jr., took the south part of his father's purchase, which he retained till his death in 1837. Joanna, his wife, died in 1836. They had four children: Lucy, John W., Jr., Daniel (third), and Louisa, none of whom are living. Lucy married Shadrach McFarland. John W., Jr., married Hester A. Vincent. He died in 1846, aged thirty-two years. His wife died in 1849, aged thirty-two years. They left one daughter. In 1844 Daniel (third) married Hannah Giles. Louisa married Pierce Whipple in 1846, and died in 1876, leaving three daughters and a son. The estate of Daniel, Jr., is now in possession of the heirs of his son, John W., Jr., and those of his daughter, Louisa. The children of Jonathan McFarland were Alanson, Ambrose, Sheubael, Missella, Miranda, Lorenzo D., and Eliza. Missella married Bennett Robbens. They have six children, and have resided in Bainbridge since their marriage. Sheubael married Arthusa Richardson, and settled on a farm on the opposite side of the road, from that of the homestead. He has four children, the youngest son remains on the homestead. Eliza married Joshua Burnett, and died in 1846, aged twenty-two. After the death of Eliza, Mr. Burnett married her sister, Miranda, who died in March, 1849, aged thirty-five. Lorenzo D. married Lovina Baker in 1856, and died in 1864, aged forty-nine. They had five children. Ambrose married in 1838, and died in 1839 at the age of twenty-eight. Alanson married, and died November 19, 1849, aged thirty-six. Jonathan, the father, died October 28, 1870, aged eighty-four; Hannah, his first wife, died February 3, 1845, aged sixty-one. All died of consumption. They were an intelligent, estimable family, and the early death of so many of its members was greatly deplored by the community. Sheubael and Mrs. Missella Robbens are the only survivors of the family; both reside in Bainbridge. Sylvia, second wife of Jonathan, died in 1876, aged seventy-four. Shaderach was three times married. From the first marriage were two sons -- D. Webster, and McKendre -- neither of whom are residents of Bainbridge. His second wife left one son, Albert, who resides in Pennsylvania. The father died in 1871. Abel had five children, none of whom are residents of Bainbridge. The only son, Lucien, is a resident of Lincoln, Nebraska. Charles died many years since; none of his descendants are in the place. John W., sr., married Betsey Griswold, and settled across the road from his father. John W., sr., and wife were the parents of seven children, viz.: Angeline, Lafayette, Jacob, Mahala J., Avis A., Elizabeth, and John W., Jr. Angeline married Hiram Black. Two children were the offspring of their marriage. Mrs. Black died in 1854, aged twenty-nine. Lafayette married Miss Caroline Gardner, daughter of the late A. C. Gardner, of Chagrin Falls. One daughter was born of their union. Lafayette died December 13, 1854, aged twenty-eight years. Jacob married Cornelia Gardner, of Chagrin Falls. He died February 26, 1854, aged twenty-six years. Lafayette and Jacob married sisters, and were partners in the mercantile business. Both were stricken by the same lurking, insidious foe, consumption, and died in the same year, the death of the younger preceding that of the elder brother by a little more than ten months. Each possessed the requisites for a successful business career. They were frank, generous hearted, intelligent young men, and their untimely death was universally regretted. Mahala married Oney R. Bliss, in 1853. They have three sons and two daughters. They reside on the farm formerly owned by John W., sr. Elizabeth married Charles Brainerd, and removed to Michigan, where she died in 1876, aged thirty-six. 142 HISTORY OF GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO. Two children survive her. Arvis, unmarried, resides in Bainbridge. John W., a lad of six years, died in 1848. The death of the mother occurred in 1844, when she was thirty-seven years old. The father, John W., died February 15, 1867, aged seventy-two. He was among the most influential men in the township, held various township offices, and was three times elected to the office of justice of the peace. He died of consumption, as did also his wife and five children. The family of Philip Haskins consisted of his wife and three children; Henry, Albert and Tryphosa. After their settlement here three more were born, viz: Hiram, Perry and Mary. Mr. Haskins purchased land in tract one, lot eleven, on which he built a log cabin, and in which he resided a few years, while clearing and improving his farm, when he built a framed house, near the old one, and made subsequent purchases of land. He was a man of unquestionable integrity, and possessed a large share of sound, practical common sense. He resided upon his first purchase until his decease, which occurred August 24, 1846, at which time he was sixty-three years old. Lovisa, his wife, died November 22, 1869; aged seventy-three. She possessed more than an ordinary degree of intelligence, energy and decision of purpose, and was highly esteemed for her many virtues. We will relate an incident in Mrs. Haskins' experience, as showing her energy and ingenuity: In the fall of 1822 Mr. Haskins went to Massachusetts on business, leaving his wife and his two little boys to care for the farm and their small stock of cattle. One morning during his absence their cow could not be found. Diligent search was made, which was unsuccessful, and Mrs. Haskins concluded the cow had taken the trail that led to the Chillicothe road, and gone to Aurora. With the help of the boys, she yoked the oxen and put the younger boy, Albert, (then seven years old) astride of one ox, and sent him to Aurora, a distance of six miles, in search of the cow, which was found and returned after a hard day's ride of twelve miles. In 1838, Albert married Celestia Ely, and prepared a home in tract one, lot twenty-nine, where they have since resided. They have three sons. Henry has been twice married. First, to Mary Nettleton, who died in 1847, leaving one daughter. In 1848, he married Emily Wilder, who has one daughter. Mr. Haskins first purchased lot ten, in tract one, where he has since resided; having made many additional purchases. He has for some years been extensively engaged in agricultural pursuits. In 1841, Hiram married Minerva Shuart, and settled on lot twelve, tract one, where he remained several years, then removed to Russell, from whence he removed to East Cleveland, where he accumulated quite a large fortune. His mind became somewhat unsettled, and, in 1873, he committed suicide. A son and daughter survive him. Perry, the youngest son, married Cynthia Worrallo. Five children were the offspring of their marriage, of whom one died in childhood. Perry resides on the homestead, to which he has added several purchases. Tryphosa married Oliver Nettleton, in 1836. They resided a few years on land now in possession of Henry Haskins, from where they removed several years later. They have five children. Mary married Charles Burgess, and removed to Montville, where they still remain. They have two children. Clarrissa, the unmarried daughter, who came with Daniel McFarland, sr., married J. Jenks, and removed to Illinois, where she now resides. An elder sister, Polly, who also married a Jenks, resides in the same State. They are the only survivors of the family. Some years after the arrival of the McFarlands, Malatiah Hathaway came on HISTORY OF GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO. 143 from the east, and settled north of Philip Haskins. Hathaway married a daughter of Daniel McFarland. The date of his arrival we have failed to obtain. He died in 1839, at the age of sixty-five. Betsey, his wife, died in 1854, aged seventy-two. A daughter, Mrs. Miranda Carpenter, is the only one of the family remaining in the place. Joel S. Giles came from Warsaw, New York, to Bainbridge, and purchased one hundred acres of land, of Simon Perkins, for which he paid four dollars per acre. The farm is situated near the southwest corner of the township, in tract three, lot twenty-eight, a portion of it being part of the boundary of what was formerly known as Giles' pond, now known as Geauga lake. The family of Mr. Giles consisted of himself, wife, and four children -- Joel, Sullivan, Daniel B., and Julia. Joel and Sullivan married and built homes in the neighborhood of their father. Some years later Joel, Jr., removed to Orange, where he died, in the winter of 1867. Daniel remained with his father. Sullivan's first wife died, leaving two daughters and a son. He resided in Bainbridge until his death, which occurred in April, 1879. Joel Giles, sr., and wife, were members of the Baptist church, which was organized at an early day in that part of the township. Services were held first in private houses, and later in a school-house. The church prospered for a few years, but was eventually broken up by a wolf in sheep's clothing (Sidney Rigdon, of Mormon notoriety), who entered the fold, and the sheep were scattered abroad. Mr. Giles' house was a temporary home for ministers of the Baptist church, and also of other denominations in the early history of the township. Services were held in that part of the township by Methodist and Congregational ministers for several years, and much interest manifested. After the disruption of the Baptist church, Mr. Giles joined the Disciple church, of which he was for some years a minister. Mr. Giles died in 1857. His wife has been dead many years. Daniel B. now owns the homestead, which is intersected by a branch of the Atlantic & Great Western railway, the station known as Geauga Lake being but a few rods from the residence of Mr. Giles, and also very near the lake, which being easy of access by rail, has become, within a few years, a very popular place of resort during the summer months, for fishing, picnic, and excursion parties. For the convenience of such parties, Mr. Giles has recently erected a hall of considerable size near the lake. The surrounding grounds are kept clean and attractive, and, without exception, this is the most charming place to spend a leisure day to be found in this section. The Cleveland Ice company have located their buildings here, which are annually packed with many thousand tons of ice of the finest quality, which is mostly shipped to Cleveland for market during the warmer months. Those who settled near Geauga lake, at an early period, were: Joseph Witter, Sandford Baldwin, Joseph Mason, Grant Perkins, Nathan Seward, Jarvis McConoughey, Aaron Squires, and Daniel C. Goodsell (Mr. Goodsell and Mr. Squires are the only ones now living). Joseph Witter was a soldier of the Revolution, and was one of the guards at the execution of Major Andre, the British spy. He lived but a few years in Bainbride. He was buried in that part of the town, in the burial-ground near K. W. Henry's. None of his family remain here. Aaron Squires and family left the place about twenty-five years ago. He removed from here to Five Points, Warrensville, and from thence to Michigan, where he now resides. Jarvis McConoughey was a resident of the township several years. He first took up land in tract three, lot seventeen, where he made a small clearing. He next took up lot twenty-four, now owned by D. Root, after selling which he purchased in lot twenty-one, now owned by Gideon 144 HISTORY OF GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO. Kent, from where he removed to Solon, where he died. He was one of the most famous hunters of the early times. It has been often stated that he had but one equal in that pursuit, and that was George Cooks, of Aurora. In the eastern part of the township several families settled, remained a few years and removed to other States. Among these were Seymour Dodge, who occupied the farm of J. Hopper. Daniel Bailey occupied a place south of Hopper, now a part of Mr. Abbot's farm. Horace Crosby owned the farm now owned by William Hurd. Park Brown purchased the David McConoughey farm, now in possession of Lucas Hurd. He came from the State of New York; was a resident of the place several years; himself and family were highly esteemed in the community. The eldest daughter married Joseph Chamberlain, who has since been a resident of the place. The second daughter married Cyrus B. Ely. The youngest, Laura, married Doctor Orville Vincent, and removed to Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Brown died in Russell, where the eldest son, Franklin, still resides. At an early date, Enos Hollister settled south of the old burying-ground, on the west side of the road. He was a shoemaker by trade, probably the first one who located in the town. The exact time of his arrival we are unable to determine. Harvey Sloan also resided a few years on a portion of the farm now owned by Mr. Abbott. He was a brother of Norman Sloan. He removed to some one of the western States. In 1815 Johnathan Ely, then a young man, came into the place and entered land in lot nine, tract three, which he subsequently sold to John Fowler, and purchased in tract two, lot seven, of (now in possession of Henry Brewster) Jarvis McConoughey, who had made some improvement upon it. In 1821 he was married to Lucinda Howard, and settled at once on the farm he had purchased, where he remained till the spring of 1833, when he removed to the east part of the town, having sold his farm near the center to Deacon Joseph North, who came with his family from Marcellies, New York. Mr. Ely died in March, 1852. Three children survive him -- two sons and a daughter. Since his decease, Truman, the eldest son, died in 1865, and the daughter, in 1872. Lucinda, his wife, died in 1877. Mr. Ely joined the Congregational church at its organization, and remained one of its most faithful members till his death. In the summer of 1817 we note the arrival of Daniel C. Goodsell, a native of Connecticut. He stayed some time in Aurora, where he married Myra McConoughey, a daughter of Samuel McConoughey. He first settled in the southwestern part of town, near where Eggleston's mills were built. In 1837 he purchased one hundred and seventeen acres of land in tract two, near the center, which he has since occupied. He is now the oldest person in the township, being a few months over eighty-three years old. Though much of the time in feeble health, he has visited his native State since his eighty-third birthday. Mr. and Mrs. Goodsell were the parents of three sons and one daughter. The eldest son, Samuel, married Harriet Brewster in 1845, and died in Michigan in 1872. The second son, S. P., married Maria Henry. The daughter married Hudson H. Briggs, and resides on the homestead. George, a promising young man, died of wounds received in battle, in the war of the Rebellion. In the year 1818 or '19, the family of Asahel North came from the State of New York, and purchased the farm now owned by R. P. Osborn. There were eight sons and a daughter in the family, several of whom married and resided for some years in the township. The daughter, Sarah, married Frederick Clover, and died in Bainbridge in 1845. The sons were Alvin, Thomas, Asahel, Samuel, Jesse, Seymour, Myron, and George. Samuel lived a short time on the place now owned by Mrs. Hill, and from there moved west; Thomas first located on the farm now owned by H. H. Briggs, and later on the place recently owned by E. French; Myron resided many years in Kentucky; Alvin HISTORY OF GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO. 145 spent most of his life in Madison, Lake county; Thomas died in Illinois; Asahel occupied the homestead till 1847-8, when he removed to Chagrin Falls; -- he is now a resident of Clyde, Ohio, and is much esteemed as a citizen; Seymour went west, and is now deceased; Jesse remained in Bainbridge many years. He was a very eccentric individual, who ignored the counsel of the wise man, found in Proverbs xxv: 17. We presume there were few households in the county, thirty years ago, where Jesse had not made from four to forty visits, the length of which was in proportion to the amount of "goodies" placed before him. It is scarcely necessary to add that he was the butt of many practical jokes. Asahel, sr., died in 1845; his wife, Hannah, in 1844. In the fall of 1818, Josiah Nettleton, in company with six other young men, started on foot from Penfield, Monroe county, New York, with the intention of visiting the Allegheny region of country, where they designed purchasing land, should the location prove a desirable one. The young men were Timothy Fuller, James Moore, Hiram Washburn, Joseph Thompson, Paul Thomas, and Lewis Nettleton, a brother of Josiah. At the close of the third day, Fuller and Thompson were tired of the undertaking, and turned back. On the fourth day they met a man returning from the west, who told them they had better go no farther, as the climate was so cold near the Alleghenies, no one could succeed there in the business of farming. They inquired what the prospects were for emigrants in New Connecticut. After giving a very unfavorable report, he closed with the statement that "rattlesnakes were so numerous there that they dried them and used them for bean-poles." "Sam Hill!" exclaimed one, "I'm not going to any such country as that." The next morning two more of the adventurers took the back track. On the fifth day, at noon, Fuller and Thompson decided to return home, leaving Josiah to prosecute the journey alone. When he reached the Allegheny mountains the ground was covered with snow to the depth of four or five inches, and he decided to go to Ohio. After leaving the mountains he traveled ten miles through the dense forest, with no companion save his rifle. He arrived in Painesville in the latter part of November, where he stayed one night at a tavern kept by a man named Cowles. From Painesville he went to Chardon (at that time there were but two houses between the places), stayed over one night at a log tavern kept by Norman Canfield. The house stood on the site now occupied by the Chardon house. There were then four houses between Chardon and Punderson's mill, in Newbury. From Chardon Nettleton went to Auburn, where an uncle named Fuller had settled. He arrived at his uncle's cabin near the close of the fourteenth day of his journey, which was Sunday. Soon after his arrival he took up a piece of land in the eastern part of Bainbridge; cleared a small spot and built a cabin. During his stay he killed thirty deer, filled a barrel and a large trough (which had been used to store sap in), with venison, a part of which he hung in his cabin to dry. Previous to his return east, a grand hunt was planned, in which he participated. All the men in the townships of Russell, Bainbridge, Newbury, and Auburn, were to form a circle, the center of which was to be the point where the corners of the four townships meet, and the game not killed was to be driven towards that point. In accordance with that arrangement, they started out on the day appointed, some armed with pitchforks, and with clubs; and, all who could obtain one, carried a gun. When they met at the center, sixty deer had been killed, all of which were within sight from that point. Mr. Nettleton remained in the place about four weeks, and returned to New York State for the purpose of moving his family to Bainbridge, which he accomplished in the month of January, 1819. When he arrived at his cabin with his, family, they found it well supplied with dried venison, which was appreciated by the younger members of the group. They remained here about three years 146 HISTORY OF GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO. and removed to their old home in the east, where they remained five years and again came to Bainbridge. In the fall of 1819, Mr. Nettleton states, the first training of militia of the township took place; on the farm of Joseph Ely, two miles east of the center, where a company from Auburn met with them. After the companies were dismissed, Mr. Nettleton came very near being killed, by Edson Kent, who was about to salute the captain. Nettleton chanced to look around, and seeing Kent's gun pointing at his breast, instantly struck it down, and received the contents in his arm, instead of his breast. His clothing, being all of linen, was set on fire by the powder, and was torn from his person by P. D. McConoughey and Deacon Childs, which prevented his being fatally, though he was quite seriously, burned. Kent was a diffident, inexperienced boy of seventeen, and deeply regretted the occurrence, which was purely accidental. Mr. Nettleton was married when nineteen years of age, to Sally Fuller, of Penfield, New York. Nine children were born to them, viz: Mary, Martha, Fanny, Lewis, Tiffany, Daniel, Franklin, Sarah, and Lorette. Mary married Henry Haskins, and died in 1847. Martha married Rev. A. N. McConoughey in 1835, and resides in Illinois. Fanny married Jesse Robbins in 1841. They reside in Bainbridge. Eight children were the offspring of their marriage. Lewis married Maryette Eggleston, of Aurora. He died at Chagrin Falls in 1860. Tiffany married D. M. Burnett, of Russell. He is a resident of Michigan, as are also Daniel and Franklin. Sarah married William Bridgeman, and removed to Wisconsin. Lorette married Dr. H. Decker, of Newburgh, and now resides in Rome, Ashtabula county. Mrs. Nettleton died in the autumn of 1847. She was regarded as one of the most amiable and intelligent women in the community. In 1849 Mr. Nettleton married Marilla Howard, who died a year subsequent to her marriage. After the death of his second wife, Mr. Nettleton married Lucy Ann Worrallo, of Chester. Two daughters and a son were born of this marriage. Nettleton was quite a famous hunter. On one occasion, while on his way to the pigeon roosts of the Cuyahoga, in Troy, he shot a deer, and sat down for a moment's rest. Upon looking up he saw a deer, drew his rifle and fired, when two deer came toward him and fell, while a third started in the opposite direction and fell also. He killed four deer in a day several times, but could not go above that number, except at the time mentioned in connexion with McConoughey, when he killed five. He killed the last deer, bear and wolf, in his native town, and the last deer seen in Bainbridge was shot by him. He was in the war of 1812 a short time. He resides on the farm where he first purchased, and, at the present writing (March, 1878), he is eighty-one years and seven months old. He is able to drive his team all day, and take care of it at night. He has boiled sap during the day, and this evening related the foregoing incidents of pioneer life, with many others which we have omitted. He can read ordinary print without the aid of glasses; having never used them. He has never used tea, coffee, or tobacco.* In 1820, Watts Kingsley, a brother of Enos Kingsley, and a native of Becket, Massachusetts, came to Bainbridge, and located on the farm now owned by J. Fowler, where he remained until 1832, when he sold and removed to Windham, Portage county. He is now a resident of Oscaloosa, Iowa. In the winter of 1818, William R. Howard and John Bowles, young men of twenty-one, came from Washington, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, on foot, and stopped at the house of John Fowler, who was an uncle of Howard's. Bowles ___________________ * On the twenty-second of June, 1879, Mr. Nettleton was stricken with paralysis, from which he died March 23, 1879; aged eighty-two years and seven months. HISTORY OF GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO. 147 stayed a short time, and then returned to Massachusetts. Mr. Howard purchased land in lot fifteen, tract two, and in the spring went to Aurora, and worked for Moses Eggleston, and others. In the summer of 1819 he worked for Dr. Case, in Hudson. In December, following, his father died, making it necessary for him to return to Massachusetts. He started on his journey, with the intention of going through in eleven days. He reached Kirtland the first night, and stayed at Madison the second. He made the journey of five hundred and fifty miles in eleven and one-half days, having been detained one-half day, when near home, by a heavy snow storm. After leaving Madison, he ate but two warm meals before reaching home. He remained in Massachusetts a year and a half, settled the estate of his father, and made arrangements to remove to Ohio. In June, 1821, he was married to Miss Martha Codding, of Washington, and, on the third of July, with their stock of household goods packed in a covered lumber wagon, drawn by oxen, they started on their journey, accompanied by the mother of Mr. Howard, a younger brother, and three sisters. They arrived in Bainbridge on the fifth of August, having been delayed three days by one of the oxen giving out. After reaching their cabin in the woods Mr. Howard went to the brow of a hill, a short distance away, cut several large trees (standing nearly in a direct line), nearly down, so that a small force would compel them to fall. He then felled a large tree against one end of the row, when, one after another, they fell with a loud crash which was heard at a great distance, announcing to his neighbors his arrival. All within hearing of the falling timber came at night through the woods to welcome them. They lived on the farm where they first settled forty-one years. In the interval several additions were made to the original purchase, and a fine frame house took the place of the little log cabin. In 1862, Mr. Howard sold the homestead to his son William, and removed to a smaller one, near Chagrin Falls, where he died in January, 1867, at the age of seventy years. For many years he took an active part in the business of the township, served in its various offices, and was three times elected to the office of justice of the peace. He was an intelligent, public spirited man, respected by all. He was an attendant of the Congregational church till it ceased to be, when, with his family, he united with the Methodist Episcopal church. His wife survives him, honored and loved.* She is now (1878) in her eighty-third year. They were parents of four children. Artemas, the eldest, married Amanda, daughter of Deacon Childs, and settled near the old home, where he resided till his death, in 1873. He was a man of superior judgment, and regarded as one of the best financiers in the township. His wife died in 1877. Both were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Phylena, eldest daughter of W. R. Howard, married Wm. Richards, and resides in Auburn. The second son, William, married Lorinda A. Osborn, and, at present, resides in Chardon. Martha married D. L. Fenkell, and settled at Chagrin Falls, where she died, in 1870, aged twenty-four years. She was a member of the Baptist church. At the birth of her youngest child, Mrs. Howard was fifty years and six months old. In 1820 or '21 Robert Root came to Bainbridge, and purchased land of Simon Perkins in tract three, where he built a cabin, and kept bachelor's hall a year or two. In January, 1822, he was married to Rhoda, eldest daughter of Simon Henry. He built a small frame house, to which he removed soon after marriage, and resided on the farm till a few years previous to his death, when he removed to a small place near the homestead, where he died June 3, 1866, ___________________ * Mrs. Howard died at the residence of her son-in-law, Wm. Richards, esq., on the twelfth of May, 1879; aged eighty-two years and eight months. 148 HISTORY OF GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO. aged sixty-nine years. Mr. Root was a native of Connecticut, from whence he emigrated with his father's family to Aurora, Ohio, some three or four years previous to his settlement here. He was a man of commanding appearance, much intelligence and good business capacity. To Mr. and Mrs. Root seven children were born, two of whom died in infancy. The survivors are Harriet, who married C. R. Howard, and resides in Aurora; Norman married Nancy Miller, and resides in Bainbridge; Delos married Eliza Barton, and occupies the homestead; Nelson married Amarilla Collins, and resides on the farm formerly owned by R. G. McCartey; Lorette married John Hatch. Mrs. Root resides with her son, on the homestead, esteemed and loved by many friends. She is eighty years old, and in feeble health.* In 1822 Dexter Pease purchased the farm now owned by John Patterson, married Anna Parsons, of Aurora, and removed to his farm, where he remained till 1858 or '9, when he sold and went to Newburgh, where he died. He was married four times. His first, second and third wives died in Bainbridge. The fourth survives him. Joseph Chamberlain came into the township in 1825, with his mother, two brothers and a sister. They purchased in tract one, lot five. They came with two ox teams from East Haddam, Connecticut, and were six weeks on the road. Joseph carried on his mother's farm till 1838, when he bought the farm now occupied by C. R. Post, of Lord and Barber. While clearing, he kept bachelor's hall three years. In 1838 he was married to Louisa Brown. They have two daughters: Juliett, the eldest, married C. R. Post, and occupies the homestead; Medora married Oscar Davis, of Chagrin Falls. Mr. Chamberlain was a man of industrious and economical habits, and highly respected. He died March 25, 1877, aged seventy-four. In 1824 or '25 Eber Kennedy and family came from Aurora, and purchased where his son, Henry, now lives. He died a few years after his coming here. There were several sons, one of whom is a minister of the Baptist church. Mrs. Kennedy, after her husband's death, married Warren Little, of Aurora, where she now resides. Lewis and Daniel Miller, with their families, came in 1827. Lewis built a log house on land now owned by William Howard near Henry Haskins. Daniel purchased the place now in possession of A. Ely. In 1833 they sold, and went to Chester, where some of their children now live. Andrew Phillips came to Bainbridge from North Adams, Massachusetts, in 1830. He was a young man of more than ordinary intelligence, and had obtained a good practical education. In 1831 he taught school in Mayfield, Cuyahoga county. He became quite popular as a teacher, and followed the business of teaching till 1843. In May, 1842, he was married to Margaret Roberts, of Munson, and settled on a farm in the north part of the town, where he resided till his death, which occurred in May, 1877, when he was sixty-seven years old. He was a man of culture and influence. His wife, a daughter and two sons survive him. William Phillips, a brother of Andrew, came in 1832, with his wife and one child, and purchased of Horatio Fowler the farm now in possession of the heirs of Otis B. Bliss. This he sold, in 1833, to Otis Bliss, and purchased one adjoining that of his brother, where he resided till 1867 of 1868, when he sold to his son and removed to Chagrin Falls. None of his family are living in the township. There were many families of prominent citizens who came late, and can scarcely be accounted as pioneers, of whom we can make but brief mention. ___________________ * Mrs. Root died February 3, 1879, aged eighty years and seven months. HISTORY OF GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO. 149 William Burgess and family arrived in the township September 12, 1833, and settled on the place now owned by G. L. Maynard, and resided there till the death of the father, November 9, 1848. He was born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, June 27, 1787, and married Esther Williams, of Lenox, Massachusetts, January 25, 1810. Mrs. Burgess died in Cleveland, March 10, 1872, aged eighty-one years. Their family consisted of nine sons, viz: John C., Allen, Joseph, Theodore, Charles, John W., Cornelius, Franklin, and Alvin, all of whom are living except the latter, who was for many years a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, and at the time of his death was a presiding elder. He died at Greenville, Pennsylvania, in 1873. He was regarded as one of the most able and efficient members of the conference. He married Laura Howe, of Mentor, who survived him but a year or two. William Burgess was a blacksmith, and worked at the trade during his residence in the township. None of the family remain in the place. In 1835 Deacon Ebenezer Hopkins came into the place and located near the river, in the west part, and resided there till his death in 1850. He was an enterprising man, and one of the prominent members of the Congregational church. He had a family of five children, two sons and three daughters, none of whom remain in the township. In 1833 Otis B. Bliss came from North Adams, Massachusetts, with his wife and one child, Oney R., and settled on the farm now occupied by his widow, where he reared his family of nine children, seven of whom survived his death, which occurred December 5, 1873, when he was sixty-five. He served in various township offices, and was elected colonel of a militia regiment. He was for many years one of the most influential members of the First Baptist church at Chagrin Falls, and lived and died honored and respected by all. Ambrose, a brother of Otis Bliss, came about four years later, having married Miss Judith Pierce, of New Hampshire. He purchased of J. Converse the farm upon which he still resides in the northwestern part of the township. They have a family of seven children, two of whom are unmarried. Mr. Bliss is one of the most industrious and enterprising farmers of the place. Josiah Pettibone, with his only son, Rufus, and a daughter, emigrated from Norfolk, Connecticut, to Portage county, Ohio, and from thence to Bainbridge, where they settled in the summer of 1832, on the farm now occupied by Rufus and his son, Henry W. Mr. Pettibone, sr., resided on the farm till his death, which occurred in 1852, at which time he was seventy years of age. He was a man of strict integrity, and a worthy member of the Congregational church. In 1833 Rufus Pettibone was married to Betsy Dutton, of Auburn. They have a son and two daughters. An amiable and accomplished daughter died at twenty-two, and a son and daughter in infancy. In 1831, Seymour Niece, a stone mason by trade, settled near Eggleston's mills. In 1832 or '33, he removed to the northwestern part of the town. Mr. Niece had a family of twelve sons and one daughter, viz.: Myron, William C., Charles, Nathaniel, Seymour, Oscar, Sarah, Lafayette, John B., Henry, Franklin, and two whose names we cannot now recall. Nearly all of the family were school teachers, and several were among the most efficient in the county. Nine of them were teaching at the same time sufficiently near home to enable them to meet there at the close of each week. William C., who was one of the prominent men of the place, died in 1877. He left five sons and as many daughters; most of them reside in Bainbridge. William Chase, a blacksmith, from the State of New York, came to the place in 1831, and lived several year in the northeast part of the township, from whence he removed to the center a few years previous to his death, which took place in 1868. Several of his children reside here still. 150 HISTORY OF GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO. In 1832, Joseph Sprague came here and occupied the place for a few years, now owned by Mrs. Harpham. He sold to Dr. Shipherd, and purchased of Milo Henry the farm now owned by Oscar Niece. From there he removed to Auburn, where he died some years since. Alfred Thompson purchased the farm of Gamaliel Kent, Jr., in 1833, and in 1835 sold it to Jasper Lacy, Jr. Lacy occupied the place till his death in 1844. None of the family reside in the place. Mr. Lacy was a son-in-law of Simon Henry. Mr. Thompson was several times a resident of Bainbridge. In the spring of 1833 Deacon Joseph North bought of Jonathan Ely the farm which is now occupied by Henry Brewster. A son-in-law, Mark Enos, settled on the farm where Horace Cowles now lives, and to whom he sold it in 1839. After the death of his wife Mr. North returned to Marseilles, New York. His sons also left the place many years since. Deacon North was among the first members of the Congregational church. In 1834 Jeremiah Root purchased of Russell Osborn the farm now owned by Joseph K. Eggleston. He remained there a number of years, and removed to the Jasper Lacy place, from where he removed to Aurora in 1865, where he died about five years later. He was one of the most influential men of the place. William Harpham, a young man of twenty-two, came in 1833, and engaged as a clerk in the store of John Mayhew, at the center, where he remained four years, when Mayhew sold to William Smith. Mr. Harpham clerked for Smith a year, and went into the mercantile business for himself, taking J. Pettingail as partner. The partnership closed in a year. He then effected a partnership with J. Stafford, which closed in two or three years. In 1863 he sold to E. French, and engaged in farming the remainder of his life, which terminated in 1878. He was the second postmaster in the township, and held the office twenty years. He was married in 1841 to Rhoda Thompson, who survives him. He was regarded as a cautious and conscientious business man, and was honored by all. Shadrack Vincent, with his sons Chauncey and Jonathan, and Mr. Benjamin, father of H. H. Benjamin, came to Bainbride in May, 1833. H. H. Benjamin, his mother, and sister Eliza, came the following October. Nicholas Vincent came in February, 1834. Jonathan settled on the lot where C. M. Foot's residence now stands. His wife, Sally, died in July, 1833. Chauncey lived with Jonathan until fall, when he put up a log house on the farm, where he spent his subsequent life. Shadrack Vincent died in the October following his arrival. Nicholas settled on the farm now owned by John Harvey, where he died a few years later. Eliza Benjamin became the wife of Ira A. Foot, and the mother of C. M. Foot, esq. H. H. Benjamin, and father, settled on the farm which he occupied the remainder of his life. He married Caroline, daughter of Chauncey Vincent; a son and daughter were born to them. Mr. Benjamin was four times elected to the office of justice of peace, which office he held at his death, in 1876. He was a genial, generous-hearted, public-spirited man, universally respected. The Vincents were the first settlers in that part of the township. Jonathan Vincent drew up a petition and caused a road to be surveyed from the center of Bainbridge to Chagrin Falls. Likewise, one running northeast from and intersecting that. He served as justice of the peace four or five terms. During the first years of his residence here he was engaged in teaching school. He sold his farm in 1863, and now resides at Chagrin Falls. His son Augustus, and S. P. Vincent are the only ones of the name now residents of the township. The Sandersons, Marvin and Edward, came the same year as the Vincents. Later, a brother David came. None of them remain here now. Later still, the HISTORY OF GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO. 151 Moons settled in the neighborhood; also Bennet Robbins and Daniel Phillips. In 1833, Peleg Brown came to Bainbridge, purchased land, cleared a few acres, built a cabin, and returned to his home in Madison county, New York, and soon married Miss Adaline C. Barton, of Herkimer county, New York. In the winter of 1834, they came to make their future home on the farm which he has since occupied, and to which, from time to time, new purchases have been added, upon which he erected a fine brick residence, in 1854. Mr. and Mrs. Brown were parents of five children, one of whom (a son), died at eighteen. They also had three adopted children. Mrs. Brown died in 1873. She was a very superior woman. Her intellectual endowments were far above the ordinary She possessed a keen, delicate sense of honor and propriety, to which she was ever true. She was generous and sympathetic, and ever ready to assist the needy. As a friend, her fidelity and devotion were rarely equaled. Her influence was ever exerted to elevate and ennoble society. She joined the Methodist church when a young lady, and remained in its communion until her death. She was a true christian, and a noble woman. The family of Obadiah Bonney, of Madison county, New York, came and settled on the farm formerly owned by Rodney Parsons, in 1835. The family consisted of the parents, a son and two daughters. The son, Sidney O., occupies the homestead, his father having purchased and removed to a small farm adjoining it a few years since, where they still reside. Mr. Bonney is seventy-eight years old, and his wife a year his senior. They have been married over fifty years. Both are hale and vigorous for their years, and each able to perform quite an amount of labor.* Their children married, and settled near them. The son has five children. The youngest daughter, Mrs. Lorancy Vincent, resides in Bainbridge, and the elder one, Mrs. Russell, in Solon. Abner Ellis, also a native of Madison county, New York, came in 1834. He purchased the place now occupied by O. Bonney, where he worked for several years at the coopers' trade, and eventually sold, and removed to the center, where he died August 6, 1874. He was the father of six children, four of whom survive him. One only resides in Bainbridge, viz: Mrs. A. Chase. Mr. Ellis was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church about thirty-four years, and a class-leader many years. In 1834 the families of Norman Sloan and William Logan came from the State of New York, and purchased homes in the eastern part of the town. Mr. Sloan was a blacksmith, and built a shop on the corner, east of the residence of A. E. Kent, where he worked many years. He died in 1858. Mr. Logan purchased the farm now owned by Harmon Pardee, where he resided till his death in 1857. He had a family of nine children, only one of whom, viz: Paul, now resides in the place. Mr. Logan emigrated from Ireland to New York, and thence to Ohio. The only daughter of Mr. Sloan married John Mayhew, and died in Bainbridge four or five years later. In 1836 Paul Hannum came from Massachusetts with his wife and several children. He purchased of Frank Forbes, the farm now owned by J. W. Collins, where he resided till his death in 1860. Mrs. J. Collins, the only one of the family remaining in town, resides on the homestead. A son resides in Auburn, and one in Missouri. In 1836 Samuel Collins, one of the pioneers of Chardon, came to the town, and settled on the farm, now in possession of Eugene Kent. The year following the family of Cristopher Hayden came to the same neighborhood, and purchased the farm now owned by the heirs of W. Collins. None of the family now reside in the township. There were six daughters and a son -- the ___________________ * Mrs. Bonney died December 8, 1878, aged seventy-nine years. 152 HISTORY OF GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO. latter, W. S. Hayden is well known as a teacher throughout the county. Of the family of Mr. Collins which consisted of eight children, but two survive, one of whom is now a resident of Bainbridge, viz: J. W. Collins, who is one of the prominent business men of the county, having served as one of the board of commissioners twelve consecutive years. PHYSICIANS. * Dr. David Shipherd, the first resident physician of Bainbridge, was born in Castleton, Rutland county, Vermont, March 11, 1802. His father was born in Westchester county, New York. His father and mother were parents of five sons and one daughter, viz: Harry, Waight, Samuel, David, George, and Julia. David, at an early day, had a predilection for the medical profession. A medical school having been started in Castleton he wished to avail himself of this opportunity, but lacked the necessary means. A good opportunity for shingle making presented itself, and David, in company with Charles Styles, for a time engaged in the manufacture of shingles on the banks of the Screwdriver pond, taking shelter under the roots of a huge pine. The first money for educational purposes was earned in this way. David came to Ohio in the year 1826 or '27, where he taught school and continued the study of medicine. In the year 1828 he attended lectures on chemistry and pharmacy at the medical college at Cincinnati, under Prof. Elijah Slack. Here he was a classmate with Joseph Ray, At this time Ray cared little for anything but mathematics. Dr. Shipherd went to Euclid, Ohio, in the year 1829 or '30, taught school and studied with Dr. Farnsworth. Shortly afterwards he came to Bainbridge, and continued to be a constant resident of the township until his death. He was married to Sally, a daughter of Robert Smith, by Rev. J. Seward, on the twenty-fifth of December, 1832. Prior to this time he made his home at Gamaliel Kent's. He commenced the practice of medicine in 1831. Having been educated in the allopathic school, he continued in that practice until 1846, when he chanced to procure a work on homoeopathy, with a few remedies left him by Dr. Burritt with the request "to try them." After a careful examination of this new work, and a thorough trial of the remedies left him by Dr. Burritt, not only in his own family, but in numerous other cases which he was called to treat, the doctor was convinced that greater and more satisfactory results could be attained by this practice than by the old school, therefore he at once fully prepared himself to follow the practice of homoeopathy, and for many years previous to his death he ranked among the first physicians of northern Ohio. He was very cautious in the use of strong drugs and stimulants, and in the treatment of the various types of fever, as in many other dangerous diseases, he was remarkably successful, which was attributable to his knowledge of diagnosis and therapeutics. Dr. and Mrs. Shipherd were parents of seven children--five daughters and two sons, viz: Lorinda, Sarah C., Delia C., George C., Henry B., Eliza A., and Mary E. Lorinda married J. T. Wing, and subsequently Harry Bancroft, of Chagrin Falls, where they now reside. Sarah C. married Hiamsel Giles, and resides in Waterville, Minnesota. Delia married Clinton Stafford, of Auburn, where they now reside. George C. married Myra Howard, of Aurora, Ohio, and resides on the homestead, near Geauga lake. Henry B. married Carrie Campbell, of Orange township, and now resides at Arrow Rock, Saline county, Missouri. Eliza married Robert Clark, of Orange, and now resides with her sister, Delia. Mary E. died in her fifth year.The doctor's political ideas were more for men and principles than party. He was a Fremont man when he (Fremont) run for president. Since that time he ___________________ * From biography by G. Shipherd, HISTORY OF GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO. 153 has generally acted with the Democratic party. He was no seeker for office. The highest position of trust held by him was that of county commissioner. His religion was quite liberal; he could accept no religion that must shake off science. He was a great admirer of "Renan's Life of Jesus." His library is composed mostly of medical and scientific works; though it contains those of a religious character. He died May 14, 1877, after extreme suffering for two years and eight months with disease of a urinarial catarrhal nature. Other physicians have resided for a short period in the township, among whom were Dr. M. Baldwin, O. Bissell, J. Harmon and Wm. Thompson. The latter studied with Dr. Shepherd, and was considered one of the most skillful physicians in this vicinity. EARLY MANUFACTORIES.* The first saw-mill was built in 1820 by General Chauncey Eggleston, a wealthy farmer, living in Aurora. The following year he built a grist-mill. The heavy frame of oak timbers are now (1878) in a fair condition. The sawmill is now making better and more lumber per day than fifty years ago. The property is now owned by James Fuller.In 1822 Thomas Marshall built the first blacksmith shop in town. The shop was located a few rods above the mills. In 1826-7, General Eggleston sold the mills to Corning Eggleston, a relative. The latter, in a short time, built a distillery on the east end of the grist-mill, and over the mill-race. A Mr. Goodale was hired to superintend the process of manufacturing highwines and whiskey. The debts due the concern were written with a lump of charcoal on the rough inside walls of the building, and the numerous charges read like this: "A. to 2 galons of wiskey; N. S., 1 galon wiskey." Near the accounts was the following advertisement: "Wiskey for sail; 37 sents per bushel." After a few years of unsuccessful work, financially, the business was closed, the owner failed, and the mills and distillery passed again into the possession of General Eggleston. The distillery was pulled down and used for other purposes. The first tannery was started in 1823 by John and James Lowry. It subsequently changed owners from time to time, and was closed in 1867, and the buildings made into a cheese factory, known as Rocky Dell cheese factory, and owned by F. H. Brewster. In 1823 Harvey Waldo and T. Joiner built a saw-mill and factory for coloring and dressing woolen cloth, one and one-half miles below Eggleston mills. The enterprise had an unprofitable existence for four or five years, and failed. In 1835, Deacon Ebenezer Hopkins bought the mill site, and in due time built a spar dam and saw-mill. The spar dam soon proved a failure. The deacon took into partnership William A. Hopkins, and the firm soon built a substantial stone dam, and a grist- and flouring-mill. Soon after their completion the deacon bought William A.'s interest in the mills, and in 1837 hired E. L. Jones and Jehu Brainard to work up his lumber into furniture. Mr. Gamwell built a blacksmith shop at Hopkins' mills, and Uriah Ackley a tailor shop. Mr. Ackley was a son-in-law of Deacon Hopkins. In 1846, the fever and ague afflicted nearly every family within a radius of a mile from the mill pond. The year following, Hopkins was arrested for keeping a public nuisance, which caused great injury to the health of the people. After a long delay, during which time he cleared all the timber and flood wood out of the pond, in order to render it healthy, he stood a trial in county court, and was acquitted. ___________________ * From notes by S. J. Henry. 154 HISTORY OF GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO. In 1845 Chauncey Carver built a saw-mill one mile below Hopkins' mill, and near the farm of G. H. Kent. One day, late in the fall, Mr. Kent was assisting Mr. Carver in sawing, and called his attention to the waste-gate, which had broken loose. Both went to the break in order to replace the gate. While at work Carver was caught under the gate, and pressed down, and either killed or drowned in a short time. Mr. Kent did all he could to rescue the unfortunate man, but, finding his efforts were useless, ran for help, and, in a short time, had men enough to raise the gate and get the corpse out. At the raising of the grist mill of General Eggleston, in 1821, quite a serious accident occurred. Most of the men who had been invited to assist in raising had arrived, and were waiting for the return of Nathan White, the carpenter, who had gone to the woods for a ridge pole. A man named Ralph McCartey conceived the idea that it would be a good joke on the carpenter to put up the frame in his absence. Accordingly, he obtained Eggleston's consent, called the men together, and ordered them to put up the frame. When they had raised the first bent about five feet high, the foot not being chained, slipped, and the bent came back and caught Jeremiah Root, a Mr. Taylor, and Nelson Henry, beneath it. The men were so greatly frightened, that when they raised the bent to release them, they omitted to detail any one to take charge of the injured, and Henry, who was lying just on the edge of a bank, rolled down several feet amongst rocks, and was taken up for dead (the others were not much injured). Dr. Owen, of Aurora, chanced to be present, and administered restoratives. He was carried to the house of Sanford Baldwin. It was found, upon examination, that one thigh was badly fractured. He was confined to his bed at Mr. Baldwin's six weeks, in the long, hot days of mid-summer. The men living near were required by the doctor to visit him each day and pull the fractured limb an hour, to prevent contraction. Previous to the building of the Hopkins, or Carver mills, the McFarlands built a saw-mill on the Plum Bottom creek, a few rods below the one now owned by J. Larue. It was built in 1825. All the McFarlands held an interest in it except Charles and Abel. It eventually passed into the hands of Jerome Southwick, who was killed while cutting ice from the flume. In 1830-31, Deacon Childs and son put up a saw-mill, on the same stream, and nearly a mile above the McFarland mill. It changed owners several times, and was finally purchased by Jude May, and pulled down and moved to Auburn. Some years later, Daniel Phillips built a saw-mill on a branch of the Plum Bottom. It was in operation but a few years. Of the the many mills and shops erected in the early history of the township, one only remains, and that was the first built, now owned by J. Fuller. At this date, 1878, there is scarcely a vestige to show where the Hopkins and Carver mills were located. Hugh Marshall is said to have been the first miller in the township. PRESENT INDUSTRIAL PURSUITS. The soil of this town is especially adapted to grazing and the growing of stock. Having an abundance of pure water, the citizens have found the dairy business to be the most lucrative, and are extensively engaged in it, as statistics will show. There are five cheese factories in town. One in the north part built about fifteen years since, by Emery Stanhope, was the first in the town, and one of the first in the county. It is now owned by John Pugsley. The next was built by Edward Richards in 1865-6, and is now owned by Nichols and son. One in the southwest part of the town is owned by F. H. Brewster. There are also the Pebble Rock and the Howard factories which are owned by joint stock companies. The number of pounds of butterHISTORY OF GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO. 155 and cheese manufactured in the township in 1878, were: Butter, 96,205 pounds, and cheese, 520,300 pounds. Total for the years 1876, 1877 and 1878, butter, 241,688 pounds, and cheese, 1,405,706 pounds. Number of pounds of maple sugar in 1878, 46,255, gallons of syrup, 1,368. BOX FACTORIES. In 1871 Brewster and Reed put in operation a mill for making cheese boxes, located one mile south of the center. They also make spring beds, shingles, brooms, etc. Another mill and box-factory are owned by James Larne, to which he has added a cider mill and apparatus for making apple-jelly.The only blacksmith now in town is C. E. Chase. MERCHANTS. The following are the names of those who have engaged in the mercantile business since the settlement of the town: Daniel Leech, Dr. Loomis, John Mayhew, William Smith, Eggleston & Blossom, William Harpham, A. M. Treat and A. G. Kent.A. M. Treat has been engaged in the business at the center since 1844. A. G. Kent has recently sold out to the Johnson Brothers, one of whom succeeds him as P. M. TEMPERANCE AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. Progressive Lodge No. 166, I. O. G. Templars, was organized in 1855, and continued three years, holding its sessions each Saturday evening, at the schoolhouse in district number two. It flourished about three years. Some years later, another lodge was organized, but continued only a short time.The Division No. 186, Sons of Temperance, was organized in the winter of 1874. The principal officers for the present quarter, November, 1878, are: S. J. Henry, W. P.; Mrs. Anna Brown, W. A.; Alice Cowles, R. S.; J. W. Collins, W. T. The membership is sixty-three. Meetings, Tuesday evening of each week, at the town hall. The division has a valuable library of about seventy well-selected volumes. Bennett Grange No. 976 was organized in 1874, with twenty-six charter members. The present membership is one hundred. The officers for 1878 are: K. W. Henry, M.; H. Scott, O.; Delos Root, S.; R. P. Osborn, P. A.; S. O. Bonney, treasurer. Meetings, first and third Saturday evenings of each month, at Edick's hall. The society is in a flourishing condition. STATISTICS FOR 1878. Wheat, 217 acres, 3,844 bushels; oats, 475 acres, 16,861 bushels; corn, 332 acres, 11, 530 bushels; Meadow, 2,338 acres, 2,227 tons; potatoes, 67 1/2 acres; 5,791 bushels; orchards, 283, 1,249 bushels; butter, 96,205 pounds; cheese, 320,300 pounds; maple sugar, 46,255.MILITARY ROSTER. The following are the names of the volunteers who served in the war of the rebellion. We regret that we are unable to give the Company and regiment to which each belonged:Norman Eowler, George Phillips, George Goodsell, Sherman Logan, Hampton Kent, Henry Kent, Evan Richards, J. A. Osborn, 156 HISTORY OF GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO. John Hatch, McKendre McFarland, C. M. Foot, Ransom Bliss, Frank Clover, Wallace Fuller, Albert Fuller, D. L. Fenkell, Albert Case, Justin Fowler, Frank Covert, Alden Hazen, Smitzer Ellis, John Mining, Henry Logan, John Barton, Charles E. Henry, Edward Henry, P. S. Goodsell, Miles Carpenter, Edwin Carpenter, Carlos Henry, Daniel Nettleton, Judson Greenfield. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, WILLIAM HOWARD, Auditor of Geauga County, was born in Bainbridge, Geauga county, November 7, 1833. His father, William R. Howard, of Washington, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, with Martha, his wife, removed to Bainbridge, Geauga county, Ohio, in the year 1821, where his aged and estimable widow now resides. The subject of this sketch, in early youth, evinced a desire for an education, and availed himself of the opportunities offered by the common schools for obtaining the same, supplemented by a few terms at a select school in the township and one at Oberlin. When his school days were ended, he continued to study and improve his mind, while engaged in labor upon his farm. He was married October 8, 1856, to Miss Lorinda A. Osborn, who for several years had been an efficient teacher in the schools of the county, and one of the most estimable young ladies in the township. In 1860 Mr. Howard had prepared himself for the study of medicine, and procured books for that purpose, but circumstances, beyond his control, seemed to render his immediately entering upon the study, impracticable, and he reluctantly abandoned his purpose to engage in that profession. He served a number of years as township clerk, and in 1870 was elected justice of the peace, in which office he served till elected to his present position, in the fall of 1877. For nearly twenty years he has taken a deep interest in matters of religion, and has for some years been a member of an Evangelical church, though utterly opposed to the narrow spirit of sectarianism, which characterizes many. In politics he has been a staunch Republican since the organization of the party, and has ever been an earnest advocate of, and worker in, the temperance cause, and all reforms which tend to elevate mankind. He is a man of uncompromising integrity, superior judgment and excellent business capacity. By strict adherence to his convictions of right he has won the confidence and esteem of the community, and has promise of many years of useful and honorable life.HISTORY OF GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO. 157 HENRY F. MARSH, son of Aden and Elvira Marsh, was born in East Herrick, Bradford county, Pennsylvania. When he was three years old his father died, and in his eighth year Henry became the step-son of Colonel P. D. McConoughey, of Bainbridge, Geauga county, Ohio. From this time Bainbridge was his home until he was nineteen, when he enlisted in company F, of the One hundred and fifth regiment, Ohio volunteer infantry. He was taken prisoner at the battle of Chickamauga, September 20, 1863, taken to Richmond, and kept in prison two months. While he, with other prisoners, were being transferred to Danville, Virginia, Henry escaped from the cars and came within five miles of the Union lines, but was re-captured and taken to Richmond again and kept in a dungeon two months, and then placed on Belle Isle, where he spent the winters of 1863 and 1864. In April, 1864, he was removed to Andersonville, where he spent the summer until September, when he was removed to Charleston, South Carolina, from which prison he escaped September 20, 1864, and reached the Union lines at Hilton Head, October 7, 1864. As soon as he was safely on board the man-of-war, from whose mast floated the Union flag, there came a relaxation of his physical powers, and for a time it was thought he would not recover. After two weeks he was taken to New York, where he remained two weeks in the soldiers' home, and was then brought to his home in Bainbridge. The exposure and ill treatment he received while in rebel prisons so much impaired his health that he was unable to endure much physical labor. In the spring of 1867 he graduated at the commercial college in Oberlin, Ohio, and in the fall of 1867 was nominated and elected treasurer of Geauga county. In September, 1868, he took his office, serving for the term of two years, and was re-elected in the fall of 1869, and had served one year of his second term when he became a victim to consumption, and died suddenly at the house of E. V. Canfield, Chardon, Ohio, aged twenty-eight years.Mr. Marsh was a young man of unquestionable integrity, with much more than ordinary business capacity, and highly esteemed by all who knew him. He was a gentleman of unusual independence and will power. Although during the last months of his sickness he was unfit to leave his room, yet by sheer determination he continued about the duties of his office, and only consented to be assisted to his room a few minutes before his death. Thus he avoided what he had dreaded most -- that in his last sickness he would be a burden to his friends. |
