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

HOW WATERED.

THE SURVEY

EARLY SETTLERS

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

EARLY EVENTS

     The first school in the township was taught, in 1829, by Miss Parmelia Frazer, in one room of Mr. Sbubel Adams’ log dwelling, near the south line of the township.  This school consisted of seventeen scholars, a part of whom came from Windsor.  The parents who sent their children to this school are as follows:  Joseph Alderman, Jr., Shubel Adams, Sr., and Abner Shipman, of Windsor, and Shubel Adams, Jr., David Griffin, Frederick Alderman, and Thos. Burbank, of Hartsgrove.
     The first school-house in the township was erected on the southeast part of lot 138 in 1830, and was known as the Slab school-house, because it was built of split logs.  Its roof was made of boards, and it was the owner of a stone chimney.   The first school in this building was taught by Miss Clarissa Norris, in the summer
of 1830.  She is now living in Northfield, Minnesota.  Mr. Darius Smith, of Chautauqua county, New York, was the teacher the following winter.  The number of his scholars was nearly forty, Miss Norhris having had an attendance of about twenty-five the previous summer.
     The first birth of a white child in the township was a son of Mr. and Mrs. George Alderman, about the year 1825.  Shortly after this a daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Alderman.  The name of this child was Aurelia.  Harry, son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Burbank, born in 1838, was the second male birth in the township, and the first who lived to reach years of maturity.
     The first marriage was that celebrated by and between Frederick Alderman and Ann Burgess.  This occurred in the year 1828.  The marriage contract was solemnized by Elijah Hill, a justice of the peace of Windsor township.  The second marriage was that in which Orson Grant was groom and Miss Zeruah Hart was the bride  This occurrence took place at the bride’s father’s, in the spring of 1831.
     The first death was the infant son of Mr. and Mrs. George Alderman.  The second was that of the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Burbank, aged eight years, which occurred in January, 1829.
     The first saw-mill was built in 1829, near the centre of lot 138, by Carmi E. Hoskins.  Mr. Hoskins and his son Virgil, in 1841, erected the first grist-mill in the township, on the east part of the same lot. Mr. Orson Grant, about the year 1833 or 1834, erected two saw-mills on Matherstown creek, south of the centre.  He was an energetic, enterprising man, and made valuable improvements in the township.  His was the first frame barn erected in Hartsgrove, and is still standing in good condition.  Now owned by the Gladding heirs.
     The first frame house in the township was that erected by Mr. John White, in 1834, on lot 126.
     The first settled physician was Dr. Hiram Morgan, who settled at the corners of lots Nos. 79, 80, 89, and 90, in the year 1844, where he has continued to reside and practice his profession to the present time.
     The first store in Hartsgrove was opened in the year 1837, by General Charles Stearns.  The goods were furnished by Judge Rawdon, of Windsor.  The present stores are those of William H. Van Pelt and Rufus P. Daniels, both at the centre, and their stocks are of a general nature.

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EARLY ROADS.

POSTAL MATTERS.

CHURCHES.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH

AN EPISCOPAL CHURCH,

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

THE FREE-WILL BAPTIST CHURCH

THE DISCIPLE CHURCH.

SOCIETIES.

     Hartsgrove Lodge, No. 397, F. and A. M., was instituted, under a dispensation, Jan. 17, 1867. A charter was granted Oct. 16, 1867. The following are the names of the charter members: John J. Hoyt, E. G. Hurlburt, A. Watson, L. E. Young, B. H. Bostwick, M. W. Bailey, Erlend Morgan, F. W. Sargent, J. Perry Nye, E. J. Hunt, and D. E. Hurlburt.  The first officers under charter were, E. G. Hurlburt, W. M.; M. W. Bailey, S. W.; D. E. Hurlburt, J. W.; A. Watson, Treas.; R. Marsh, Sec.; J. P. Nye, S. D.; E. W. Hunt, J. D.; E. A. Grant, Tyler; E. J. Hunt, Chap.
     The lodge, in connection with the town, built the present building at the centre, the upper story of which is owned and used by the lodge and the first story as a town hall.  The building is tbirty-two by forty-two feet, and two stories high.  It was erected in 1873. The lodge-rooms were dedicated Jan. 23, 1874.  Henry Talcott, of Jefferson, was the dedicating officer, and Hon. S. A. Northway, of the same place, delivered the address.  The officers elected for 1878 are R. Marsh, W. M.; D. Fortney, S. W.; Erlend Morgan, J. W.; Henry Ayers, Treas. H. H. Grover, Sec.; O. J. Martin, S. D.; George Gladding, J. D.; E. W. Hunt, Tyler.  The present membership of the lodge is seventy-four.
     Grove Grange, No. 1202, Patrons of Husbandry, was organized in August, 1875, by Deputy Fuller, of Geneva.  The charter members were as follows: E. G. White, N. S. Hubbard, S. S. Hubbard, S. B. McClure, E. H. Lee, E. J. Hunt, A. Rawson, R. Marsh, E. W. Hunt, H. Ayers, D. E. Hurlburt, F. R. Burt, H. F. Griswold, Merrit Holcomb, R. N. Daniels, and their wives, and Gilbert Grover, M. Alford, and Miss Luellen Grover.  The first officers were E. G. White, Master; E. W. Hunt, Overseer; H. F. Griswold, Lecturer; S. B. McClure, Steward; S. S. Hubbard, Assistant Steward; E. H. Lee, Treas.; H. Ayers, Sec.; A. Rawson, G. K. Mrs. E. G. White, Ceres; Mrs. N. S. Hubbard, Flora; Mrs. S. S. Hubbard, Pomona; Mrs. E. W. Hunt, Lady Assistant Steward.  The officers for 1878 are N. S. Hubbard, Master; Rodney Marsh, Overseer; Mrs. Henry Ayers, Lecturer; A. Rawdon, Steward; N. F. Rice, Assistant Steward; M. S. Allyn, Treas.; Henry Griswold, Sec.; A. C. Hunt, G. K.; Mrs. N. S. Hubbard, Ceres; Mrs. A. Rawson, Flora; Mrs. Ellen Callender, Pomona; Mrs. E. W. Hunt, Lady Assistant Steward.
     Lodge-meetings are held in the town hall; the present membership is forty.
     Hartsgrove Division, No. 154, Sons of Temperance, was instituted Nov. 9, 1874, by A. M. Collins, State Deputy.  The charter members were William Pruden, G. G. Grant, Benjamin Norris, Cornelius Norris, C. H. Johnston, E. G. Hurlburt, David Pruden, Nelson Griswold, P. A. Decker, Samuel Miner, P. L. Hunt, C. S. Marsh, C. E. Alderman, F. L. Hurlburt, Frank Bates, Martha Griswold, Carrie Hunt, Olive Pruden, Caroline Boslar, Louisa Marsh, Emma Miner, R. A. Johnston, Julia Hurlburt, Libbie Grant, Belle Burt, Florence Callender, Ellen Callender, Nettie Holcomb, Lizzie Cottam, and Ruth Norris.
     Among the first officers were Samuel Miner, W. P.; F. L. Hurlburt, R. S.; E. Alderman, Treas.; Benjamin Norris, Chap.; G. G. Grant, Con.; and E. G. Hurlburt, Deputy G. W. P.  The officers for 1878 are E. R. Hubbard, W. P.; Mrs. Julia Hurlburt, W. A.; E. F. Hubbard, R. S.; Miss Cora Grover, A. R. S. C. S. Marsh, F. S.; E. C. Mathews, Treas.; D. P. Barr, Chap.; P. L. Hunt, Con.; Miss Jennie Callender, Ass’t Con.; Mrs. Mary Mathews, I. S.; F. L. Hurlburt, O. S.; L. W. Kile, P. W. P.; H. H. Grover, Deputy G. W. P.
     The division holds its meetings in the town-hall room.  The present membership
numbers seventy-two.

ORGANIZATION.

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

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MANUFACTURES

STATISTICS FOR 1877.

BIOGRAPHY

EDWARD GRIFFIN HURLBURT

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