HISTORY OF THE TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES
OF
ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO

CITY AND TOWNSHIP OF ASHTABULA

     THE name Ashtabula is the softening of an Indian term which was first applied to the river.  It was the Indian name said to signify many fish.  It was pronounced originally by the Indians Hash-tah-buh-lah.
     The river was long known as the boundary line between the eastern and western tribes. - the Iroquois claiming the land of the east and certain Algonquin tribes claiming that to the west.  The fact accounts for the different words which signify the same thing.  The name Conneaut meant in the Iroquois language about the same as Ashtabula in Algonquin.
     When General Moses Cleaveland, from whom the city of Cleveland derived its name, passed through here with his surveying company, in 1796. he proposed to give a name in honor of his favorite daughter,  Mary Esther.  Messrs. Porter, Warren, Shepard, and most of the surveyors were in favor of the Indian name Ashtabula.  In order to secure his object, General Cleaveland offered to furnish two gallons of wine for the privilege of naming the river.  The surveyors assented and the wine was procured, and so long as it lasted the name of the place was “ Mary Esther.”  As soon as the last bottle disappeared the creek assumed the old name, and has borne it ever since.

FIRST SETTLEMENT.

     The first white man's habitation in the town of Ashtabula is said to have been a log cabin belonging to one Thomas Hamilton.  It was situated a little above the mouth of the river, on the west side.  It was erected in the year 1801.  When the logs were ready for raising there happened to come into the mouth of the river a boat, with a family on board, which was bound up the lake.  Hamilton persuaded the men to assist him in raising his cabin.  It is supposed that this company were the Austins, as Judge Austin is said to have been the first sealer who entered the harbor with a boat.  Two citizens of Conneaut, Daniel Baldwin and Captain James Montgomery, afterwards helped Hamilton finish his cabin, covering it with a bark roof.  This lonely hut stood with its single occupant in this place with no habitation within eight or ten miles of it, and surrounded by the unbroken wilderness with the wild waves washing the unknown shore, for two or three years. Hamilton remained but a short time.
     The first family which took up their residence in the place was. however, that of Mr. George Beckwith, who removed hither from Austinburg in the year 1803.  The citizens of Austinburg assisted him in raising his house.  Mr. Beckwith perished in the snow in January of the following winter, some forty or fifty rods north of the south ridge and a few yards west of the Saybrook line.  He had been to Austinburg after salt and provisions for his family, and was on his return.  He was overtaken by a snow-storm, and having been sick, was probably overcome by the difficulties of the way and the weight of the load which he was carrying on his shoulders.  His wife had been left alone in the cabin near the harbor with their children.  As her husband did not return she became anxious about him, and. leaving the children locked up in the house, she made her wav through the snow to her old neighbors at Austinburg, a distance of twelve miles.  On her arrival the citizens also became alarmed, and set out at once to find Mr. Beckwith.  Following his track, they at last came upon the spot where he had fallen.  They next discovered the package which he had dropped, and at last found his body prostrate in the snow, but stiff in death.  Mrs. Beckwith, however, remained in the cabin, and supported her children in part by assisting travelers to cross the stream.  Her method was to paddle a canoe to the spot where the ford was, and then requiring the travelers to place their load at the top of their wagon, she would take a rope and fasten it to the end of the tongue, then paddle with it across the river.  She then helped the travelers push their wagon into the creek and to drive the oxen across, when she would attach them to the end of the rope and so draw the load across.  It frequently happened that the wagon would partly float and partly roll on the bottom.  As it came out of the stream the load would drip with the water in which it had been pretty thoroughly soaked.  Shortening up the rope again, she would draw the load up the bank, and then return with the canoe after the travelers.

ARRIVAL OF MATTHEW HUBBARD.

RESIDENCE OF M. G. DICK, DIVISION 5, ASHTABULA, OIHO

RESIDENCE OF M. G. DICK, DIVISION ST., ASHTABULA, OHIO.

RESIDENCE OF DR. EAMES, PARK ST., ASHTABULA, OHIO

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INDIANS.

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TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION.

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THE TIMES WHICH FOLLOWED THE WAR OF 1812.

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TWO PICTURES.

"Tis distance lends enchantment to the view."

     We love to look at those early scenes.  Each epoch has its attractions for us, whether memory or fancy pictures them to our mind.  The year 1812 and the..............

RES. OF J. P. JENNINGS, ASHTABULA, OHIO

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THE GROWTH OF THE VILLAGE

ASHTABULA HARBOR.

     This village, recently included within the limits of Ashtabula city, was at an early day one of hte important points in this region.
     A large shore of the commerce of the county for a time concentrated here.  The shipping of staves, timber, and lumber at the very outset, and the exporting afterwards of pork, beef, flour, potash, high wines, and whisky, made it a point for lading vessels, as well as a changing place for travel.
     The transportation of merchandise and supplies for the south also brought many teams to the place.  The steamers that navigated the lakes thirty years ago nearly all made the Harbor a regular stopping-place.
     It early had quite a fleet of sail-craft of its own, while its exports invited here many foreign vessels.  This prosperous condition of affairs continued nearly thirty years.
     Among the causes of its decline was the diversion of the commerce of the region south about Pittsburgh and Warren to other directions.  The building of the Lake Shore railroad materially diminished the business of the Harbor.  It continued to be the residence of a few families who were partakers of its early prosperity.  Some of the men who had made their homes there were formerly captains of vessels, and found a retired and pleasant place of residence, and were close by the element which they loved.
     These two men, Henry Hubbard and Joseph D. Hulbert, have, however, through

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THE HARBOR AND NAVIGATION.

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HARBOR.

POST OFFICE AND MAIL-ROUTES.

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THE METHODIST CHURCH.

EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

BAPTIST CHURCH OF ASHTABULA.

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF ASHTABULA.

OHIO MILLS  WM. SEYMOUR & SON, PROPRIETORS.
CENTER ST., ASHTABULA, O.

CARRIAGE WORKS OF THORPE & PFAFF.
41 MAIN ST., ASHTABULA, O.

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CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF ASHTABULA.

ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.

     This church has a large membership.  It had at its organization about one hundred and twenty-five.  The parish membership, in 1876, was about five hundred and forty.  Their house of worship was built in 1850, and was enlarged and repaired in 1876.
     There is a school connected with this church, and a fine brick edifice has been erected for it within the past year.  The names of the priests are Revs. John Tracy and E. J. Conway.
     The St. Joseph's temperance society connected with this church has been productive of great good.  A large number, old and young, are members, and it is the oldest existing temperance organization in the place.

SOCIETIES.

TEMPERANCE SOCIETIES.

FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS.

     Rising Sun Lodge, No. 22, which is the pioneer of this order in the county, held its first meeting at the house of Benjamin Sweets, in Austinburg, on Tues-

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     Western Reserve Chapter, No. 65, R. A. M. -

INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD-FELLOWS

     Western Reserve Lodge, No. 59, was instituted on the 6th day of March, 1846, with the following charter members:  J. I. Post, C. J. Porter, N. M. Fisher, J. S. Fassett, William E. Fowler, J. C. Stoddard, Spencer Shears, and Alfred Hendry.  The officers at that time were John I. Post, N. G.; Spencer Shears, V. G.; and J. C. Stoddard, Sec.  The officers for 1878 are William H. Brown, N. G.; George Steere, V. G.; George Palmer, Sec.; Robert Harris Penn, sec.; and W. A. Woodbury, Treas..  The membership is seventy-five.  Stated meetings, Friday evening of each week, in Odd Fellows' hall, Williar's block.

GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC.

      Paulus Post, No. 4, Grand Army of the Republic, was

MANUFACTURING.

THE MANUFACTURING OF ASHTABULA.

     The Phoenix Iron-Works. - Reuben Tower, was the original proprietor of the Ashtabula steam factory, and carried on business just north of the Ashtabula, Jamestown, and Franklin railroad-crossing, for a number of years.  Jan. 1, 1848, he sold the business to J. B. Crosby, who removed the same to the present location of the Ashtabula armory-building. Here he carried on this industry, for twenty years, and then sold out to Messrs. Morteagle & Hill.  In 1872, Messrs. Seymour, Strong & Sperry, then the proprietors of the Phoenix foundry, purchased Morteagle & Hill's business, and removed it to the Phoenix foundry and merged it with that business.
     In the year 1850, Messrs. Oshill & Chapin erected the old Phoenix foundry building near the present site of Thorp & Pfaff's carriage-works, and carried on the foundry business until 1852, when Rice A Butler became their successors.  In 1857, John B. Galpin became the owner.  In 1860, Galpin sold to Miles Rice.  In 1869, Rice sold to Seymour & Strong, and in 1872 this firm was enlarged by the admission of O. B. Sperry.  Thus did Seymour, Strong & Sperry become the exclusive proprietors of the foundry business in Ashtabula.  This firm continued the business until 1873, when C. O. Tinker purchased Mr. Seymour's interest, and Mr. Sperry having previously purchased Mr. Strong’s interest, the firm now came to be Tinker & Sperry.  In January, 1874, Mr. Tinker bought Mr. Sperry's interest.  A short time prior to this, Mr. Tinker had associated himself with Mr. Frank Gregory, for the purpose of carrying on the foundry and machine business, and had selected as a location the present site of the Phoenix works on Fisk street.  Mr. Tinker consolidated the old Phoenix business with that of Tinker & Gregory.  The business was conducted in the old

PHONIX IRON WORKS,
LOCATED ON FISK ST. NEAR A. Y. & P. R. R. DEPOT
ASHTABULA, OHIO

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BANKING

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     The Ashtabula Loan Association -

BUSINESS HOUSES.

     Dry Goods. - Ashtabula store, L. W. Smith & Son; Erie store, Kepler & Co., Gilkey & Perry, H. L. Morrison, Carlisle & Tyler, Thomas N. Booth, W. S. Burnham, Collins Bros., W. W. Mann, J. A. Manning, A. H. Moore, and D. W. Gary.
     Milliners. - Mrs. M. A. Prusser, Mrs. C. A. Ricard, Mrs. G. A. Streeter, Miss Inez Stone, and Messrs. Smith & Son.
     Grocers. - J. M. Faulkner & Son, P. P. Butler, Hall, Stevenson & Nettleton, Humphrey & Baldwin, J. Rowland, John Massena, W. Readhead, Richard Bros., Chauncey Richardson, Robert Ridell, A. H. & E. W. Savage, Tombes & Rockwell, George Willard, L. Ensign, D. Dean, Paul C. Chenny, E. W. Fisk, W. W. Starkey, J. S. O'Neal, Richard Handsley, M. Farley, and Thomas Doohan.
     Hardware. - Crosby & Weatherwax, George C. Hubbard & Co., and H. J. Topky,  Salisbury Bros., tin-shop.
     Druggists. - George Willard, G. L. Knapp, A. B. Thurber, Charles E. Swift, M. Newberry, D. D. Matteson.
     Clothing. - B. Webb, J. E. L'Hommedieu, E. G. Pierce, and C. T. McClanning.
     Merchant Tailors. - John Porter and M. M. Wilcox.
     Boots and Shoes. - James Anzer, W. S. Burnham, C. W. Chamberlain, C. F. Fink, C. A. Hastings, A. H. Moore, Wm. Nuttall, J. W. Stalll, G. W. Van Name, S. B. Wheeler, White and M. Flinn.
     China, Glass, and Queensware. - A. C. Bootes and W. S. Burnham.
     Confections. - J. Bieder, John Fowler, George Stein, Waldeck & Cramar, D. H. Du Bois & Co.
     Banks. - Ashtabula Loan Association, Ashtabula National, Farmers' National, Henry Fassett, loan-office.
     Meat-Markets. - G. G. Cooper, Wm. A. Field & Co., Silas Lyons, John Reif, H. L. Webb, Thayer & Calloway, Harman & Weatherwax, Hough & Smith.
     Flour and Feed. - William Seymour & Son, and Fisk & Silliman.
     Photographers. - Blakeslee & Moore, A. J. Skutt.
     Hotels. - Ashtabula House, Fisk House, American House, Lake Street House, Smith House, Culver's House, Union.
     Livery-Stables. - J. S. Fuller, E. M. Patchen, Frank Gregory.
     Harness-Makers. - F. D. Fickinger, P. C. Ford & Bro., W. H. Williamson.
     Marble-Works. - Eli Beers, Reeves & Derby,William Smith.
     Miscellaneous - Richard Bros., lunchroom; Geo. D. Zeile, restaurant; C. H. Noyes, wall-paper and fancy goods; M. G. Dick, bookseller and Stationer; Hamphrey & Baldwin, lime-works; Wm. Hancock, J. F. Good, and Strong & Manning, lumber and stave dealers; Rhodes & Co., Andrews, Hitchcock & Co., and Strong & Manning, coal-dealers and shippers.
     Physicians. - J. C. Hubbard, E. L. King, William M. Eames, H. P. Fricker, Charles Eames, P. Deichman, H. H. Bartlett, L. B. Bartlett, F. D. Case.
     Dentists. - P. E. Hall, W. T. Wallace, D. E. Kelley.

ASHTABULA SOCIAL LIBRARY.

FIRE DEPARTMENT.

SCHOOLS.

ASHTABULA ACADEMY.

SMITH'S OPERA HOUSE, L. W. SMITH & SON, PROP.
ASHTABULA, O

ASHTABULA STORE, L. W. SMITH & SON, PROP'S
ASHTABULA, O.

INTERIOR VIEW OF
B. WEBB & SON'S CLOTHING HOUSE,
ASHTABULA CO., O.

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     The total expenditure was' nineteen hundred and ninety-three dollars.  The upper story was sold for six hundred dollars to the Masons and Odd-Fellows, for halls.  The record is, much difficulty was experienced in raising the funds required to erect and furnish so large a building, but it was successfully accomplished.  The first teachers in this were Rev. J. Y. Calhoun and his wife.  They were followed by a Mr. A. B. Tuttle, who gave it up for want of scholars.  He was succeeded by Mr. Samuel C. Weatherwax, who taught from 1852 to ’56. On the 22d of March, 1855, the electors of this village adopted the union school system.
     A parish school belonging to St. Peter’s church was established in 1850.  A building was erected, two stories high, fifty by twenty-six feet.
     The teachers were Rev. John Hall, rector of the church, and Rev. George F. Rickards, principal, who was succeeded by Rev. Albert Bingham for one year.  The assistant teachers have been Miss Marietta Fuller, Mr. Albert A. Strong, Mr. Charles Bingham, Miss Harriet Sabin, Miss Julia M. Dickinson, and Miss Mary E. Hubbard.

THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

     The organization of the public schools here was attended with much discussion and some differences of opinion.  This was effected in 1856.  The first board of directors was as follows: Henry Fassett, president; Leander Hall, clerk; and Stephen Hall, treasurer; H. L. Morrison, Frederick Carlisle, John A. Prentice.  Mr. Carlisle resigned, and A. F. Hubbard was elected in his place.  The academy building was leased.  The first board of examiners was Rev. Homer Wheeler, Rev. J. M. Gillett, and Dr. Thomas McCune. Rev. C. E. Bruce was the first superintendent, —salary eight hundred dollars; Miss Wakefield, Miss Carpenter, and Miss Kate Hubbard assistants.  The following books were adopted: Ray’s series of arithmetics, Monteith’s and McNally’s geographies, Greene's grammar, Sargeant’s reader, and Webster’s dictionary.  The following were the assistant teachers in 1858: Sarah M. Gaylord and Miss W. Kellogg.  A course of study in the high school of 1858 was Goodrich’s history, Wood’s botany, Parker’s philosophy, chemistry, Loomis’ physiology, Thompson’s algebra, geometry, Latin grammar and reader, Caesar and Virgil, Greek grammar and reader.  Platt R. Spencer had charge of writing, and William Edson Webster taught music.  In 1859 the old Baptist meeting-house was purchased, moved and repaired, at an expense of five thousand dollars.  Rev. J. W. B. Clark was appointed examiner; C. E. Bruce, superintendent; Misses W. M. Kelley, Lydia Willey, Elizabeth Brown, Sarah L. Paine, Alice D. Winchester, Anna Ford, and Mary Robertson were assistants.  Value of two school buildings, four thousand dollars.  In 1860 Gornell’s outline-maps were bought.
     In 1861 the following were teachers: George W. Waite, superintendent, at the salary of seven hundred dollars; Miss Sarah M. Schommer, Mary J. Schaffer, Susan Sampson, Sarah J. Hutchins, Anna Ford, and Miss M. Ingersoll.  Number of scholars, two hundred and thirty-two.
     In 1862, Miss S. E. Wilder, Susan Tower, Emily Ensign, and M. G. Eastman were assistants.  In 1864, Miss Carrie E. King was assistant.  In 1866, J. B Corey was superintendent; Misses H. E. Bliss, S. E. Sampson, Kate Tyler, Jennie Cook, Ella H. Payne, assistants.
     In 1868, Rev. Edward Anderson and J. N. McGiffert were elected examiners.
     Mr. Beck was superintendent, with a salary of twelve hundred dollars.
     In 1873, J. W. Clemens was superintendent.  In 1874, R. W. Kilpatrick was superintendent, and in 1875 Prof. J. F. Wilson was elected, and still retains the position.  George W. Waite is principal of high school.
     The population of the incorporated city of Ashtabula is at present about forty-five hundred.  This includes the Harbor.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
pp. 143 - 146

PHILO BOOTH.

AMASA CASTLE, JR.

GEORGE WILLARD.

CAPTAIN JOHN B. WATROUS.

DAVID EDWARD KELLEY, D. D. B.

HALL SMITH.

LEWIS W. SMITH.

JOHN PORTEOUS ROBERTSON.

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     * Written in most part by Rev. S. D. Peet.