The township of Newbury is situated in range eight (8), town seven (7), is the second tier from the south and the second from the west, being in the southwest part of Geauga county.  It is laid out in three (3) tracts, known as tract one, tract two and tract three.
     Tract one is composed of a strip two (2) miles wide across the north side of the township.
     Tract two consists of one mile wide, through the center of the township, on both sides of the east and west center road.
     Tract three is the balance of the township, being two miles wide across the south side of the township.
     Tract one is laid out into thirty-six (36) lots, of about two hundred acres each, commencing at the southwest corner of the tract, running north three lots then back and forth across the tract, bringing lot thirty-six in the southeast corner of said tract.
     Tract two is laid out in eighteen lots, commencing at the northeast corner running west on the north tier, and east on the south side of the center road bringing lot eighteen south of lot one on the east side of the township.
     Tract three is divided into forty-four lots, of one hundred and sixty acres each, beginning with number one in the northwest corner of the tract, running east to the line of the township, to tract eleven, then west on the second tier and back and forth, bringing lot forty-four i the southwest corner of the township.

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SURFACE.

     The northern and western part of the township is somewhat rolling and hilly, central and southern more level, but undulating.  There is but very little waste land, the hill land being good grazing, and the low lands are excellent grass or mowing lands.
     There are four bodies of water or lakes in the eastern part of the township.  The first, known as Houghton's pond, is situated on lot four, in tracts two and twenty-four, in tract one.  The second, or Synair's pond, on lot three, on tract two. Then there is a little pond on lot thirteen, tract two.   The Big pond, or as known in later years as Emerald lake, lies in lot seventeen, tract two, and lot ten, in tract three, which is the largest body of water in the county.
 

STREAMS.

     Houghton's pond finds an outlet to the northwest through Coe's brook, where it finds its way to Chagrin river, near the northwest corner of the township, and then to Lake Erie near Willoughby.
     Synair's pond, about one-fourth of a mile east of Houghton's, finds its way to the head of Emerald lake, thence southeast out near the corner of the township to the Cuyahoga river, to Lake Erie at Cleveland.  So water that starts so near together wanders a long distance before uniting again in Lake Erie.
     Silver creek, in the southwest part, flows north of west, and enters Chagrin river near the center of Russell.
     The township is very well watered, except the central southern portion, where living water on the surface is somewhat scarce.

SOIL AND TIMBER.

     The soil and timber in the township are somewhat diversified.  The soil varies from a black muck to gravel and heavy clay, but is generally of a good quality, raising good crops of corn, wheat, oats, etc.  Grass grows in all parts, and is the principal crop.  The inhabitants are mostly engaged in dairying and stock-raising.  But little grain is raised for export, except potatoes.
     Nearly all kinds of timber of our climate are represented. Beech and maple predominate, but in some parts of the township oak and chestnut are plenty; also, hickory, elm, basswood, whitewood, cucumber, black and white ash, black walnut, butternut, etc.  The township was well timbered with heavy timber.  In early days what was known as the great windfall passed through the north part of the township, doing a great amount of damage to the timber.  In 1812 another hurricane passed through the township, entering near Fullertown and passing in a southerly direction, passing by north of center, and then down the pond, blowing down the house of Mr. Royce to the chamber floor, and laying waste a wide scope of country.  It felled nearly every tree in its track, some of the way making a clean sweep.  The land came into briers, and finally a second growth of timber sprang up, growing very straight and thick, and by the time the old logs had. rotted and gone the land was well timbered with small trees.

SETTLEMENTS.

     The first improvements in the township of Newbury is supposed to have been made by Judge Stone, near North Newbury, about 1802.  Judge Stone settled in the township of Burton, but cleared land in both townships about the same time.  Soon after Mr. Lemuel Punderson came from Connecticut as a land agent for some eastern land companies, and commenced making improvements.
     In 1808 Mr. Punderson and Mr. Hickox entered into partnership to build a grist mill, a saw-mill and a distillery near the foot of the big pond.   During this year they cut the road west from Beard's saw-mill, and to the lower end of

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the pond.  During the summer of 1809 they got out the timber (Mr. Punderson being a carpenter) for their buildings, and cleared the land to build on, and also built the dam.  Soon after letting the water against the dam, there came a flood and carried off their dam, causing them a loss of several hundred dollars.  They rebuilt immediately, and successfully too.  The mill irons were brought from Pittsburgh overland, and the millstones were made by a Mr. Parks, of Burton, from hardhead stones.  In the year 1810, they completed the mill and distillery; then commenced making whiskey, and feeding cattle and hogs.  Those
mills proved a success and a benefit to the sourrounding country, whiskey then commanding a good price and a ready sale.
     A Mrs. Royce kept the house and did the cooking for Mr. Punderson, and his men and Mr. Royce worked on the mill, and was the first miller in the town.
     About 1816 or 1817 Punderson built the saw-mill.  They first attempted to take the water from the upper dam in the race that they cut in the east bank of the hollow, but it being of a soapy clay, it would not stand.  So the neighbors around the country built the present dam, and moved the mill, taking their pay in sawing at the mill as they wanted the lumber to use on their barns or houses.  For a fuller account, see the personal sketch of Punderson.
     In 1818 Mr. Marcena Munn commenced erecting a saw-mill in the west part of the township, but dying soon after its completion, it was occupied by Mr. Thomas A. Munn, his son.
     In the month of July, 1810, Mr. Lemuel Punderson and wife moved from Burton (where they had lived most of the time since their marriage in 1808) and settled where the Punderson homestead now stands, near the foot of the lake, and commenced improvements in earnest, where he had previously built their mill and distillery.
     From that time the settlement of Newbury became a reality, and family after family came into town from the eastern States.
     Among the settlers from 1810 to 1815 we find the names of Johnson and Uri Hickox, Samuel Barker, Moses, Niger, and Bildad Bradley, Hamlet Coe, Capt. Elezer Patchin, Samuel Davidson, and, perhaps, some others, the Bradleys and Coe settling south of the mill, and Barker, Patchin, and the Hickoxes going north from the mill.
     In the spring of 181 5 Joshua M. Burnett and Harry Burnett came from Massachusetts, and bought out Bildad Bradley, and he moved to the township of Auburn, being the first family in that town, but John Jackson chopped the first land, and rolled up the first log house body.
     Soon after their arrival, came Solomon Johnson and Seth, his son, who bought land west of Punderson's, and commenced improvements.
     The forepart of July following, Joshua Burnett returned to Massachusetts, returning in the fall with his family, and in company, came Welcome Bullock and John Cobb with their families, arriving in Newbury on the fifth day of October, 1815, after a journey of forty-one days' length.
     The next spring (1816) Jonah Johnson and John Earl came with their families, and also the family of Solomon Johnson.
     Among the settlers of 1816, 1817 and 1818, we find Elisha Talcott, John Bacheldor, Eliphalet Gay, Sherry Burnett, Justin Alexander, John Randolph, David Walker, Cutler Tyler, Jo Morton, John Hunt, John Browm, Marcena Munn, T. A. Munn, Asa Robinson, Samuel Hodges, Mr. Stockman, Abel Fisher, Noah Morton, Thomas Riddle, Lovel Green, Jonas Ward, Thomas Manchester, Hamilton Utley, Jothan Houghton, John and Jo Fisher, Uphams, Adams, Patchins, Smiths, Elisha Mott, a quack doctor, Black, Brownell, Hobert, Roswell Manchester, Frederick Rima, Bosworths, David Burnett.
     About 1816 the settlement began to spread. Talcott, Gay, Sherry Burnett,

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Johnsons, Bullock, going west on Music street; Bacheldor and Cobb going west on south road; Houghton going on center road, west from Hickox's; and later, Alexander Hunt, Munns, Robinsons, Stockman, Riddle, Green, Ward, Utley, Hodges, etc., settled west of Punderson's mills; Patchins, Smith, Black, Noah Morton, and others, going north and northwest from the mill; Jo Morton, Randolph, Walker, Tyler, Brown, and others, going west on the south road.
     Among the early marriages in the township we find that of Moses Bradley to Miss Celia Parks, of Burton; married by Esquire Hickox, May, 1816.  Eliphalet Gay to Miss Calista Bennett, Sept. 4, 1816, by John Ford, esq. Josiah Bennett to Miss Diadama Johnson, June 21, 1818, by Lemuel Punderson.  Elisha Talcott to Urana Johnson, Dec. 3, 1818, by Rev. L. Humphrey.  Levi Savage to Tripehena Alexander, Feb. 24, 1820, by L. Punderson.  Benjamin Hosmer to Orindo Robinson, Apr. 11, 1820, by L. Punderson.  Levi Patchin to Emeline Fowler, Sept. 28, 1820, by J. Brooks.  Seth Johnson to Saloma Curtiss, Mar. 18, 1821.  Jothan Houghton to Clarissa Loveland, May 6, 1821, by L. Punderson.  Jeremiah Evans to Laura Munn, Feb. 24, 1822, by L. Punderson.
     The first birth in Newbury was a daughter to Mrs. Royce, by the name of Evelina.  She was born on the twelfth day of November, 1811.
     The first white boy was Samuel Punderson, who was born Jan. 7, 1812, and the next was Daniel Punderson, who was born Feb. 6, 1814.
     It is supposed that the first death in Newbury was a child, from two to three years old, belonging to Bildad Bradley, and buried in South Newbury burying ground.  The next was a boy by the name of Bowers, killed by the fall of a tree.  Lemuel Punderson died Aug. 30, 1822, and was buried in the same yard.  Probably Marcena Munn was the first person buried in the Munn burying ground, out west; and, I believe, Uncle Calvin Chase was the first buried in the grave-yard at the center of the township.
     In the year 1812 the State road was cut through to Chardon.  The contract was to cut all timber less than eight inches, and clear out the road.  The larger timber was girdled so it would die.
     In 1820, Welcome Bullock, J. M. Burnett, Lemuel Punderson, Jonah Johnson, and others blazed the trees and cut the brush from Burnett's tavern to Chagrin Falls, there meeting a company from Cleveland at work on the same undertaking.  They all camped a few rods north and east of the Falls.  The next morning, after breakfast, they separated, each company going home over their own road.
     Geauga county was set off from Trumbull county, in the year 1806, and one of the first orders of its commissioners was for that part of Middlefield lying in Geauga county, embracing the twelve southern towns, to be made a township, and to be known as the township of Burton, with orders for the qualified voters to assemble at the academy and elect its officers.
     In the year 1817 the present township of Newbury was set off from the township of Burton by the commissioners, and an election ordered to be held at the house of Lemuel Punderson, on the first Monday of April, 1807, for the purpose of electing township officers.  The following was the election: Lemuel Punderson, moderator; John Cobb; clerk; L. Punderson, Solomon Johnson, Joshua M. Burnett, trustees; Hamlet Coe, Thomas Manchester, overseers of the poor; Eliphalet Gay, Moses Bradley, fence viewers; Seth Johnson, John Bacheldor, appraisers and listers.
     In the summer of 1815 Grandpa Burnett very generously gave the use of his back parlor in his log house for the purpose of holding school.  Here Miss Chloe Humphrey gathered her orphanless children around her, as a hen gathers her chickens, to try to instil into their youthful minds good and wholesome

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truths and ideas that would be of use to them in their older and more sober days.  And this was the beginning of common schools in Newbury, then a dense wilderness, more than sixty years ago, many of the scholars having to go miles through an unbroken woods, with nothing but blazed trees to direct on their narrow path.
     In the year 1816 the first school-house was built just north of the old Parker barn or the South Newbury cheese factory, on what is known as the Gilbert garden, now owned by Henry Hodges.  It was built without any tax being levied or collected.
     The first frame school-house was built by Ithiel Wilber, in 1820, just north of Gilbert's tannery, in South Newbury.
     After this the Riddle, Utley, Hickox and other school-houses were built, as the necessity of the people required.  Some were built of logs and some framed, and there have been schools supported in them every year since.  When one was worn out and whittled up or burned down, another has been built on or near the same site.  So all have had an opportunity for a good common school education.  Perhaps no country town in the county took greater interest in the education of their youths than did the new settlers of Newbury.  The early inhabitants being mostly of New England origin, the subject of common schools was kept uppermost in their minds.  Not only have there been district schools, but select schools have been very common in different parts of the township, and always well supported.
     Among the early teachers are remembered the names of Miss Chloe Humphrey, the first teacher in the township; Mrs. Stockman, the first teacher out west; Daniel Houghton, the first teacher in the Riddle neighborhood, he having taught one term of school in Uncle Jonah's old house; Miss Calistia Burnett, Thalia Beard, Eunice Harmon, Hamilton Utley, Mrs. Fisher, the Fisher girls, Amaziah Wheelock, Dr. Rawson, Dr. Russell, Dr. Cowles, Dr. Ludlow, A. G. Riddle and brothers, Mary Barney, Lovina Stone, Susan Bartholomew, Sylva Bradley, Mary Walker, Caroline Stone, the Wilder girls, Emeline Coe, Julia Beebe, the Vincents, Tylers, Gilberts, Greens, Johnsons, etc.
     In 1814 Lemuel Punderson built the first frame barn in the township (the barn south of the old homestead) - a bank barn covered with white oak boards and chestnut shingles.  Mr. Punderson, being a mill-wright, built a mill in what is now Portage county, and afterward rented the mill and did the sawing for his mills, barns and other buildings, drawing his lumber from the southeast for a number of miles.  In the above barn Rev. Thomas Punderson, of Connecticut, preached the first sermon ever preached in the township, he being an Episcopalian minister.
     In 1816 Newbury, for the first time, publicly celebrated the Fourth of July.  The whole community assembled on the hill, where Daniel Punderson's house now stands, and had a general jollification, by firing Sibley's old anvil, splitting logs and stumps with gun powder, etc.  Mr.  Welcome Bullock delivered a very eloquent oration.
     In 1819 Joshua M. Burnett returned to Massachusetts, received pay for property sold, and came back, bringing with him material for building, and that season employed David Hill, of Burton, to erect him a frame house, it being the first frame house in the township.  People gathered from all this and neighboring townships to the raising.  They came early and stayed late, it being a
new era in the new settlement.  The building was named, after the custom of those days, "The Farmers' Delight," by Mr. Hamlet Coe, after which the bottle of whiskey was thrown from the top of the house to the center of the road with out breaking, which was considered a good omen, and called forth loud huzzas.
The house is the one now occupied by Mr. D. M. Allen.

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     Mr. Burnett was the first keeper of a public hotel in Newbury.  In those days the neighbors thought it a great treat to gather around the bar of Uncle Josh and tell stories, sing songs, and interview the strange traveler, who might perchance have come from some of the old homes of the settlers.  But he had to drink and answer questions, whether he was acquainted or not.  He was from the east, and that was enough.  He was common property for the evening.  Those were joyful days, and every stranger was warmly welcomed, whether rich or poor.
     Afterwards followed Parker's, Hickox's, Si Burnett's, Shumway's, Black's, Willoughby's, and other taverns.
     Dr. Joel Burnett was the first resident of the township to practice medicine. He was soon followed by Drs. Rawson, Palmer, Scott, Russell, Cowles, Ludlow, Bell, Draper, and others.  Later came Burlingame, Fisher, Hiccock, Strickland, McGraw, etc.
     From all that can be learned, Fullertown seems to have been a separate province, and settled independent of the rest of the township.  The first house seems to have been built of split whitewood logs, by Roswell Manchester, on lot two, tract one, in 1816, but was never occupied on that site.   It appears from the best record that can be found that a man by the name of Frederick Rima built a house in 1818, a little east of the old mill by the bridge, on the east side of the river.  It is probably that Mr. Rima has the honor of being the founder of Fullertown in 1818.
     In 1820 Mr. Thomas Fuller and a Mr. Allison purchased lot three, in tract one, containing two hundred acres, at four dollars per acre, to be paid for in a term of years, in oxen, at the following price agreed upon:  Fifty dollars per yoke, each ox to girth six feet; and for each additional inch any ox should girth, one dollar should be added to his price.  They commenced work on the grist mill the same season, boarding with Mr. Rima.
     The following spring Mr. Fuller moved his family into a house which they had built, and the same season raised the Fullertown mill.  A Mr. Parks, of Burton, worked the mill-stones out of some hardhead rocks, and they were drawn by oxen on what were called "chronicles" (crotched trees) around by Maple hill through the woods to the mill, where they were put to work without roof or siding, so eager were they to have a mill running.  Mr. Allison, becaming discouraged, soon sold out to Mr. Fuller, for so much wheat, leaving Mr. Fuller with the mill to finish and the land debt to pay off.  Mr. Fuller, being a man of much nerve, often run his mill day and night for three or four days in succession to keep up with the custom grinding.  He succeeded in« paying off the debts, and built a saw-mill upon the opposite side of the fiver, and also put carding works into the upper part of his mill, and after a few years he built a woolen-mill, about thirty rods below the grist-mill, where he continued wool-carding until he was over ninety years of age.  He tore down the old grist-mill and built a new one about one-half a mile down the stream, but still taking the water, in a race, from the same dam.
     On the center road, west from Hickox's, the settlement commenced early, but scattering.  Jothan Houghton made an opening, about one mile east of the center, about 1816 or '17.  Soon after this the Fishers, John and Joseph, commenced in the west part of the township, with Upham and others along the road.  Then came John Bosworth, who settled near Jothan's.  In 1818, Harman Bosworth commenced, a little east of the center, and occupied the same place until he died, in 187_.  In 1819, Jenks and Dunham came and took the place occupied by John Bosworth.  Here Jenks and Dunham and two Bosworths formed a copartnership, and kept a bachelor's hall, and run it on principles of fun, strictly, for a few years, when Jenks and Dunham, becoming disgusted with frontier life,

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abandoned their western home and prospects, and returned east. So goes life.  Mr. Alexander, better known as "Uncle Alex." was one of the earliest preachers to hold meetings in the school-houses in different parts of the township.  He was assisted in the good cause by Revs. Bigalow, Jones, Williams, and others.
In the year 1832 the Methodist church was organized in William Morrow's barn, consisting of David Walker and wife, Elisha Talcott and wife, Nester Young and wife, and Mrs. Stockman.  For many years they used to hold preaching meetings once in two weeks, at the Riddle school-house, and the  alternate Sunday prayer-meetings at Brother Jenks' near by.
     In the year 1842 Mr. Dutton and sons, of Auburn, built a church, one mile south of the center of the township, where there have always been meetings held.
     The Baptist church was formed July 27, 1832, with the following members:  Elijah Hawes, Sarah Hawes, Parley Wilder, Mr. and Mrs. Daggett, Mrs. Taylor, Lucy Bosworth, and Mahitable Shaw. They held their meetings at the center school-house generally, until 1845, when they united with the Univeralists, and built a union church at the center of the township, but they did not keep up meetings, and in a few years a good share of the members had moved out of the township, and the Baptist church is among the things that were.
     The Congregational church was organized by Rev. Chester Chapin Apr. 15, 1832.  It consisted of five males and seven females: Males - Gideon Russell, John Batcheldor, Amplius Green, Rufus Black; females - Pamelia Barker, Gemima Russell, Sarah Russell, Sarah Bacheldor, Polly Barker, Lucy Willson, and Lucy A. Willson.  They held meetings in the school-houses at the State road and on the south road until the Methodist church was built, when they occupied their house one half the time, until after the brick church was built by them in 1851.
      After Punderson's and Munn's saw-mills we find in 1822, Fuller's mill, then Alexander's and Samuel Bittle's mills, each doing a good business for a while; then the creeks became uncertain, and then came the age of steam-mills, and we had the steam-mill built in the southeast part of the township, about the year 1850, which succeeded in nearly breaking up every company which took hold of it.  It changed hands most every year for some years, and finely came out ahead, and no one would trade for it.  And the same was true of one out west.
     Then came the Ober Boy's mill which was burned, as the property of Mr. Brown.  At present there is the steam-mill, three-fourths of a mile west of Newbury center, known as Hodges' and Neve's mill, owned by W. C. Hodges and Thomas Neve, who are doing a large business in cheese boxes at the present time.
     The old steam-mill at the State road that has laid still so long, is again running by Mr. Wesley Brown.
     The first thing that we find on going south from Burnett's tavern, is the woolen works of Hamlet Coe, established about 1815 or 1816, on the banks of Niger's creek.  Here Mr. Coe was ever ready to help lessen the labors of the women, by being ready to dye and dress all sorts and kinds of woolen cloths and flannels.  To Mr. Coe must be given the honor of introducing those beautiful teazels growing so majestically on every farm in the township - and, probably, will always stay with us - he having to use them in some process of dressing cloth, and, by raising his own, could save the expense of importing them.  After a few years Mr. Coe removed his factory to a more powerful water power, northwest of the center of the township.
     One of the earliest mechanical enterprises was Bradley's furniture works, situated on the water power of Niger's creek.  There the early settlers procured their splint-bottom chairs, spinning-wheels, reels, looms, four-post bedsteads,

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rolling-pins, potato-mashers, tables, light stands, etc.  Mr. Bradley erected shops and warerooms on the south side of the road, but his turning lathe and machinery were on the creek, on the west side of the road. 
     Next in importance were the asheries.  Every man had a small establishment of his own, where he could convert the ashes from his fallow into black salts, and sell them at any store in the country, taking their pay in goods.  But the first commercial ashery was built by Amos Parker, near Burnett's corners, where was carried on the manufacture of black salts, potash, pearl ash, and saleratus.  Now the inhabitants could find a ready sale for their ashes, taking their pay in pins, needles, thread, saleratus, combs, and such other goods as the ash peddler could carry in a little old tin trunk.  What happy days were those for the women when they saw the ashman come  - could point to the pile of ashes in the corner of the fence with an air of dignity, which said, "these are mine!"  After Parker's ashery, there came Gardner's, Willoughby's, Chase & Clark's, Worrallo's, and others, scattered over the township, all doing a flourishing business for a time, but they are now among the things that were, but are not. 
     About 1828 Augustus Gilbert built his tannery, a little north of Burnett's tavern, where he carried on a flourishing business.  The founder (Gilbert) died about 1850, since which time it has been carried on by different parties, at present being the property of J. H. Hodges.
     In 1834 John Jackson started the wagon business, on the State road, and continued in business until 1845, when he moved his works to Chagrin Falls.  Since then there have been Whalen's, Centre's, Redfield's, Ober's, Luther's, and others, but at the present time there is no shop running successfully in the township.
     Among the early blacksmiths we find such names as Samuel Sibley, Roswell Royce, Palmer Bartholomew, Perry Brothers, Parley Wilder, Hyde, Owen, Piper the Dutchman, Chase & Johnson, Arad Way, Bill Chase, Don Austin, Woodin, Boyington, Wheeler; and, later, we had Jo. Gilbert, the Hawes boys, Frank Craft; and now we find such names as John Weller, Lime Smith, J. Huff, Buftington Warwick, etc.
     For coopers we had Nathan Willson, Cole Williams, Joseph Baker, Briant Clark, James Russell, Black Willoughby, and a host of others, but now there are none but Coats found who can shave a stave or drive a stray hoop.
     As shoemakers we find Jonas Ward, Caleb Smith, Marb Weaver, John Howard, Alpheus Hawes, John Robinson, A. Gilbert, John Ferris, Charles Woodward, Hi. Clark, Thomas Bittles, Sol. Burnett, Andrew Burnett, and a host of others.
     About 1825 John O. Granger established a stage line from Fairport, on Lake Erie, to Ravenna, there connecting with stages south and elsewhere.  Among the first drivers were found Daniel Allshouse, Lew. Turner, and others of note as early drivers.  They changed horses at Hickox tavern, and stopped at Chardon, North Newbury, Auburn, Mantua, and Shalersville.  Thus a direct and Convenient route of travel was opened from the lake to the interior part of the State.
     At this time all cattle were transported east to New York and Philadelphia by driving on foot over the mountains, and all produce was wagoned to the Ohio river for the southern market.  Those were great days when a train of six to fifteen wagons, loaded with pork or cheese, started for Wellsville, making the trip in from eight to ten days.  Then was the time the fool in the crowd was to be pitied, if no other time, for he was sure to have to bear the fun of them all.
     The first post-office was established in 1820, and Mr. David T. Bruce was the first postmaster, followed by Gardner, Hayden, Matthews, Canfield, and is now held by Mrs. P. M. Burnett, within a few rods of where it was first estab-

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lished.  In 1840 the post-office was established at North Newbury.  Colonel Shumway was appointed postmaster.
The center of the town was not settled until 1834.  Sylvester Black commenced on the northeast corner, and L. C. Willoughby on the northwest corner the same year.  Esquire Warrallo opened a store and hotel soon after on the southeast corner.  In 1835 the school-house was built on the north side of the square.  In early days there was a nice square laid out at this place where the militia of Newbury used to gather every September, to drill and make ready for general training, to be held at Burton, Auburn, or some other large town near by.  But after the woods were cut away, letting the sun shine into Jugville, the common has nearly shrivelled up to just a four corners - no square to be seen.
     Ford post-office was established at the center of the town in the year 1852, or thereabouts.   Mr. Welcome Bullock was appointed the first postmaster, there being no other person near about there who held to the same political faith as the administration.  But Mr. Bullock never saw the inside of the postoffice, he being too feeble to go there; so he had to do all his business through deputies.  On the evening of Dec. 31, 1838, Mr. Paddock and wife, who resided two miles west of the center, went to make an evening visit.  When they returned their house was burned down, and in it perished their four boys.  Mr. John Zethmayr says he gathered up the remains of the four children and buried them in a seven by nine glass box, on the southeast corner of lot nine, in tract two.
     On the twenty-third of May, 1870, Mr. Frank W. Kinney, a son of Ira Kinney, of Fullertown, was struck by lightning and killed.  I believe this is the only person ever killed by lightning in the township.
     At the present time there are eight school districts in the township, and schools in all.
     The first temperance organization in the township was in 1831.  Almond Riddle was president of the society.  After a few years, what was known as the old Washingtonian society was formed, and had a run. Somewhere about 1849 or '50, Uncle Lucas Shaw, who had been quite a drinking man in his day, went through the township with a temperance pledge, presenting it to every man, woman and child, and asking them to give him encouragement in his good undertaking.
     On the twenty-ninth day of June, 1850, Newbury division No. 119, Sons of Temperance, was organized at the center of the township, in the hall of Leonard Aldrich, where they met until winter, when they were burned out.  They then met in the church and in the school-house, and then at what was known as Hy Clark's shoe-shop, a little room seven by nine, for a few nights.  Then they finished off the chamber of George Centre's wagon-shop, and had a very comfortable division room.  The next year they built the Sons' hall, where they continued to meet until after the war broke out.  The following is a list of the charter members: Jonas Allshouse, Anson Reed, Dr. J. M. Burlingame, Chris Ellsos, James Gilbert, Horatio A. Smith, Isaac Moneysmith, George R. Parker, Leonard Aldrich, and Simon Gould.
     In the winter of 1854 and '55, Geauga Lodge No. 72, Good Templars, was organized in the brick church, and did business for a number of years.  Mr. James H. Gilbert was the first worthy chief.
     On Oct. 15, 1856, a lodge of good templars was formed at the center, with the following charter members: Nelson Parker, Joan Parker, C. P. Bail, Edmund Sanborn, Elizabeth Sanborn, Leonard Parr, Rachel Parr, W. E. Parr, Harriet Parr, William and Louisa McKee, Homer Sanborn, Alpheus and Sarah

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Williams, Aaron and Angeline Williams, William and Caroline Davis, Sarah and Louis Black, Perry and Charley Williams, and Lyman Parker.
     Both lodges did a flourishing business for a time, but finally went the way of all the earth.  South Newbury division No. 197, Sons of Temperance, was organized Feb. 23, 1875, with Johnson Way, W. P., and the following as some of the charter members: J. B. Watterton, Silas Coats, R. H. Ober, Miss E. Pinney, J. J. Smith, Lidia Smith, Ray Munn, John Reeves, N. Mathews, and others.
     On the eighth day of April Crystal Division, No. 158, Sons of Temperence, was instituted at the center, with the following as officers: W. P., W. C. Blair; W. A., Florence Andrews ; R. S., Gains Munns; A. K. S., Viett Andrews; T., Perlie Munn; T. S., S. C. Clark; C, T. C. Neave; A. C, Ella Blair; I. S., Ellen McNish; and O. S., A. D. Dickinson.
     While speaking of secret societies we will notice Newbury Council, No. 496, of what was termed "Know Nothings," instituted Sept. 22, 1854, with the following members: Orange Fisher, president; E. Hayden, vice-president; Anson Reed, secretary; Patrick Ladow, treasurer; R. K. Munn, instructor; John Cutler, marshall; G. O. Blair, inside guard; Alen Parks, outside guard; Martin Stone and William L. Smith.
     On Jan. 12, 1874, the Woman's Sufferage Political club was organized, with Ruth Munn, as president; Joel Walker and D. M. Allen, as vice-presidents.
     On July 1, 1876, Centennial Grange was organized, with William M. Briggs as master, and fourteen members.
     About 1831 A. C. Gardner opened a general store near Burnett's farm, and did a large trade for many years, taking all kinds of produce in exchange for goods.  But finely he sold out and moved to Chagrin Falls, since which time the mercantile business has been in the hands of such men as Weston & Doolittle, E. Hayden, Johnson, Ben Williams, Mr. Warrallo, Anson Mathews, Col. Shumway, Clark & Chase, Herrick Brothers, Canfield, and Coferth.  Mrs. Burnett being the only one engaged in the business this centennial year.
     After the opening of the Ohio canals there was a chance for our inhabitants to take the benefit of the southern market.  It being a great grass township, the people entered largely into the dairy business, every family making their own butter and cheese. Such men as Henry, Harmon, Kent, Hurd, Williams, Willmott, Herrick Brothers, buying the cheese of farmers, paying from three to eight cents per pound, and shipping to New York, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, New Orleans, St. Louis, etc., sometimes making, and at other times loosing money.  After awhile the factory system started.  The factory man collected the curd every day from the farmers, paying so much per pound for the curd, and making cheese of a uniform size and quality.  But this plan did not prove a success, and after a few years it was abandoned.
     About 1865 the factory system broke out in a new form; the factories taking the milk every day and manufacturing it into butter and cheese.  Now we have five cheese factories in the township, as follows: South Newbury, Gore's Webber's, Baker's, and Gould's; and we also have a number near the township lines, which take large quantities of milk from the township.  The benefits claimed for the factory system are, first, it is a great saving of labor for the women; second, making cheese of uniform size and quality, it commands a ready sale, and more uniform price; and it also has a number of other reasons in its favor.
     In speaking of early times, we should notice the distilleries.  We had three.  The first was Punderson's, a little southwest of the grist-mill; then Parker's, near Burnett's tavern, and one built by Harry Burnett and Ithel Wilber, in the west part of the township.  These distilleries opened a market for the surplus rye and corn, which the people exchanged for whiskey, which they could use,

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or exchange for goods at any of the stores in the country.  This stimulated the settlers to the raising of crops which they could not before, for the want of a market, as it was impossible to transport their grain to more distant markets over the almost impassable roads that were so common at the time.
     In an early day Wilber & Burnett built a mill, in connection with their distillery, and Loveland & Bullock also built a grist-mill about three miles northwest of the center.
     About 1848 or 1850, J. B. Lawrence opened a foundry, one-half mile west of the center, for the manufacture of plows and general castings.  He did a flourishing business for a number of years, then sold out to Mr. J. J. Smith, who moved the shops to the next road south, where he still carries on the business in all its branches, doing a good business at the present time - being the only foundry and plow shop in this county.
     In the year 1818 the first military training was held.  It took place south of Punderson's, and opposite the tannery.  Mr. Thomas Shepherd was the captain.
     Among the early things to be remembered were the singing schools of Thomas Riddle, where were to be seen such persons as Amos Upham and wife, Hamlet Coe, "Aunt Polly" Johnson, Sam Hodges and wife, Mrs. Riddle, Loren Snow, and many others; when they used to sing such tunes as "Old Hundred," "Windom," "Haddam," "Coronation," " Bridgewater," "Sherbourne," "Mortality," "Ocean," "New Durham," "Exhortation," "Stafford," "Northfield," "Plymouth," "America," "Florida," "Concord," "Greenefield," and other tunes that used to be full of real, genuine music.  Those were times that never were forgotten as long as any of them lived.  They thought nothing of going miles on foot or on horseback to enjoy one of those pleasant gatherings, and they used to sing as if they were in earnest and meant their time should not be lost.

     The tax-payers of Newbury, for the year 1817, were as fellows:
 

     So we see in 1817 the whole taxable personal property in the township of Newbury was twelve horses and sixty-seven cattle, and the whole personal property tax was ten dollars and thirty cents.
     Uncle Jo Wilber used to doctor clocks and watches on the Oakhill road half a mile east of the grist-mill.

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     John Earl was a man who could make any thing he ever saw, and do a nice job at it, so he was a very handy man to have in any new community.  Welcome Bullock was one of the greatest hunters ever in the township.  He used to furnish his own and neighboring families with meat a great share of the time.
     Hamilton Utley was a famous school teacher, he having taught school twenty-one winters in succession.  He was also a great story-teller and singer of songs.  He and nearly every one of his sons were good fiddlers.
     So we see that what was an unbroken forest in 1808 has now, after a space of seventy years become as one of the old settled countries, every farm in the township settled and cleared.  For a number of years, we have hardly seen a fallow burned.  Timber that was a drug, and used to be burned in log-heaps, now finds a ready sale at a fair price.
     Farms that, forty years ago, had no lot that could be well plowed for the stumps and roots that were in the way, are now clean.  A few years makes an old country of a wilderness.

CIVIL ROSTER.

     The following officers have served in the township of Newbury, since its organization, in 1817:

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

TOWNSHIP CLERKS.

ASSESSORS.

TRUSTEES.

TREASURERS.

CONSTABLES.

MILITARY ROSTER
(pg. 239)