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In the
month of May, 1815, immediately after the war of 1812,
Serenus Burnet brought his wife and little son, Stephen,
and located himself on the west side of Chagrin river, about two
miles north of the present village of Chagrin Falls. There
he built a rude log-house, and became the first resident of the
present township of Chagrin Falls. The nearest neighbors
were in the Covert neighborhood, near Willson's Mills,
inthe present township of Mayfield. For six months after
their arrival Mrs. Burnet did not see the face of a white
woman.
Mr. Burnet paid two dollars and a half per acre
for the best river-bottom land, and the proprietors were willing
enough to sell even at this rate, for Burnet's was for a
long time about the end of settlement in the Chagrin valley.
During the next ten years the lower part of the valley slowly
settled up, and between 1820 and 1825 Jacob Gillett,
Caleb Alson and James Fisher became
residents of what is now the township of Chagrin Falls, in the
immediate vicinity of Serenus Burnet.
But it was not until the year 1826 or 1827 that any
settlement was made in the vicinity of the present village of
Chagrin Falls. At that time John Woodward
and Benjamin Carpenter built a dam across the
Chagrin river, below Williams' foundry at Chagrin Falls,
and at the north end of it erected a small log gristmill.
The stones were drawn by eight yoke of cattle from a still older
mill, situated near where Edmund Burnet now lives,
in Orange.
About the same time Gen. Edward Paine, who owned
the land west of the present Franklin street, undertook to build
a bridge across the river at the falls, and put four stringers
across as a beginning. The work was not completed at that time,
however, and till stringers remained, affording a precarious
passage to the few footmen who occasionally appeared in the
vicinity. Mr. W. T. Upbam men-
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* Many fanciful stories have been told about the origin of the name
"Chagrin," applied first to the river, and then to the falls,
the township and the village; it being often supposed that it
comes from the "chagrin" felt by somebody, about something, on
its banks. It is, however, undoubtedly derived from the
old Indian word "Shaguin," which is to be found applied to it on
maps issued before the Revolution. "Shaguin" is supposed
to mean "clear," but this is not so certain.
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look and wall-paper store, one: Jewelry, two; photographer, one;
furniture stores, two; shoe stores, three; bakeries, two;
millinery stores, four; fancy goods stores, two; tin shops, two;
wagon shops, two; shoe shops, two; blacksmith shops, five;
harness shops, two; margle shop, one.
We subjoin brief sketches of some of the principal
manufacturing establishments.
THE CHAGRIN FALLS PAPER COMPANY.
This establishment had
its origin in 1840, when ............
ADAMS & CO'S PAPER MILL.
BULLARD & MARCH'S WOODEN WARE FACTORY.
WILLIAMS' FOUNDRY AND THIMBLE SKEIN FACTORY.
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GAUNTT'S MACHINE SHOP.
Adin Gauntt started the first machine shop in the
place in 1844, in a part of Rowe's carriage shop.
After nine years of steadily increasing business, he bought the
Maple Grange woolen factory in 1853, where for two years he made
machinery for working wool and flax. After four years'
absence he returned in 1859, and has since been constantly
engaged in the manufacture of various kinds of machinery.
He now has a large shop in the lower part of the village, where
he manufactures planers, matchers, small steam engines, horse
powers, etc., as well as all kinds of especially intricate
machinery. OBER BROTHERS'
PLANING MACHINE, ETC.
This establishment was built by the present proprietors in 1873,
being a sawmill, together with machines for planing and matching
lumber, making mouldings, sash and blinds, and similar articles.
A valuable lathe for irregular work has been patented by
George Ober, and the whole establishment is in a
highly flourishing condition.
OTHER MANUFACTURES
THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
THE METHODIST CHURCH.
THE DISCIPLE CHURCH.
Rev. Adamson Bentley was unquestionably the principal
person engaged in founding the Disciple
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THE FREE WILL BAPTIST CHURCH.
THE BIBLE CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
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ing condition, with sixty-two members, and with a Sunday school
of about ninety members.
GOLDEN GATE LODGE NO. 245, F. AND A. M.
CHAGRIN FALLS LODGE NO. 290, I. O. O. F.
PRINCIPAL TOWNSHIP OFFICERS.
HARVEY W. CURTISS. [Page 435] - |