Solomon Griswold, one of the County Commissioners was boarding at Judge Warner's at that time, and borrowed a keg of him, and went to Mr. Caldwell's to get some whiskey.

[Pg. 31]
Calwell had a barrel, as that was the first article to be brought into a hotel in those days.  Calwell took a lighted candle, as it was evening, to see to draw it.  He got the candle a little too near the running whisky and it caught fire.  They both ran into the street leaving their hats, and the whole building was soon in flames.  The story is, that Griswold rushed up the street, so much excited that instead of crying " Fire! " he yelled "high wines! " "high wines! " at the top of his voice.  Mr. Griswold had to borrow a hat and go home without any whisky.  Thus ended the first whisky hotel in Jefferson.  Calwell left soon after.  How different our views then and now.  What would we think of a County commissioner now who would drink whisky even on the sly, when at that time it was respectable to buy it by the keg and drink it by the quart. 
     Most of the first settlers in the village, built around the east square; it is supposed they thought the Court House would be here.
     The first court was held in June, 1811, and lasted two days; the first Judges were Benjamin Ruggles, presiding Judge; Aaron Wheeler, Solomon Griswold and Ebenezer Haynes, associate Judges.  Judge Haynes was the grand father of Auditor Crowell. 
     It required four Judges then to conduct the court.  The presiding Judge sat between the others and decided all points of law.  The Judges were appointed by the Legislature.  Peter Hitchcock, first Prosecuting Attorney, pro. tern., Ezra Kellogg, first Prosecuting Attorney.  The first Clerk was Timothy R. Hawley.  The first Sheriff, Quintus F. Atkins.  The first Grand Jurors were Noah Cowles, Peter Sweet, Stephen Brown, William Perrin, Jesse D. Hawley, Walter Fobes, Ebenezer Lamson, Sterling Mills, Michael Webster, Gideon Leet, John Beckwith, Eliphlet Austin, James Harper, Moses Wright and David Hendry.  The grand jury were sworn, retired and came into court the same day and having no bills to present, were then dismissed.  There was no petit jury called and only one case before the Judges.  That was for debt and judgment rendered of seventy dollars. 
     The second term of court was held November, 1811.

[Pg. 32]
There were then, as represented, three very cruel cases of assault and battery.  The defendants  all plead guilty and begged for mercy, whereupon the court fined them two dollars each.  A man nowadays who had given another a good whipping, would think it very reasonable to get off by paying two dollars.  You must remember, a man would beg hard to save two dollars, if he had to chop wood at eighteen cents per cord and board himself.  There were several licenses granted in this court to keep public houses in the county.  No hotel was kept on the temperance principles, and each had to be licensed to keep hotel and sell whiskey.  Peleg Sweet, of Ashtabula, kept the first hotel in the county to whom a license was granted.  Giles Cowles of Austinburg, was the first minister licensed by the court to solemnize marriages in Ashtabula county, which was in 1811.
     The lawyers, mainly, who practiced in the Ashtabula County Courts, up to 1818, were as follows:
     Ethan Allen Brown, who afterwards became Governor of Ohio; Thomas D. Webb, of Warren; Elisha Whittlesy, of Canfield; Robert Harper, of Harpersfield; Samuel Wheeler, of Unionville; Peter Hitchcock; Calvin Pease, of Warren, who was appointed presiding Judge about 1820; S. W. Phelps and Elihu Spencer.  Elisha Whittlesy was a number of years in Congress.  There were no lawyers made in this county then, most everybody had to work so hard to sustain their bodies, their intellect had to lie dormant.  Samuel Wheeler and Robert Harper, found their way through Windsor to Warren, and studied law with Thomas D. Webb.  Samuel Wheeler was expert in giving sharp cuts at other lawyers; his old tutor, Webb, had but one leg and went with a crutch.  Often when he was roused up in pleading, he would reach far forward with his arms and head.  In one of these splurges, his crutch gave way and down he went, nearly turning over the table; as quick as thought Wheeler cried out "we do not sell doves here," of course alluding to our Saviour overturning the tables in the temple. 
     Rogues always follow honest people into new countries; they can ply their vocation in a thinly settled wilderness, and keep out of the way of justice better than in an older

[Pg. 33]
settled country; consequently as soon as courts were fully in operation they built a rough log jail where the present jail now stands.  As it was not lined with iron it did not require a very expert rogue to break jail.  In 1802 Captain Ben. Naper, of Ashtabula, was put in jail for assault and battery.  He took it into his head one night, he would go to Austinburg for his breakfast in the morning, (at that time there was no road to Ashtabula from the Court House north.)  Accordingly he got a pry and raised up one of the rafters that supported the roof boards, and made an opening large enough to crawl out.  He stopped at the hotel in Austinburg and called for breakfast for three persons.  When the Sheriff got up in the morning, he found his prisoner was gone.  Calling an assistant, he pursued Naper to Austinburg.  Naper met them at a hotel, remarking, I expected you along and I have ordered breakfast for all three of us.  After breakfast he came back with them, was arraigned before the court, plead guilty, and was fined five dollars and cost.
     About 1827 the old log jail was replaced by a new one.  The jail part was made of square hewn timber, the sticks lying on each other like a log house.  The front part, for the jailor, was frame.  Wm. Crowell, Sr., father of Auditor Crowell, was the builder.  In the winter of 1843 the jail was burned down, the prisoners assisting in putting out the fire.
     In 1844, the present jail was built by Cornelius Udell, and cost about four thousand dollars.  It is now (1877) being torn down and a new jail part in progress of erection; John M. Watters, builder.  The cost of the rebuilding of the jail with iron cells, will be about $10,000.
     The construction of the jail by Mr. Udell, was as follows:  The outer walls were built of rough hammer-hacked stone.  The front half of the building was finished for the jailer's family.  The rear part was divided into a hall and 12 cells.  Beneath the cells and hall there was a floor laid of timbers close together, 10 inches thick.  Strips of band iron about three inches wide and three inches apart spiked down over these timbers, and a white ash 1½ in. floor over the whole, well spiked down.  Above the cells, timbers laid over the same as below, only eight inches thick.  Inside of the jail, all

[Pg. 34]
 

[Pg. 35]

     There have been six persons tried for murder in Ashtabula County, since it was organized, and not one brought in guilty of murder in the first degree, nor has any one suffered capital punishment.  Speaking of the jail, brings to mind an affray that occured in 1834, which I would like to relate to our Sheriff.
     While Uriah Loomis was Sheriff, some business required his absence from the jail for a night, and Merrit Jerome and his wife, went there to assist in taking care of the prisoners.  Ira Meeker from Harpersfield was in jail.  Being a hard case, his hands were locked together with a small chain.  By some means he obtained a very fine saw, and by the help of his companion, the chain was sawed off, so that his hands were at liberty.  When Mr. Jerome opened the door in the evening to carry in their supper, they rushed upon him, each having a stick of wood.  Meeker hit him a heavy blow on the head, cutting to the bone, but it did not floor him.  Although down, he was not subdued, and meant to secure the prisoner.  He grabbed Meeker and they had a hard squabble.  Meeker's companion when he could get a chance, played on Jerome's head with his stick, and struck him a blow on his back, which crippled him.  Mr. Jerome, in the mean time, was hallooing, murder. The jail door led into the familie's room then.  As soon as Meeker found he was free from Jerome, he didn't stop to see whether Jerome was dead, but flew to the front window, kicked it out, sash and all,  Mrs. Jerome being a very resolute woman, and thinking that help would be there in a moment, caught Meeker by the coat as he was going through the window, tearing it nearly off, his hat falling back into the room.  There was soon a general rush among the neighbors, who having heard to cry of murder, came to see what was the matter, but it being dark the prisoners were soon where they could not be found.  Dr. Hawley was called to dress Jerome's wounds.  The Doctor told merit was a wonder to him how he ever escaped alive.  He said there were six or seven gashes on his head to the bone, and the blood was flowing profusely to the floor.  Meeker was afterwards taken in Detroit, in this way:  The commissioner advertised a large reward for his capture.  George Fisher, of Harpersfield, by some means got a letter that Meeker had written to his brother Robert, to meet him at Detroit, at a certain

[Pg. 36]
hotel at a given time.  George knowing that Meeker would go up on a vessel, went himself by land so as to be there at the appointed time.  He did not go immediately to the hotel, but went to a private house and got the privilege of going into an upper room nearer the harbor, so that he could see the passengers as they came off the vessel then in sight.  He saw Meeker come off the vessel and go up to the hotel, then he was sure of the reward.  He went to the hotel, found Meeker and his brother sitting at the dinner table; he went up behind him, put his han don his shoulder saying, you are my prisoner.  They secured and brought him to Jefferson   HE had his trial and went ot States Prison.  Meeker's companion was never caught.

     Quintus F. Atkins with his family, moved from Morgan to Jefferson, in 1816.  He took possession of a small log house

[Pg. 37]

     Veloran Hodge, (father to V. J. C. Hodge), came here not

[Pg. 38]

[Pg. 39]

     B. F. Wade came from West Springfield, Mass, to Andover in 1822.  He was then 2_ years old, and had no means with which to commence life but a fair education, good health and willing hands , with a determined will that if close application to study and hard labor would do it, he would make something of himself.  Uriah Loomis, Senior, who died in this town about 34 years ago, at the age of 87, often told us he was well acquainted with the Wade family east, and after their day's work was done, the Wade boys would lie down before a blazing fire in the old-fashioned fire-place with a book before them and study all the evening by the light of the fire, while other boys were aimlessly strolling about the streets  He had watched their after course in life and those aimless boys had never ea-

[Pg. 40]
complished anything worthy of note and most of them made but a sad figure in life.  Wade worked steadily and faithfully in Andover for two years, chopping and clearing land in that then wilderness township.  I have heard men say that worked with him, they had to exert themselves uncommonly to keep up with him chopping, reaping and mowing.  when he was relieved from work a short time, he was at his books.
     In 1824 he went back to Massachusetts and labored there until 1829, when he came back to Ohio and studied law with Elisha Whittelsey, in Canfield, Mahoning county.  He was there until 1828.  He then came to Jefferson and entered into partnership with J. R. Giddings.
     At that time he mingled very little with what were termed social circles.  He was however, social and friendly in private conversation.  He was no ch_rl, but was honest and outspoken in his convictions, whether in religion or politics.  He possessed a rare independence and expressed himself freely on ever subject where he thought personal liberty or freedom of thought was interfered with.  When he was not engaged in pleading law, he seemed as much of a fixture in Giddings' old office, pondering over his books, as was the old brick fire-place in the office.
     In 1838 he went into company with R. P. Ranney, and it was known as the law firm of "Wade & Ranney."  In 1838 he was elected Ohio State Senator and re-elected the second and third terms.  In 1848 he was elected Circuit Judge of Court of Common Pleas.  In 1851 he was elected U. S. Senator, and was re-elected continuously, until he had served 18 years.  At President Lincoln's death, which occurred in 1865, he became Vice President.  In 1869, after Johnson's impeachment trial, he came within one vote of being President of the United States.
     At the close of his Senatorial term, he was appointed inspector of the Pacific Railroad.  For that purpose he went over the road to California.  He was also one of the members of the San Domingo Commission.
     Before he commenced reading law with Mr. Whittelsey, he had obtained a very good education and he taught school while studying, by which he obtained means to support himself; he was very economical.  He gave his note to Mr. Whittelsey for

[Pg. 41]
$200 when he left him, to be paid in two payments of one hundred dollars a year, and he met the payments promptly.  Judge Wade was one of those self-reliant men, who studied up his decisions before he uttered them, and he always spoke with an earnestness that no one doubted but what he believed what he said, although he never laid claim to great eloquence, yet he used plain every day language which all who heard him understood.  I think his politial popularity in a great measure results from the following reasons:  In all his public career he never was accused of any speculation or of any dishonest means to obtain money.  When he was engaged in an argument he threw the whole force of his soul, mind and body, into it; so that it took a strong opponent to put him down.  It was said when he was on the Judge's bench, there was hardly ever an appeal from his decision, even his opponents gave him the credit of being an unpredjudiced Judge.
     During the last Congressional campaign, some of his friends urged him very hard to come up for Congress in opposition to Garfield, but he utterly refused to have his name used.  He was delegate at large at large to the Cincinnati Convention which nominated Gov. Hayes for President and was Elector from this District, and made chairman of the electoral college for 1876.
     In 1841 he married, and soon after, he purchased the house and office formerly built by Appolis D. Bates, and entirely remodeled the inside and made it a very good house.  Recently he built the fine residence (on the same spot where his old one stood) where he now lives, retired from public life.  His family consists of himself, wife and two sons.  One of his sons resides near Jefferson and is a farmer; the other is a Colonel in the Regular Army and is stationed in the far West.

     As there have been a great many offices in Jefferson commissioned by the various Governors of Ohio, I think it will not be amiss here to give a list of the Governors for the first three quarters of a century, of Ohio:

     Arthur St. Clair, of Pennsylvania, was Governor of the Northwest Territory, of which Ohio was a part, from July 13, 1788, when the first civil government was established in the Territory, until about the close of the year 1802,when he was removed by the President.

[Pg. 42]
     Charles W. Bird was Secretary of the Territory at the time of the removal of Governor St. Clair, and thereupon became acting governor.

     Edward Tiffin was the first governor after the organization of the State government.  His term commenced March 3rd, 1803.  Resigned Mar. 3, 1807, to accept the office of United States Senator.

     Thomas Kirker, speaker of the State Senate, by virtue of his office, succeeded Governor Tiffin for the balance of the un-expired term.

     Return Jonathan Meigs was elected governor on the second Tuesday of October, 1807, over NAthaniel Massie, who contested the election of Meigs on the ground "that he had not been a resident of this State for four years next preceding the election, as required by the constitution."  The General Assembly in joint convention, decided that he was not eligible.  The office was not given to Massie, nor does it appear from the records that he claimed it, but Thomas Kirker acting governor, continued to discharge the duties of the office until.

     Samuel Huntington was inaugurated.  (December 12, 1808,) he having been elected on the second Tuesday of October in that year.

     Return Jonathan Meigs was re-elected in 1810, and entered upon the discharge of his official duties DE. 8, 1810.  Resigned, Mar. 25, 1814, to accept the office of Postmaster General of the United States.

     Othneil Looker, acting governor, succeeded to office, Apr. 14, 1814, by rason of being speaker of the Senate.

     Thomas Worthington was governor from Dec. 8, 1814, to De. 14, 1818.

     Ethan Allen Brown was inaugurated Dec. 14, 1818.  Resigned Jan. 4, 1822, to accepted the office of United States Senator.

     Allen Trimble, acting governor, succeeded to office Jan. 7th, 1822, by reason of being speaker of the Senate.

     Jeremiah Morrow, from Dec. 28, 1822, to Dec. 19, 1826.

     Allen Trimble, from Dec. 19, 1826, to ec. 18, 1830.

     Duncan McArthur, from Dec. 18, 1830, to Dec. 7, 1832.

     Robert Lucas, from Dec. 7, 1832, to Dec. 13, 1836.

[Pg. 43]

     Joseph Vance, from Dec. 13, 1836, to Dec. 13, 1838.

     Wilson Shannon, from Dec. 13, 1838, to Dec. 16, 1840.

     Thomas Corwin, from dEc. 16, 1840, to Dec. 14, 1842.

     Wilson Shannon, inaugurated Dec. 4, 1842.  Resigned Apr. 13, 1844, to accept the office of minister to Mexico.

     Thomas W. Bartley, acting governor, succeeded to office.

     Mordecai Bartley, inaugurated Dec. 3, 1844.  Term expired Dec. 12, 1846.

     William Bebb, from Dec. 12, 1846, to Jan. 22, 1849.

     Seabury Ford was duly elected in 1848, but the result of the election in 1848 was not finally determined in joint convention of the two houses of the General Assembly until Jan. 19, 1849, and the inauguration did not take place until the 22nd of that month.  Term expired Dec. 12, 1850.

     Reuben Wood, inaugurated Dec. 12, 1850.  Resigned July 15, 1853, to accept the office of consul to Valparaiso.

     William Medill, acting governor, succeeded to office by reason of being lieutenant governor, July 15, 1853.  Elected in October, 1853, for the regular term, to commence on the second Monday of January, 1854.  Term expired Jan. 14, 1856.

     Salmon P. Chase, from Jan. 14, 1856, to Jan. 9, 1860.

     William Dennison, from Jan. 9, 1860, to Jan. 13, 1862.

     David Tod, from Jan. 13, 1862, to Jan. 12, 1864.

     John Brough, inaugurated Jan. 12, 1864.  Died Aug. 29, 1865.

     Charles Anderson, acting governor, succeeded to office, by reason of being lieutenant governor, Aug. 30, 1865.  Term expired Jan. 9, 1866.

     Jacob D. Cox, from Jan.9, 1866, to Jan. 13, 1868.

     Rutherford B. Hayes, from Jan. 13, 1868, to Jan. 8, 1872.

     Edward F. Noyes, from Jan. 8, 1872 to Jan. 12, 1874.

     William Allen, inaugurated Jan. 12, 1874, served until Jan. 10, 1876.

     Rutherford B. Hayes, from Jan. 10, 1876, until Mar. 3 1877, when he resigned to accept the office of President of the United States.

     Thomas L. Young, elected lieutenant governor, and assumed the duties of Governor, on the resignation of Governor Hayes, Mar. 3, 1877.

[Pg. 44]

     Joshua R. Giddings came with his father, Joshua Giddings, to the township of Wayne, when he was ten years old.  They came from Canandaigua, New York.  The 16th of June, 1806, that memorable day in which the sun was totally eclipsed, they arrived at Conneaut.  They came with an ox wagon.  The first night after they arrived in Wayne, they lodged in a deserted Indian wigwam.  Mr. G's father built a log cabin, in which they resided.  Their cabin contained but one room, without hearth, chimney or window.  Surely quite a contrast between that residence and the fine mansions where his grand-children are reared.  Mr. Gidding's father in removing to Ohio, invested nearly his whole fortune in lands, which had been purchased by Mr. Phelps of Cananaigua.  Phelps' title failed, and in consequence, J. R.'s father suffered the loss of his entire estate, and the family in consequence of his failure were reduced to poverty.  When this occurred there were three brothers: Joshua, the youngest, 14 years old, and his two older brothers, incited by the hope of extricating the family from so sudden and unexpected a reverse of fortune, stript themselves to labor.  By incessant toil and pratice of the most rigid economy in time and money, they were each enabled to purchase a farm, before Mr. Giddings had arrived at 21.
     Mr. Giddings possessed a strong muscular constitution.  Very few men have done the amount of hard labor in the same length of time, from the amount of hard labor in the same length of time, from the time he was 14 until he was 20 years of age.  Primeval forests shaded the land and demanded for their extinction, sturdy and oft repeated strokes of the axe.  The toils of the day, from early morning light to the evening shades, required the whole night to recuperate the tired system and left but little time for recreation or study.  The making of sugar from the maple trees, was his sole interlude between the felling of timber and digging the soil.
     In the war of 1812, after General Hull's disgraceful surrender of the army, the Northwestern frontier was wholly exposed and seemed to be fully at the mercy of a savage and exasperated foe.  The few scattered inhabitants were in arms and continual fear.  The whole regiment from the Northeast part of the State was ordered out.  The regiment was composed of  small companies from different townships.  Some townships

[Pg. 45]
had but two or three men that could go.  The regiment was commanded by Col. Richard Hayes, of Hartford.  J. R. Giddings then seventeen years old, volunteered and joined the regiment.  They came through Jefferson and encamped here over night.  There were only a few log cabins here then.  Part of the regiment lay on the Court House floor, and the patriotic citizens gave the balance shelter in their cabins and food to all.  Mrs. Warner says her house was full.  Judge Warner and Deacon Michael Webster enlisted in the regiment.  Mr. Webster was gone three months, Mr. Warner not as long.
     I will mention here, that Durlin Hickok. Sen., grand-father to Edward Hickok, was a long time a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and I think drew a pension until he died.
     On the 29th of September, 1813, a party of the militia, of which Mr. Giddings was one, to the number of 64, fell in with a much larger number of the enemy, on the Peninsula, north of Sandusky Bay; the conflict was short but sanguinary.  The American loss in killed and wounded was twelve.  The loss of the enemy was never known.
     After the Northwestern foes were brought to terms, Mr. Giddings resumed the axe and plow.  During the whole time from the age of 10 to 20, he attended school but four weeks.  Although his education was so limited, he was called upon in his neighborhood to teach a common school; he objected on account of incapacity, but was urged to commence.  Having a very active brain and powerful energy, he went into the school, and while he was teaching the scholars he improved all the spare time in instructing himself  Thus he succeeded in his school and his own education was much improved.  In 1819 he entered the study of law, under the direction of Hon. Elisha Whittlesy, his predecessor in Congress.  He was admitted to the bar in February, 1821, and commenced the practice of law in Jefferson.  He married Laurie W. Waters, in 1819, removed with his family to Jefferson in 1822.  As there were no houses here to rent at that time, he moved into the dwelling part of the log jail, where he resided until he built the house in 1823-4, which was his family residence until his death, which occurred in May, 1864, at the age of 69.  His wife died the following fall at the age of 66.  Mr. Giddings'

[Pg. 46]
house stood where J. A. Giddings' house now stands; it was well finished, and was the best house in town at that time.  It was burned down in 1874.
     Mr. Giddings was elected to the Ohio Legislature in 1826, and was re-elected in 1827.  In 1838 he was elected to Congress, and was continuously elected until he had served 21 years.  In 1842 Mr. Giddings offered his resolutions defining the Constitutional rights of the free and slave States, as it regards slavery.  The wrath of the slaveholders now boiled over.  The House was thrown into commotion approaching the spirit of a mob.  He was arraigned, tried and condemned without a hearing.  The slave power then stood triumphant in the Representative Hall of this Republic.  Mr. Giddings, thrown from the House of Representatives, returned immediately to his constituents.  He was sent back by a large majority, and slavery stood abashed before the indignant thunder of aroused freemen.
     I trust my readers will pardon me for dwelling more minutely on the history of one of our fellow citizens than I otherwise should, were it not that he was so intimately connected, and so efficient an agent in breaking up the demoralizing control of the slave power.  When I used to read articles in the Southern papers in which they stated that all the laboring classes, whether white or black, should be reduced to slavery, as the only condition in which the wise and high-minded could live with any degree of respectability.  I say, when I saw what a powerful influence slavery had obtained in our Legislative halls, my spirit was stirred within me, and I admired the an who, in the midst of opposition and loss of popularity, raised his thundering voice against this terrible evil.  As some may think I exaggerate, I will give some extracts which I find in an old, and then popular Southern paper, the Richmond (Va.) Enquirer,
     "Make the laboring man the slave of one man,  instead of the slave of society, and he would be better off.  Three hundred years of free labor has made laborers a pauper bandit.  Free society has failed, and that which is not free must be substituted.  Free society is a monstrous abortion, and slavery the healthy, beautiful, and natural being which they are trying unconsciously to adopt.  The slaves are governed far better

[Pg. 47]
than free laborers of the North are governed.  Our negroes are not only better off as to physical comfort than the free laborers of the North, but their moral condition is better.  We do not adopt the theory that Ham was the ancestor of the negro race, and to confine the jurisdiction of slavery to that race would weaken its scriptural authority, for we read of no negro slavery in ancient times.  Slavery, black or white is necessary.  Life and liberty are not inalienable.  The Declaration of Independence is exuberantly false and fallacious."
     If the above sentiments had continued to triumph in our National Legislature, before now our freedom would have been at an end.  I have not now the means of knowing the exact date of the passage of the Fugitive Slave Law, but I recollect Mr. Giddings made some telling speeches on that subject, plainly showing that the framers of the Constitution never intended, either by its spirit or letter, to require persons or officers to assist them in securing their slaves while escaping from bondage; but according to the words of the Constitution, if the slaveholder proved that they had escaped from him, and were owing him service, that they should be given up, or that no law in the free States should prevent his taking them away.  But Mr. Giddings uttered it boldly in Congress, that private individuals had a perfect right, by the Constitution and by the laws of God and humanity, when a poor fugitive came to them hungry and destitute, to feed him, and help him on to a land of freedom, and that no many had any right to property in human flesh.  This greatly enraged the slaveholders.  I will not give some extracts from his speeches in Congress.  A correspondent of the New York Tribune writes in 1842:
     "Mr. Giddings made a powerful speech against indemnifying certain slave owners who lost their slaves, I believe in consequence of the English condeming vessels supposed to be in the slave trade.  Mr. Giddings showed fully the iniquity of the slave trade.  After Mr. Giddings had ceased speaking, a Southern member approached the aisle where Mr. Giddings was standing and violently attempted to push him out of it.  As Mr. G. turned round to see who his assailant was, he passed close by him, with his right hand inside his vest, apparently

[Pg. 48]
taking hold of his bowie knife.  He came back within four feet of Mr. G. and placed himself in a menacin attitude directly in front of him.  Mr. G. inquired: 'Did you push me?' looking him directly in theeye.  'I did' was the reply.  'Intentionally?' asked Mr. G. 'Yes'  'For the purpose of insult?' demanded Mr. Giddings.  'Yes,' was again the answer.  'Well sir,' replied Mr. G., 'we are in the habit of leaving those men who wantonly insult others, to the contempt of public opinion.'  By this time the friends of the member interfered, and led him from the hall,"
     J. R. Giddings had seven children.  Two of them died while young.  There are but three now living, C. P. and J. A.  Giddings, both residing in Jefferson; and Laura, his youngest daughter, is the wife of Hon. George W. Julian, and resides in Indianapolis.

     In 1816, Frederick Udell at the age of 20, came in a one-horse wagon, with Isaac Bailey, his cousin, from Silver Lake, Susquehanna county, Pa., distance about 400 miles, and remained here about six weeks.  At that time there was no road north of the jail.  The land was all covered with heavy whitewood chestnut, beach and maple timber.  The road was surveyed, with the intention at some future time to have it worked through to Ashtabula.  The Commissioners let the job to Gilbert Webster, to chop and clear out the timber four rods wide from the jail to the creek, a half mile north.  Mr. Webster received $20 dollars for the job.  Webster with his oxen, and Frederick Udell with his ax did the job in four days.  Udell received $2 for his work, fully satisfied that small wages were better than to earn nothing.  Not being well pleased with the country, he returned to Susquehauna the same summer by way of Pittsburg, and from there over the mountains, traveling on foot about 500 miles, carrying a pack on his back, as was customary then; sometimes buying provisions enough to last them a week.
     I will tell our young folks it was a common thing then, to see men traveling to seek a place to make them a home; a large pack with a strap over each shoulder, each of the straps attached to the pack with a handkerchief tied in front to keep them on the shoulders.  Under that heavy load, many an am-

[Pg. 49]
bitious man has plodded on with a light heart in glowing anticipation of a brighter prospect ahead.
     In February, 1823, Frederick Udell came to Jefferson again, (still a single man) traveling with a horse and sleigh.  He came with the intention of making this new country his permanent home.  Accordingly, he with ten other men, started one day from the west part of the township, what was then called the Hickok settlement, where Talcott's mill now stands, and went up the creek on the ice looking for a place.  When they came to the site of the present iron bridge, three miles north of the Court House, there on both sides of the creek, Udell found 80 acres that suited him.  The company that went up the creek had their rifles with them.  All the game they captured was eleven porcupines and one deer.  Mr. Udell then contracted with Timothy R. Hawley, Esq., agent for Thomas Oliver, for the above named 80 acres of land, at $3 per acre.  At that time there was no road north of the creek by C. P. Giddings, only blazed trees, and no house between the jail and Ashtabula; Mar. 31, 1823, Udell took a hand with him and a quantity of cooked provisions, went through the woods to his land, put up a pole cabin 4x6, four feet high, raked in some leaves for a bed, and in ten days with their axes "lopped" ten acres; he then hired out to Giddings and Jones for six months, for $10 per month.
     In October, 1823, he cut 16 feet logs on his land for a log cabin, an invited all the men in the township to the raising.  All came but one man, he being too feeble to come.  They brought their dinners with them.  The late Dr. Almon Hawley came on horseback and brought a half bushel of potatoes, which were roasted on the ground, by covering them with ashes and the coals; and were raked out nicely cooked, to the satisfaction of the company and full enjoyment of their appetites.  Michael Webster, Sen., then about 80 years old, came through the woods with two yoke of oxen and a wagon, and brought a a thousand feet of boards.  The raising was completed that day and all went home in fine spirits.  The house was soon roofed and Mr. Udell's father having previously given up trying to pay for 80 acres of land, he had contracted for about seven years before, moved into his son's new cabin.  As Fred-

[Pg. 50]
erick then had no wife, he had a kind mother to keep house for him.  In the winter of 1823-4, he chopped four acres.  As soon as the snow was off he began burning the green logs and brush, which was a slow job, but by perseverance he succeeded in clearing off and planting 4 acres of corn.  During the summer of 1824, he cleared the land and sowed five acres of wheat.  In the winter of 1824-5 he took logs to Hickok's mill for lumber sufficient to build a 30x40 foot barn, and had it finished the following spring in time to put in his wheat; 5 acres produced over 100 bushels which was reaped with sickles and threshed with flails.  He bought one hundred pounds of nails, of Joab Austin, for his barn, and paid in wheat at fifty cents per bushel.  It required 20 bushels of wheat at that time to buy 100 pounds of nails; now two bushels will buy the same.
     In October, 1826, Frederick was married to Lura Waters (twin sister of Mrs. J. R. Giddings,) and took her home to his log cabin, his father's family having previously removed.  In 1832 he built a comfortable framed house; he afterwards made additions and kept a public house several years to accommodate teamsters.  Then, there was a large amount of goods hauled to and from the lake on this road on wagons, the only means of conveyance from the south towns.  By persevering hard labor, he added about 200 acres to his farm in a few years.  In 1854, he built the house he lives in now.  They had eight children, three sons and five daughters; one died in infancy.  The sons are all farmers, living in their father's neighborhood.  The two oldest daughters remain at the old homestead, with a laudable self-denial keeping house for their father in his old age.  Another one, Mrs. Martha Ballou, now living in this village, a widow; her husband was instantly killed in battle in Texas, while earnestly engaged in the service of our country, in the late rebellion.  The youngest, Mrs. Austin Wescott, is living in Sheffield.  His wife died in 1856, aged 59; he is now in his 81st year.  In1852 he built a saw mill on the creek one mile east of his present house, by which he sawed a large amount of lumber.  In 1854 his hotel was divided into three buildings and moved away to give place to his present house.
     I have heard it remarked that some of my young readers wanted something funny.  I trust that they will bear in mind,

[Pg. 51]
that nothing but truth should be admitted into history.  There is generally more fun in fiction than there is in truth, but something sweet is sometimes as delicious as anything funny, so I will allow you to enjoy thinking of sweet if the tongue don't taste it.  There were comparatively but few young folks in town 55 years ago, and there were no ball rooms in which Young people learned to use their feet more than their  hands, but their hands were most of the time employed in fitting up the township, for what are now considered the comforts of life.  But I must come to the sweet.  Uncle Fred as they used to call him, had full control of the maple trees for miles around, and from those trees be made a large amount of sugar every spring.  In order to have a nice social visit, the young people would get up a party and in social glee, on ox sleds or ox wagons, and some on foot, were bound for Uncle Fred's sugar bush.  I assure you they enjoyed the ride through the three mile woods, better than it is enjoyed now in riding through in twenty minutes, for they had plenty of time to talk of present pleasures and future prospects.  When they arrived, they found Uncle Fred with a cheerful countenance and two or three big kettles hanging over a rousing fire, nearly full of delicious yellow sugar, boiling and foaming all ready for the company to freely dip in their paddles and bail it out on snow or cold water, and it became sold sweet wax.  The tongue tastes sweet to think of it.  There was no stinting, for all got a good supply and returned home in good spirits.
     In 1826 Granger agreed to give $200 in land towards making a turnpike between Frederick Udell's and the forks of the road, one and one half miles north of the village.  Frederick  and his brother Almon took the job, grubbed the stumps and made one mile of turnpike for $200:  Almon took 80 acres of land, the farm that Shannon Brewster now owns and paid four dollars per acre.  He built the house that Mr. Brewser lives in.  In a few years he sold the farm to the late Milo Wilder who sold it to Horatio Shadduck, and he sold it to Brewster.  Almon Udellis now living in Iowa.
     Bears and wolves were very plenty in the north woods, when Mr. Udell settled there.  One night the wolves came into his lot and killed ten sheep, out of a flock of twelve, and two year-

[Pg. 52]
ling calves.  The bears used to make terrible havoc, tearing down his corn.  One night he got Jared Miller to watchwith him, to try to capture a bear.  They took their rifles and lay down behind a large log in the cornfield.  About midnight they saw by the dim light of the moon, a large bear commence tearing down the corn, they both attempted to fire, but only one gun went off, that shot knocked the bear over, but it is not often that one shot will kill a bear; in a moment the bear revived, jumped up, and before they could fire again he was tearing on with full speed through the corn, but he did not trouble the corn any more that summer.
    I have been requested at this time to give a history of the rise and progress of the temperance cause in Jefferson.  There is but very little recorded, in fact, there was but little done in temperance work in early days.  I can find nothing worth relating in the first settlement.
     Once in two or three years a temperance lecturer would make his appearance here, and deliver one lecture in the evening, arouse the people, and many would sign the pledge.  Perhaps we would have two or three meetings following the lecture and  then the interest would cease, and the pledge was thrown into the waste basket.  But some good was accomplished, notwithstanding its flickering course.
     In 1841 there was a County Temperance Society formed in Jefferson, a record kept of it until 1846, then it died a natural death.  I will transcribe some of the records of this Society.  The first President was Erastus Chester; Vice Presidents, Chester Stowe and Wm. Hubbard; Secretary, Ralph Plumb; Treasurer, Lucretius Bissell.
     Platt R. Spencer was the leading spirit in this society.  The first annual meeting was held at Jefferson, Sept. 16, 1841, after some preliminary proceedings the following pledge was adopted:  "We whose names are hereunto affixed, do agree that we will not use intoxicating drinks as a beverage, nor traffic in them, that we will not furnish them, as an article of entertainment, or for persons in our employment, and thus in all suitable ways we will discountenance their use throughout the community."
     I think it may be interesting to some, to see whose names

[Pg. 53]
were signed to this pledge 36 years ago.  I believe a majority of them have gone to the spirit world but there are some living who may see their names.
     A. Turner, H. A. Plumb, Sheldon Pelton, A. N. Wright, Edwin King, E. W. Henderson, Milton King, Ira B. Hawkins. Hiram Harmon, Mrs. T. Tuttle, Jonathan Bailey, Nathaniel Owen, Samuel Plumb, Obadiah Brainard, Jewett E. Stanly, Christopher Lyman, James M. Hewins, Oliver Clark, John F. Latimer, Aaron J. Holmes, J. L. Bryan, Alfred Mosher, C P. Thompson, Salmon Hills, J. M. Stanton, Rodger Foot, Jr., Milo Wilder, L. B. Potter, Samuel Hendry, R. D. Preston, Silas Covell, Abel C. Ward, A. H. Bailey, Loring Price, L. Q. C. Dean, Reuben Benjamin, S. Loomis, Jarvis Bacon, L. Loomis, James Hoyt, E. W. Hickok, Judge L. Jones, J. M. Wade, B. S. Knapp, Wm. H. Fay, Lorin Hodge, Wm. Willard, Cornelius Udell, Daniel Hubbard, Lucretius Bissell, W. H. Simonds, James Guild, Willard Chapin, Thomas Tenny, Zebediah Dennison, B. B. Hunter, J. R. Giddings, G. W. St. John, John Ingersol, Austin Norm's, H. R. Gaylord, George L. Collins, Ellen L. Bates, Harriet Dennison, Marilla Plumb. Mary B. Lockwood, Mary Fay, Nancy Brainard, Lucinda E. Hall, Jane Warner, Phoebe Jones, Phoebe Warner, Phoebe P. Jones, Betsey Ann Mead, Emily M. Whiting, C. M. Henderson, Ruth B. Henderson, Sophia A Whiting, Hannah Clark, Harriet Plumb, Piatt R. Spencer, George Hall, Laura Guild, Cloe L. Norris. 
     There were a few more names signed at different meetings.  It seems there were but six county meetings in the six years, but some auxiliary township meetings.  Their principal business seems to have been short speeches and passing resolutions.  G. W. St. John, was president of two meetings; Lines Jones, president of one meeting; E. W. Hickok, president of three meetings.  Erastus Chester's name does not occur after his appointment.  In May, 1846, there was a Youth's Temperance Society formed, which did quite a lively and useful business at the school house, in the village, and it spread in different parts of the township.  Orlando Hoskin took quite an active part. E.

[Pg. 54]
J. Ensign and A. H. Bailey were presidents at most of the meetings.  Eben W. Whitmore was quire active in this society.
     They held twenty-two meetings which were made quite interesting by addresses and resolutions.  There was a committee appointed to draft and circulate a pledge, but no pledge is recorded and of course no signatures are signed.  The society closed up Jan. 26, 1847, not having lived quite a year, but it did considerable good in that short time.
     In 1848-9, Platt R. Spencer held temperance meetings in the different school houses.  He would always have something interesting to say and while here he kept the temperance spirit from dying out.  Herewith I give one of P. R. Spencer's odes to "Pure Water" read in a temperance meeting:

     "Back to the cool delicious floods;
     That dance along in silvery sands,
     And springs that peep from rocks and woods,
     Came the brave spirits of our lands,
     To drink when living friendships burn,
     Rich, healthful, pure, from nature's urn."

     About 1850, a society of Sons of Temperance was organized, but did not become permanent.  Within a few years after, the Cadets of Temperance or Good Templars society was organized.  Quite a number of our middle aged citizens, who were then boys and girls will remember these societies.  They held meetings in a room over the rear of C. F. Wood's store, also in the vestry of the Congregational Church.  But neither of these societies were long lived. 
     About 1860. Temperance meetings were revived and held in the Town Hall.  Walter Strong was elected president, but he died while he held the office and C. Udell succeeded him.  I think there were no records kept of these meetings.  Some of the young lawyers generally gave us speeches.  W. P. Howland was very active in these meetings.  They were continued until the 29th regiment was quartered here, and the Town Hall was taken for their war implements.  I have noticed our young people have generally been foremost in temperance meetings.  The attention of the people was so much taken up by the war, that there was little or nothing done in Temperance reformation till the year 1868, when the Good Templars lodge was

[Pg. 55]
organized.  About the first of January, 1868, Lester Loomis, Rev. E. C. Farley, Carey Knapp and Judson Knapp, met in the Hardware store of Carey Knapp, when the conversation turned to the subject of temperance.  During the war, and the three or four years which had elapsed since its termination, intemperance had increased, and these men each saw and felt the need of work.  They agreed that some kind of an organization was necessary.  They had noticed that the open organizations heretofore had been of temporary duration.  After discussing the subject they agreed that they would use their influence in securing the organization of a lodge of Good Templars and shook hands over it as a pledge of their sincerity.  Through their influence a public meeting was called and addressed by W. C. Howells.  Another meeting was held and addressed by Thomas Fricker.  The ordinary temperance pledge was circulated at each meeting.  The gentlemen before mentioned, were soliciting the names of those who would unite in the lodge.  On the evening of January 13th, those willing to join the lodge met at the photograph rooms of M. A. Loomis, and "Jefferson Ldoge No. 471," of the Independent Order of Good Templars, was instituted by Wm. Nelson, of Trumbull, with the following as charter members:  Jennie Loomis, Ida Allen, M. E. Gibbs, Minnie Knapp, Weltha A. Beede, H. B. Farley, Christiana Gill, E. C. Farley, A. Gibbs, R. J. Sim, H. Gill, Lester Loomis, I. H. Welch, W. F. Beede, Geo. Loomis, Chas. Ballard, E. A. Clark, J. B. Knapp, C. W. Knapp, F. A. Morse, H. J. Covell, A. M. Williams, James A. Norris, Eugene Cushman, Orril H. Loomis, Harrison Loomis and H. H. Stanford,  I have been furnished the following facts in reference to this lodge by its Worthy Chief Templar.  Since its organization ten years ago the 13th day of January, it has taken in and expended about $2000.  I presume this is more money than has been expended by all the other temperance efforts of our town.  Three hundred and twenty-six persons have joined the lodge.  Of this number, fifteen have died.  It seems as if this was a small percentage for ten years.  It helps to prove what the friends of temperance claim, that abstinence from intoxicating liquors is favorable to long life.
     One hundred and seventy-nine of those who have been mem-

[Pg. 56]
 

[Pg. 57]
 

[Pg. 58]

[Pg. 59]
 

[Pg. 60]
ciples not having any meeting house, disbanded, ,part of them joined the Baptists, part the Congregationalists, and quite a number united with the  Disciple Church at Eagleville.  A. D. Olds again became pastor.  I have before mentioned A. P. Graves the evangelist's labors, in which this church had quite a number of additions.  W. F. Millikan was pastor in 1871; E. Gale in 1873.  In 1875, S. W. Dickinson commenced his labor in the church, and is still an earnest and faithful pastor.  James Whitmores name appears as a member for a longer period than any other.  The present brick meeting house was built in 1835; Willis Smith was the master builder and S. N. Smalley the painter.  The work was all done by the day.  Total number received into the Church, two hundred and fifty, present number one hundred and ten.
     In January, 1876, the Congregational, Methodist and Baptist Churches, united in a protracted Union Meeting, which continued for eight weeks.  Rev. J. D. Potter, an evangelist, assisted the pastors for a short time, in preaching and conducting the meetings.  The refreshing fruits are seen in all the Churches at the present time.  So far as my observation extends, union meetings have been productive of the largest amount of good.
     In 1811, Liles Asque who moved into the northeast corner of Lenox in 1809, invited two preachers to come to Jefferson and form a class, and the members who united in its formation were Liles Asque and wife, Christopher Randall, wife and daughter and William Rench, six in all.  William Rench was the first class leader  Mr. Askue was a very earnest, zealous laborer among his christian brethren, in that early day; nearly every Sabbath for a number of years he came three miles, either on foot or horseback, through the woods to Jefferson (with only blazed trees to guide him,) to attend meeting.  We always expected to hear father Asque sing and talk in all the revival meetings.
     I have obtained names of the preachers who have preached on this circuit in Jefferson:  P. D. Horton and J. Gilmore, 1832; Arthur M. Brown and J. C. Ayers, 1833; B. K. Maltby and J. M. Holmes, 1834; Ira Norris 1835; B. O. Plympton,

[Pg. 61]
Dillen Prosser, 1837; H. J. Moore, 1838; P. Burrows, 1839; J. Leslie, 1840; J. W. Davis 1841; A. Fouts and S. Heard 1842 and 1864; T. C. Freer, 1843; Fortes Morse, 1844; T. B. Tait, 1845; J. M. Plant, 1846; W. French 1847; H. D. Cole, 1848; E. C. Lattimore 1849; S. Reynolds, 1850; P. Sullivan, 1851; E. S. Gillett and Hurlburt, 1852; I. O. Fisher, 1854; R. W. Crane, 1855; W. R. Johnson, 1856; A. Burgess, 1857; H. M. Chamberlin,1858; S. Wilkinson 1859 and 1860; S. Hollen, 1861; John K. Hallock, 1864-5; D. M. Rodgers, 1866-7; W. A. Clark, 1868-9; I. B. Goodrich, 1870; F. Brown, 1872; D. Rowland, 1873-4; T. D. Blinn 1876-6; T. Guy, 1877.  Total forty-four within forty-five years.
     They built their present meeting-house and dedicated it in 1848.  They also built a small but neat meeting-house in the northwest corner of Jefferson about 1845, where service is held every Sabbath afternoon.  The present number of members is 138, including the class in the northwest part of the town.