PREFATORY NOTE.
When the matter
of several townships was prepared, and much of it had
been passed over to Judge Taylor, the
president, causing anxiety with the people of these
townships to have it in history, Burton was still
unwritten. The vice-president of the society for
this township, the Rev. Dexter Witter, waiting
for more strength of body, had not ventured upon the
work. When the vote of the Historical society
decided in favor of publication, the precarious
condition of his health forbade further hope of his
writing. In the emergency, the society's committee
cast about, and the lot fell to the present victim.
With mind averse to it, and great distrust as to
competency, he finally engaged to try.
To find dates and facts of the first years, required
time for seeking out from hidden and hopeless ways, and
for comparing over and over again, every side and shade
of story, and swift was the conviction, that the road to
historic truth was slow and "hard to travel." It
would not do to go around obstacles, or climb over them.
Each blockade must be removed, and the pathways back
into the dim past, some ten or fifteen years beyond most
of the other township
settlements, be cleared of the "slashing" and wild
growth of years long forgotten, and only now
traditional.
The township writers, many of them without practice in
the beginning, have each had experience and trials
alike, and they will no doubt accredit the writer more
generous excuse for the seeming long delay, than many
who know nothing of the research and inquiry necessary
to such a work.
The same leniency is due to the Auburn historian, Mr.
Wadsworth, who was called to write after the others were
done.
Thanks to those interested in the book who have waited
so patiently. The writer, in saving further delay,
is forced to risk his part going to press in its crude
state, as it came first from the pen, without revision
or re-writing. It will lack in finish and in
style; and may not be clear of a repetition. If
fact or incident, or story of the past, or of the lives
that are gone, shall be preserved, and some of the
truths of the present be reached, it may be of some
good, as a tribute to the memory of the fathers, and has
come most kindly from the heart, in tracing back along
the Record of their lives.
The many friends who have aided in the gathering of
facts, I would not for get, but thank them, and
particularly the venerables Elijah Hayes,
Colonel Stephen Ford, and Rev.
Dexter Witter; and also Rev.
Charles Cutler, the Hon. Peter
Hitchcock, Almon Carlton, and
Caleb Fowler; and the younger gentle men,
Herbert Hitchcock, Edward Truman,
Albert Thrasher, Frank Parmele,
and William H. Suava; and especially Professor
Charles H. Welton, who spent time in writing and
copying. Thanks to Judge Kinsman, of
Warren, for the kindly loan of his copy of the
Kirtland diary.
W. J. F.
---------------
1878.
In the
golden sunshine of a midsummers' day, the sweet-leaved
clover grew green on the hill. The strong stalks
looked up to the clouds, floating lazily over, as if
asking for the refreshing rain to give new life, before
the red bloom of the field should, in the grand
benevolence of nature, offer up its choice fragrance
alike to the poor and the rich of the village.
Already had the first crop of the field gone to the mow
of a neighbor. The whet of the scythe, and the
clip of the stroke that cut it, had been noted by the
passers along the day's walk, and was forgotten a month
later, in the sight of the new growth on the old sword.
Dark the green, with here and there a blossom opening in
advance of the wide sea of color, so soon to spread its
read beauty to the very rim of the border. In this
field of flowers, thus waiting for the hayman's blade
and fork, stood a building with green blinds and a
square tower above its entry doors, on the east.
Trees were here and there, some of the cold climes of
the spruce and Norway pine; here one with the silver
white bark of the birch; beyond, one with a strange name
and "imported," but from the grand old woods that had
escaped the axe, many a beautiful maple was set in rows,
or carelessly shade for when they should be larger
grown. This lot was cut in twain by a walk on
plank, and around it a white fence. On either side
were streets, and beyond, the houses of the villagers.
To the northward a broad avenue, with its wall of brick
and mortar, and across the way the "old stores."
On either side, the places where men sell and buy and
get gain, and where the ways of trade keep men from the
rising to the going down of the sun, and away into the
darkness of the night. Eastward, southward and
westward from this field, run the ways of travel, and
people drive along them, or come and go with familiar
step.
The rattling hum of the last improved mowing machine
may be heard in the distant meadow, where some belated
farmer sweats away the hours in the dry grass. A
Champion reaper lays the swath bundles of the season's
first cut of oats, the dropping gavels being as uniform
as the bundles of the rakers who followed the swinging
cradle forty years ago.
The sun goes slowly down the west, and the cows travel
to the yards, on a hundred farms around the town.
Started from the sweet pastures, there are driven in by
the faithful shepherd dogs, trained from the flock to
the dairy of the region, and are milked. Then the
rattling cans of the wagon bear away the greatest
product of this agricultural region to the factory, the
profits to return in dividends that enlarge the credit
side of the farmers' bank account.
Smoking a fresh Havana, beneath the shade of the maple
or apple at his door, dreams a youth. To the gate
drives the unshorn yeoman of the farm. "Step out,
John, and hitch," says the youth. "Here's chairs
for the folks. Sit by the door, and take from the
half box, and we'll curl "hoops" of blue upward while
the sun sets"; for there is still left something of the
early neighboring kindness of those who lit the pipe by
the old cabin fire.
Night shadows the twilight, and from many a farm-house
goes out the incense of offering, when the skilled hand
of a child makes melodies that, wafted on the evening
air, are dreams of peace and lulls of rest on the way
heavenward to many worn and weary hearts. So, too,
the piano note or wave of flute, was the
[pg. 418]
breath of the hour, in the village evening.
Perchance the bugle's ringing call sounds down the
valley. A dozen youth or more answer back, and
coming with the returning echoes, join to charm the
multitudes that gather in, from miles away, to enjoy the
free gift of this cornet band of 1877, skillful in the
operatic music, or lulling the hearts of all in the
touching strains of "Home, Sweet Home."
If it may be that a stranger wanders in the moonlight
of the hour, his eye looks far up the spire of the
Congregational church, standing across the street from
the northwest corner of the clover field. Beyond
it, westward, is the cheerful house where the Methodist
people gather regularly for devotion. On the south
the Union school-building, and farther still, on the
spot long known as the "Umberfield tavern-stand,"
is the four-story Exchange hotel. Northward, from
the brick block, is the Brewster house.
Above the stores, in the brick, the Masons go to their
hall to attend sessions, as they did long ago.
Southward, and well on the face of the hill, below the
water trough, Carlton's wagon shop,
weather-beaten and dull as the gloom of November, still
gives the clang of the saw or the sound of the mallet;
and near it two shops have their smith and forge.
The academy that stood by the grand plume of a maple,
west of the Methodist church, and sacred to the memory
of many a boy and girl, who in it learned "rithmctic and
jography," has been swung round, gable to the south, and
on its classic upper floor carriages receive their
finish, while from below goes out the ring of the anvil
and hammer.
Thus it is written of the clover-grown park and its
town hall, of the villagers and their homes, of the
public buildings and the places of trade, of the music
and the ways, the people and the farms in and
surrounding one of the most beautifully located villages
in northern Ohio. Quiet and solid in its ways, this
village of Burton, on the first day of August, 1878.
Turn now, all there is of the record, backward eighty
years and behold the contrast: Two axemen, who cut the
first bush from the undergrowth ahead of the chainmen
and compass for the party, who, little more than forty
days before, set out to allot township No. 8, in 7th
range, of the Connecticut Western Reserve, have spotted
their last tree, and laid down the flags and the
instrument. The survey work is done. John
Adkins and Levi Tomlinson find
other labor than "cutting away for lines" that day.
Three men are together. If they sit by a table,
it is made of puncheon logs, and probably in the
company's house, near to a spring of good water.
The record states that they spent the whole day in
preparing and drawing the lots. This was Aug. 1,
1798. Before this, they had laid out the square,
and fixed the lines of it, and had allotted a village
plat, and now that the survey was complete, they were
together to divide the lots among the owners.
This square of eighty years ago was shaded in by a gigantic
growth of forest trees, and the park, and the village of
to-day, were the wild wood.
The three men of the record were: Turhand
Kirtland, William Law, and David
Beard, the surveyor. The first of these
men, Kirtland, made a diary memoranda of his own
and the doings of many others who came to this country
during the years 1798-99 and 1800. Could he have
had any thought that this data and fact would be used to
verify history. Aye! that it was history then
written. To this diary, in which there is no word
of complaint, no shadow of regret, no mention of discord
among any of the parties in that far away time of untold
trials, thus silently testifying of the grand spirit of
this man Kirtland who kept it, comes the writer
of these pages for many a fact of those years -
otherwise lost.
SURVEY.
1798. The survey
of the Reserve in 1796 fixed the location of No. 7, in
range of a five mile square township, now known as
Burton. The proprietors,
[pg. 419]
to whom this town fell, in
the original drawings for the division among the company
owners of 1796, decided to allot the town in tracts of
one hundred and sixty acres, making four lots of every
one in the original survey.
Named with the party coming in the spring of 1798, and
who were at Stowe ___stle, Conneaut, May 31st, are:
Colonel Thomas Sheldon, Joel Yale, John Moss, Bennett
Rice, Jason Rice, Mathews, Gines, Byington, Foot,
Rising, CArter, Spafford, Titus Street, Captain Bishop,
Jonathan Brooks, Isaac Fowler, Eli Fowler, John Adkins,
Reed Beard, A Beard, Edwards and family, Honey
and family; as were also Turhand Kirtland
William Law, David Beard, Levi Tom_son, Phineas Pond,
and Thomas Umberville and family. These
last named, with Jason Rice, arrived at Grand
river, Sunday, June 3, 1798, with three cows,,,,, one
calf, three pairs of oxen and a buill, and two boats and
stores. They encamped in the interval, and
Kirtland says, "found as fine ripe strawberries as ever
saw." On Monday they worked their boats up the
river about four miles, __the Indian town at the old
fording, and found quite a settlement and several ___.
This Indian village was on the bluff bank of the river,
on the land afterwards bought by General Paine,
and thereafter known as the Paine farm, or
homestead.
The first movement for a road to Burton began on
Tuesday, the 5th of June. Mr. Law, and
Mr. Beard, the surveyor, started a line from a point
about three miles from the mouth of the river, where
Mr. Skinner afterwards laid out the town of New
Market and where the old Skinner bridge was
built. The next ___, with Kirtland, Tomlinson,
Pond, and Rice, they began cutting the road, __d by
Friday night, the 8th, were about four miles ahead, to a
stream running __stward. On Monday night they
encamped about eighty rods in No. 9 township, 8th range.
The road came up what is now State street, in
Painesville, and __pt easterly, through to what was
afterwards Perkins' camp, one-half mile east of the "Old
Log tavern" on the present road in Concord. On
Tuesday they run more Westerly, to avoid deep runs, and
camped two and one-half miles ahead, on lot __ township
9, 8th range. Working on the camp Wednesday, the
13th, was within __ mile of township 8, 8th range, and
B. Rice and Yale, who had been, with the __at and
families of Edwards and Honey, up the lake to Cleveland,
came to this ___mp. On Friday the 15th, they
arrived at No. 7, 7th range. Kirtland and ___,
having marked the road for the men and teams to come on,
two miles, to the northwest corner of the township, went
on to find a place for a tent and gar__: making nine
days that the first team and sled, with Mr.
Umberville as ___, were on the road, the first trip
ever made to Burton: an average, from Painesville, of
two miles per day. Afterwards, the stages made the
distance in one-third as many hours.
The camp - was fixed by a fine spring, about 15 rods
east of the town-line, _ lot 11, and about 45 rods south
of the north line of said lot, and south-__st of where
Judge Stone afterwards settled. Linsen
Patchin once had a tannery near this spring.
Samuel Burridge, of Painesville, now owns the
land. North of the spring, the tent was pitched,
at noon, on Saturday, the 16th of June, and a place cut
i the opening and cleared of underbrush for a garden. It
was a sunny spot, and fertile. They planted the
first seeds on Wednesday, the 20th. Long after,
this was known as the "old garden." From this
northwest corner the survey began, and the explorers
went out.
THE GEOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY.
1798.
The streams. - Surface, timber and rocks were of more
interest topeople then, than now. The West branch
of the Cuyahoga river was crossedby the exploring party
June 15th. It comes into the town from the
northwest, on lot 3, has good banks, and runs through a
fertile valley southwesterly,
[pg. 420]
then to the southeast to the junction, in a low swamp of
cat-tails, bull-frogs and alders, with the east branch,
about one mile south and a little westerly from the
centre of the town, and goes on out southward in a heavy
marsh, which is under laid with clay. The east
branch enters the town at the northeast corner, on lot
10, and flows half a mile when it spreads out over
thousands of acres, and continues to stagnate and lie
along full three miles to the junction, making good
paddle ways for the canoe of the trapper. Since then,
much of the waste land has been reclaimed by channel
ditches. West from the center one mile, runs a
stream which these surveyors crossed in the marshy
waters on No. 14. It has since been called
Hopson's creek, and has its head in what has been known
as Hewitt's spring in Claridon. It flows
into the west branch about a mile above the junction.
East of the river is a small lake, called Fowler's
pond, and southwest are two known as Little and Big pond
on Oak Hill, and the third still southerly as "South"
pond. The Little pond is a small circle of water,
very cold and deep.
Surface. - At the southwest corner of lot 36, when the
timber was cut away, the outlook was ten miles southward
along the Cuyahoga to a point, where the hills slope low
down on the sky, and the course of the stream is lost
against the horizon. Forest covered then, much of
it is to-day the same, long a woody expense of fertile'
valley, and the bottom lands of improved fields wedge
back in the timber to the river. Viewed from this
hill of the center, set to divide the river, the valley
east, was a gentle incline westerly to the stream, and
beyond, seven miles the highlands of the water-shed to
the Grand river. Northeast on No. 19, the water had cut
through the rocks, making a fall and ravine. It
came to be known as the gulf. Northward gentle hills and
spring brooks invited the herdsman and the
agriculturist. Westerly, the high lands of the
west branch, along the line of the township, rose far
above the valley, cutting off the view beyond.
Springs of sandstone water came from out the hills on
every side.
Soils. - The plow shares that afterward went beneath
the new mold of the leaves, found in the valleys, much
of a rich sand and clay loam, especially on the
southwest - Oak Hill, and on the high lands a fertile
clay loam from which the water-wash brought a good
showing of sand. Along the margin of the eastern
Cuyahoga had gathered wide deposits of muck.
Timber. - The trees grew very large, the chestnut
sometimes being six to eight feet through at the stump.
Oaks, white, black and red; poplars, or whitewood, one
hundred feet high, round and straight as a shaft, choice
for lumber; beech, maple, ash, elm, hickory, basswood,
pepperage, boxwood, ironwood, and here and there a
choice black walnut, and along the ravines or broken
hills a little hemlock. In the southwest corner of
the town, and also east of the river's junction, were
spots of choice pine. All the various kinds of
timber for every need, and more. The wild plum
fell and the grape ripened in its season, and the
hickory, butternut, and .chestnut shed their fruits to
the children, whose feet crackled the grass and leaves
in the frosts of October. As then, so do they to
this day.
Geology. - In this there is need to say very little, it
being the same as the county generally. Bituminous
coal was found in the hill south of the square, near
where George Carlton now lives, by Rev. Dexter Witter
and Daniel L.Johnson, esq., but not in paying
quantities; and also about three-fourths of amile north
of the "old garden," near the residence of Judge
Stone.
The new red sandstone crops out in the hills, and
dresses finely for building purposes. The "hard
heads" of the granite formation dropped out of the
"drift period" upon the face of many a hill, and were
too profusely scattered for the comfort of the ploughman
and his plodding team, when he should drive that way
some centuries later.
[pg. 421]
THE ORIGINAL OWNERS.
In a till of the recorder's
office of Geauga county is a deed unclaimed, and all the
parties named in it have long since passed away.
On it is endorsed: "Received, December 29th, and
recorded Dec. 30, 1828, in Geauga county records, book
L, pages 445, 446, and 447. Edward L. Paine,
jr., recorder. Fee two dollars and six and
one-quarter cents; paid two dollars."
This deed was executed Mar. 13, 1799, by John
Galdwell, John Morgan, and Jonathan Brace,
original trustees of the Connecticut Land company, which
was formed Sept. 5, 1795.
The company had selected standard townships, and all
townships below the standard were equalized in the
division by adding to each a certain number of acres
from some other town. Burton was below, and had an
annex. The deed conveyed to the grantors:
No. 7, in 7th range (Burton) |
- 15,274 acres |
Annex No. 1, in No. 9, 9th
range (Kirtland) |
5,467 acres |
Annex No. 1, in 1st range, |
-16,140 acres |
Total, - - - - - - - - - - - - |
36,881 acres |
For the sum of
|
$25,806.06 |
The deed was witnessed by
George Pierce and Epm Root, before Epm
Root, "Justs - Paies" Mch 13th, 1799. It
conveyed interests in Burton and its annex to:
Turhand Kirtland and Seth
Hart, sum of |
$500.00 |
Benjamin Doolittle, |
796.00 |
Samuel Doolittle, |
40.00 |
Titus Street |
3,471.50 |
William Law, |
3,461.50 |
Turhand Kirtland, |
1,875.00 |
Andrew Hull, |
1,134.23 |
Daniel Holbrook, |
1,000.00 |
Levi Tomlinson, |
625.00 |
|
_________ |
Making a total sum of |
$12,903.23 |
for 20,741 acres of land, a
fraction over sixty-two cents per acre, the purchasing
cost of Burton township.
EARLY DATA AND FACTS.
1798.
The First Arrival - June 15th, at the "old
garden" is chronicled. Tarhand Kirtland and David
Beard were the men. Kirtland was in
charge of the business management, and kept so faithful
an account that his name is rightfully first. The
following memoranda is but a reproduction of items
connected with his busy life in the first three years of
the settlement.
Passing over the journey from the east, which he gives
as being six hundred and sixteen miles from Wallingford,
Connecticut, to Cleveland, and very interesting, a
single item must suffice.
The seventh day out, cutting the road from the Indian
town and Painesville to Burton, June 12th, they "camped
as wet as water could make us," he says, "pealed bark to
sleep on, by a good fire, drank brandy and a dish of
good chocolate, and were as happy as if keeping election
at home."
1st Home - On Saturday, June 16th, the white
wings of a tent were spread in this wilderness.
The noonday sun cast the shadows of great trees upon the
canvass and shot beams of light through the blue smoke
that lifted away form that.
1st Dinner's - camp-fire close by the spring on
Nov. 11. They dined upon the
[pg. 422]
flesh of a young fawn, and commended the old "Patriarch,
of Scripture, for loving savory meat."
1st Sunday - the 17th, they mended up.
Kirtland put two pockets in his frock.
Tomlinson made "over-alls." Umberville
started back, to bring his family. He was
accompanied by Jason Rice. Esquire Law had
been unwell and the singular account of the
1st Sickness - is, that he "ointed for the
itch." The remainder "kept Sunday in preparing for
surveying on the morrow." Were these pioneers more
observant of religious rules, than their descendants of
the 3d generation?
1st Garden - did not amount to much, as they
buried the seed and it sprouted before the ground was
dry enough to be prepared, and the seed was mostly lost.
1st Family - That of Thomas Umberville
arrived Thursday, June 21st.
1st Road - was begun the 25th, and cut from the
camp easterly two miles from No. 11 to lot 35, which
Mr. Umberville had chosen as the place for his
location.
1st Rattlesnake - noticed was killed, when
cutting this road. He had 13 rattles, and was
carried to camp, dressed, cooked and eaten with a great
relish. Kirtland protested, but ate, and
says, with the greatest candor, "I never ate better
meat."
The work for Umberville's garden began the 26th,
and on Saturday, the 30th, the labor for the
1st House - in Burton was commenced on lot 35,
southwest of the spring, near where the Plymouth cheese
factory now stands. On Sunday all hands gave him
the day, at work on his house. It was named the "Umberville
Coffee House," in honor of him, for bringing the first
family on Nov. 7. The family moved in Friday, July
6th, being the first night they had slept in a house
since leaving "Genesea" the 22d of April.
1st Independence Celebration - was a very quiet
demonstration of patriotism, given in camp no Nov. 11,
the record being: "Wednesday, Independence, drank a can
extraordinary, and sundry patriotic toasts, after which
all set out to surveying and work on house."
The Squire - Was planned with "part of the
lines," July 10th, by Kirtland, Law and
Beard, and the survey finished on Saturday, the
14th.
2d House. - It was to be built for the company,
Yale and Tomlinson peeling bark for it on
the 12th. It was to be built on one of the center
lots - nearest to good water; and in running out the
lines of the village plat, Kirtland says, "we
found in my center lot, about thirty rods south of the
square an excellent spring of water." This company
house was built a few rods north of the Hickox
spring, which has so long supplied the water-trough, on
land now owned by James Peffers who dug out the
stone of the chimney-bed, not long ago. It is
probable that this house, used for the stores and tools
of the company, was owned by Kirtland, and was
also called Kirtland's house. In 1803, it
was known as the Emigrant house; a kind of place where
families stayed, cooked and slept, until they could
throw up logs and make a cabin of their own.
1st Haying. - Early in July, a place was found
near the Cuyahoga - south of the center - to cut hay.
The care of stock was early thought of. One of
Mr. Umberville's cows died, from the drinking of
salt brine, and the loss "caused great grief." The
first men in the hayfield, began Monday, July 16th, in
the wild swamps of the river. These were B.
Rice, Byington, and E. Fowler. The next
year work was done in the hayfield as late as August
19th.
Law, Bishop, Bond and Kirtland, went to
look out the lands in Kirtland, in July, and on to
Cleveland. Expenses: seventy-five cents a
day each, including liquors. Moderate, compared
with four dollars a day hotel bills, and drinks extra,
of this generation.
[pg. 423]
1st horse purchase mentioned, was by Kirtland,
of Mr. Young, for $65, and at a sale, in 1799, a
horse brought $60 - to be paid in wheat and corn, and
labor is noted as paying Mr. McBride 50c per day.
1st seed wheat was brought in, September 9th, by
Captain Bishop, who had been for it to Grand
river; and the first sowing was dragged in by
Umberville, on Esquire Law's lot, September
12th. Kirtland dragged wheat with oxen, and
on Tuesday, the 18th, finished sowing four acres, on
which he put 60 lbs to the acre, that cost $2.00, and
expenses, $1.34, making $3.34 per bushel. He sowed
grass seed after the wheat. Wheat was also sown
for Mr. Holbrook and Titus Street, as
appears from the account of harvesting the next year;
but the location of their fields is not given.
Colegrove gives an account of four acres of wheat
being sown, for Street, a little south of the
square, and the same for Holbrook on the east.
The 26th of September,
Kirtland started east by way of Poland and
Pittsburgh. His provisions, a towel and a shirt
were rolled in his overcoat, and jolted out, leaving him
dinnerless and shirtless, but he went on to Warren.
2d Family - Amariah
Bairds came in this fall of 1798, and shared their
house - which was probably the third one built - with
Mr. Honey, a brother-in-law of Mrs. Beard's,
and his family. This Honey family went on
with Edwards, as before mentioned, to Cleveland,
and the story is told, that being in Mantua, they were
afraid of Indians, so came to Burton, and the two
sisters, Mrs. Baird and Mrs. Honey, lived
together during the winter. Mrs. Honey gave
birth to a son, the
1st White Child - Born in Burton. They
called him Riley, and he was almost a New Year's
gift, being born Dec. 31, 1798. Going with the
Shakers at an early day, he has been an honored member
of their community at North Union, in Cuyahoga county,
and now, over eighty years of age, his memory as
verified for the writer several questioned points in
this history. Peace to the declining years of this
elderly brother of the Shakers - Riley Honey, the
first child of Burton.
1799. The 1st
Wagon - Kirtland succeeded in getting on from
Poland to Bauder's, in Warren, but no farther; the roads
were so bad, the 21st of May. June 8th, Isaac
Clark brought a wagon with the party that came to
build the mills, and they left it at Young's
road, beyond the swamp on river, and the Moss probably
used it to go for mill-irons to Fort McIntosh, on the
Beaver, this season.
1st Peas. - Kirtland brought two bushels
of seed peas from Grand river, and had peas for dinner
July 4th, which were planted May 25th.
1st Planting - Of corn and potatoes was Monday,
May 27th; weather very cool. Hoeing began three
weeks later, June 18th, and Kirtland picked good
corn with Eli Fowler, October 15th.
1st Fruit Trees - Were sprouted in Kirtland's
stable, and he worked in nursery August 26th. The
last stump of these trees was dug out by Sammie
Ford, in the meadow south of his father's
residence (the Hickox brick), in the spring of 1877.
By the spring east of the nursery Kirtland built a
spring house.
The 1st Orchard - Of any size, was Umberfield's.
Esquire Law bought a cow in Poland on the 26th of June,
for $16.
July 4th. - This year, it is only mentioned that they
drank the president's health.
The raisings of those days brought men together; they
worked hard, but were a jolly set, and on Saturday
afternoon, July 13th, the
1st Barn - Was raised for Mr. Umberfield.
The 2d barn in Burton was
raised for Kirtland, August 2d.
1st Bridge. - On Friday, July 12th, causeway work was
begun on the swamp.
[pg. 424]
Thursday, the 18th, the 1st pair of tressels were
raised, and Monday, the 29th, the bridge over the
Cuyahoga, south of the center, was finished so as to be
crossed.
Harvesting.- Wednesday, July 24th, Hopson cradled
wheat, and August 7th, Kirtland sledded his wheat
into the barn. An interesting item would be the
yield of the four pieces of wheat sown the year before,
but it is not recorded. The next year corn sold
for $1.00 per bushel, and Kirtland paid Mr.
Clark $20 to boot on horse trade, in wheat at
$1.75 per bushel. Flour was sold for 5 cents per
pound; beef, hind quarter, worth 4 cents per pound.
4th House. - Thursday, August 15th, a company of men
gathered by a spring, now in the "old Governor
Ford orchard", and raised a house for Esq.
Law.
1st Sermon - Preached on the Western Reserve, was by
Rev. Wm. Wick, of Washington county, Pennsylvania,
at Youngstown, Sunday, Sept. 1, 1799, which Mr.
Kirtland went to hear.
Rattlesnake Bite. - At Poland Mr. Doolittle
being out exploring for land, was bitten on the heel.
1800. The early settlers, seemingly alone and
shut off from the world, and civilization could not
forget the sacrifice their States had made, in the
struggle for freedom and here, first upon the lands
ceded, because of such sacrifice - the woods resounded
with their rejoicing and songs of liberty. The
record gives it.
July 4, 1800. - Sundry of us assembled on the green at
the center, and erected booths with tables and seats for
dining, where an excellent dinner was prepared.
The inhabitants of Burton, amounting to 42 in number,
were assembled, and the day spent in social and festive
mirth. This number, no doubt, included some from
beyond the present limits of Burton.
McMahon's Trial. - September 17th, Judges
Meigs and Gillman opened court in
Youngstown. Joseph McMahon had been
indicted for the murder of an Indian - "Capt.
George, or George Tuscarora."
The prisoner was escorted from Fort McIntosh by the
sheriff, and guarded by 25 troops from Pittsburgh
garrison, to protect him from the Indians. The charge
was the killing of two Indians by him and others at Salt
Spring July 20th. It created great excitement, and
300 people of Warren and the country turned out, at the
time, to treat with the Indians. A Mr.
Sample was counsel for McMahon, who was
acquitted on the 2d day of the trial. Mr.
Kirtland was at the court.
Mails. - September 15th, he received the first letter,
of that season, from his wife, and one from Holbrook; so
uncertain was the mail in those days.
He gives Sunday, November 16th, as his birthday, 45
years old.
In the prime of life, his three years of work was done
in Burton, and the record kept. The time of his
selling out and moving to Poland is not given. He
was long known as Judge Kirtland. His son,
Dr. Kirtland, was prominent, and will be
long remembered by the people of Cleveland.
EARLY SETTLERS.
1798. Had it been
told to a seven-year old boy, playing in the dirt and of
a woodshed doorway, now and then looking up in the
sunshine with a smile of roguery, as he flipped a chip at the
old man, and saw his scowl and heard his gruff
"You young rascal, you; " or again, listening with the
charmed ear of youth, to the story of the Indian hunter, and
his dusky child, from the lips of "Grandpap"
Umberfield, that, forty years later, beneath the
same roof shelter, stayed by the same timber that crossed
above that doorway, this neighbor boy would sit down to
wright the history of that man and his family, setting
in a new country; there would have been more of seeming
fable in the prophecy than
[pg. 425]
reality. But it has come to pass. The writer
remembers, with a feeling or reverence, the last day of
this first man, sitting for hours in the shade of the
shed of that little house just west of the big maple,
where Mr. Shaw's house now stands, eighty rods
west of the park. His long hair was then white,
and when his story was told, the wife, a kind old lady,
and very gentle, she seemed to us boys, would call us in
to a cup of tea, and tell our fortunes. So, we
were all children together - the two Howard boys,
this aged pair, and the writer. When our boyish
glee drifted away in the wonders and marvels of the
pioneer tales, we were sober and thoughtful. How
dark seemed the words then, and huge the bears, while
every tree hid an Indian. Thus, with respect,
comes back the memories of this age-worn couple, as
thought turns to the fact of their lives in the wilds of
Ohio.
Thomas Umberfield - has been mentioned as
bringing the first family into Burton, and his wife
Lydia, was the
1st white woman -
in the town. She received from the original
owners of the township sixty acres of land, being the
southeast part of lot 35, a gift in recognition of her
being first. He was born the year 1754. Her
birth occurred in 1756. Her maiden name was
Lydia Hotchkiss. The name first written
Umberville, afterwards came to be written
Umberfield. William Law married her
sister.
With Esquire Law, they took a boat form Buffalo,
and were at Conneaut May 28, 1798. Sailed out on
the 31st, and arrived at Fairport June 3d, stopping for
a few days three miles up the river. At noon,
Thursday, the 21st, their ox team reached Burton.
What an arrival! Step from a rude sled, beside a
white ten door, in a great woods, absolutely first and
alone, the mother and her children; bringing beauty and
grace with the naturalness of girlhood into the unbroken
forests. How the stories and discouragements of
this far-off land must have come up, in the long journey
for months, Now ended in the thicket of this wild.
No wonder that the tales of mud and slough, believed by
many an
emigrant, had been so fixed in the mind of this woman,
that in unloading the household goods they found the
veritable
Bag of sand - she had packed in old Connecticut, for
use in scouring here, where there was none. Even
now, early settlers remember of her exclamation, on
seeing the great waves of sand along the lake shore,
"Had I known this, I would not have brought my bag!"
Strange notions and many misgivings laid hold on the
early comers, marching westward.
Children - were at that noonday table: Four daughters,
Limety, about 15 years old; Stella, 11;
Betsy, 5; and Mary (always called Polly),
2 years old; Harry, a youth of 12 years, the
first boy in town, making a family of seven.
In less than four days the family and the party at this
"garden spot" were out of flour, and no telling where it
could be obtained. July 6th they occupied the new house
on lot 35. This house stood on a knoll southwest
of the spring, and when the woods were cleared,
commanded a view of the valley west, and was sought by
travelers. Byington, Isaac and
Eli Fowler, Brooks, John
Adkins and Captain Bishop joined the
home surveyors there, on Sunday, July 10th, and were in
good health and spirits.
The Indians were soon friendly, and camped near the
house. A chief took a fancy to Limery, the
oldest daughter, who was a beautiful girl. He was
so enchanted that he offered $1,000 and his oldest son
for her. Being refused, he gave warning that he
would steal her. For a long time she was not
permitted to go out of the house alone. Polly
(afterwards Mrs. Edson), being little, had
many a swing at the hands of the Indians, in a grape
vine near the house. Putting her on the vine, and
giving a strong push, she went high, and they would set
their half-wolf dogs chasing after her with a yelp, and
laugh to see
[Page 426]
her swing back again, before the dogs could turn around
in their endeavor to catch her.
Slavery.- It is related by her granddaughter, of the
Edson family, that Mrs. Umberfield
was of a Cuban family on the father's side. This
Cuban had come to Connecticut for his health. He saw,
loved, and was wedded to one of the fair daughters of
that then slave State. Returning to Cuba, he sold
his plantation and slaves, reserving only the family
servants, which he brought to Connecticut. The
last of these was a colored boy, given to Mrs.
Umberfield by her mother. She brought him to
Ohio, where he soon died. She felt the loss, as
being the last of the old plantation family. Was it
significant of the fact that in this then boundless
northwestern territory, slavery could fix no foothold on
the free soil of its afterwards glorious Western
Reserve, on the bulwarks of whose defense have stood
such men as Giddings, Wade, and Garfield? The
story may be founded on fact, as early settlers
corroborated it, in the recollections of a colored boy
with the family.
Manners. - 11, as said, this first lady brought with
her manners and customs that seemed high-toned, in the
wilderness of this new country, they would only serve to
refine a family far removed from the old civilization,
and settled now
where they often saw the Indian camp, and heard the yell
of the war dance around their own home.
Pigeons were caught, 5½
dozen at one haul, by Mr. Kirtland, who served
some of them with green corn, Aug. 25, 1799, to
Messrs. Baird and Umberfield, guests
invited to dinner.
1812. - In the time of the war, the family lived in
Huron. One day Mr. Umberfield thought the
British or Indians were coming to capture him. He
saw two men running toward the house, and he prepared to
elude them; but they proved to be messengers coming to
tell of victory and the probable close of the war.
After they returned to Burton, he kept tavern, where the
Exchange hotel now stands. Silver coin was so
plenty that he had half a bushel of silver half dollars
on hand at one time. At an early day, in the barn
of his tavern, a man hung himself.
The family record is incomplete. Limery, born
1783, married Simeon Rose. She died
Oct. 20, 1835. Harry, born 1786, remained
single. He learned to speak the Indian tongue, and
was quite a hunter. Died May 13, 1838.
Stella, born 1787, was married to Eleazer
Hickox, in November, 1808, and died Oct. 25, 1855.
Mrs Umberfild died Mar. 25, 1849, at the advanced
age of 93 years. Mr. Umberfield's
was a long life. He died Dec. 21, 1850, aged 96
years. All these rest in the lower yard, on the
bank of the Cuyahoga. Polly, born 1796, was
married to Robert Edson. She died,
in Chicago, Mar. 17, 1857. Betsey was born
Mar. 1, 1793, and married Oroon Johnson,
and Abbey, married Charles Earle.
Both are dead. Lydia—called Lottie -
the youngest, and only survivor, was born, in Burton,
Nov. 10, 1803, and now lives near Emery, in
Fulton county, Ohio.
Of the descendants of this family, two deserve especial
mention. Lottie married Clark Howard.
They had four children. Amelia married a
Mr. Carter, and lives in Fulton county, Ohio.
Delia, the second daughter, was bitten by a
cat, and died of hydrophobia, Apr. 13, 1848.
1861. - Veloice and James, the sons, saw
the red ensign of war, when the Rebellion broke on this
country, and went with the Union army. Veloice,
always thoughtful and dignified, could not have made
other than a faithful soldier. There is nothing of
his record at hand, only that he was a member of the 3d
Ohio cavalry, and died in a hospital, at Nashville,
Tennessee, Feb. 4, 1863.
James, the younger, was in the naval service, down the
Mississippi, from Cairo, Illinois.
[Page 427]
He had the good
will of his men and superiors, and there, as when a
school boy in old Burton, was a favorite. He
sickened, while on his way to New Orleans, and died a
soldier - May 28, 1865.
The Umberfields entered with spirit into the
improvements of the town, and were of the original
number that gave the land for the public square.
He was a tailor, and his "goose" did some work, pressing
the coarse seems of "linsey woolsey" for the pioneer
population.
He was not a member of any religious organization.
In her old age, she professed faith with the Disciples,
and died in the hope of immortality, at Mrs.
Howard's house, in the old room they had occupied so
long. He died in the same room, after the building
had been detached and drawn up beside the Hickox
brick, on the square, and that room adjoins the one
where these words are being penned. They
came first, and by right have been thus fully noticed.
1798. Amariah Beard - with John
Morse, of Euclid, came to Burton June 22, 1798.
On the 23d, helped Umberfield select his location
for a house. He was early at clearing a field
here, for July 11th Yale and Tomlinson are mentioned as
chopping on Tomlinson's lot, beween
Umberfield's and Beard's clearing.
Prior to the coming of this
2d Family - he was here, and seems to have made some
preparation for them, and disappearing from the record,
in July, it is probable that he met them at Buffalo.
From there they came in a boat, and landed at Chagrin
river August 4th. Raised among the rugged hills of
Massachusetts, where he was born, the 26th of August,
1770, he was prepared for trials. Married to
Eunice Moss, Nov. 12, 1795, they, with one
child (Rufus) were in an open boat coasting along
Lake Erie, in August, 1798. The goods went by
land, with an ox team, and they camped with the train at
night. Passing the Pennsylvania line, they were
driven, by adverse winds, into the lake three days.
The wife suffered untold anxiety during the storm.
There seemed little hope for any of these forlorn
voyagers, buffeted by winds and waves, in an open boat,
three dread days of wild tossing on that tempestuous
sea. At last, the cove was gained, and the solid
earth was rest to a weary woman. Six days later,
she gave birth to a daughter. August 10th
Clarinda Beard was born, almost a castaway on
the shores of this great wilderness.
In September they settled in Burton. Their log
house stood southeast from a spring near where Giles
Taylor now lives, on the Governor Ford
farm. Sixty acres, being the northeast part
of lot 35, was a gift to her, from the original owners
of the township for being the second woman arriving in
town. Not gift of land, nor wild wood air, could
lift the cloud and storm of that voyage. In the
years long after, it came back, and in the wanderings of
her mind, was repeated in all its fury. 1802, he
exchanged the land in lot 35, with Esquire Law,
for land in Chester, half a mile east of the cross roads
-lots 34 and 35 - and went there to live. After the
great windfall of 1804 he returned to Burton, and
located on lot 4, where Silas Beard, a
grandson, now resides. He died there, July 31,
1864. The child, Clarinda, went with the
Shakers at the age of 18, and lived there until she was
40.
Daniel Beard was a half brother, and a
leader among the Shakers near Cleveland. Mrs.
Beard was insane for many years, and a house was
built for her, in which she had to be confined. It
took fire and she was burned in it. Mr. Beard
was a life-long member of the Congregational church, and
was kindly known as "Uncle Ami."
These first settlers sleep in the family yard of No. 4.
Their children were: Rufus, Clarinda,
Ichabod, Myron, Silas, and Anna.
A younger son died early. Silas, a
grandson, is a good farmer, of solid qualities, keeping
well the old farm. He has been elected several
times county infirmary director, and also township
assessor.
[Page 428]
1798. David
Beard. - The surveyor of the party coming to Burton
in 1798, was with the original company of 52 that came
to run out the country, "east of the Cuyahoga in 1796."
He finished the survey of Burton, east of the river, on
Saturday, July 28, 1798, and the drawing of lots on
Wednesday, August 1st. His neice, Harriet W.
Beard, lives in Painesville, and his son, D. A.
Beard, resides in Buffalo, New York.
Capt. James Beard, his brother, once a sea
captain, had charge of one of the boats of the party of
1796. In a storm on Lake Ontario, Capt.
Beard went overboard. The fears, that he was
lost, were hardly expressed by parties who had landed
safely, before he appeared, saying, "Nothing lost, but a
gun and an oar." He married Harriet
Wolcott, of Hartford, Connecticut, in 1810.
The bridal trip was by lake to Chicago. Mrs.
Beard was the second white woman, visiting the
then low swamp on lake Michigan.
A Hutchinson family
had lived on the flat, southeast of where Delos
Williams now lives, and north of the brook, in a
log house, previous to 1821. Before that,
Chatfield built the house, and staid in it some
time. It was his first location. This year
Capt. Beard located there. During a storm
the lightning struck a tree. Calvin
Williams ran down the hill, expecting to find the
family all dead, but no one was hurt.
A great snake that Capt. Beard killed. It
is told that it was so long, that Selden Brooks,
a tall, young man hung it over his shoulder to carry,
and both tail and head touched the ground. It was over
ten feet long. Probably a black, not a rattler.
Capt. Beard died in Painesville in 1824.
Mrs. Beard was a lady of high
culture, and for 69 years years a member of the
Episcopal church. She died Feb. 9, 1876.
William C. Chambers, editor of the (Painesville)
Journal, married one or the daughters, Anna.
They occupy the home, where the mother had dwelt 50
years. Harriet Beard lives with
them.
1799.
Colonel Jedediah Beard - A brother of
Amariah, came out in the fall of 1799, and
October 17th, bought lot 27, where Noah Pages
now has the stone house. The next spring he bought
Tomlinson's lot, in the town plat, at $5.00 per
acre. This is the 1st record of sale of town
property. Originally from Massachusetts, the
Beards located for a time in Granville, Washington
county, N. Y. Mrs. Beard's maiden name was
Charlotte Nichols.
1800. February 22 - They started from Granville
for Burton with three children - Thomas,
Thalia, and Amey. All the household
goods of this family were in a two-horse sleigh.
From Buffalo they drove one day on the lake ice, at
night camping at the mouth of Cattaraugus creek.
Beds were made of hemlock brush. The snow melted,
and in the night Mrs. Beard was awakened
by the uncomfortable feeling of water rising through the
brush. Lake winds shifted the ice to Canada, and
they built the next day shanties of their sleigh and one
that General Paine and his family had come
in, and camped. John Moss was sent
on to Burton for Amariah Beard, who got a
batteaux boat at Fairport, and went to them.
Paine had secured a boat, and they loaded goods and
sleighs, and sailed out together, Amariah and
another man bringing the cattle through the woods.
Mrs. Beard, fearing the boats, walked all
the way to Fairport, carrying in her arms a child one
year old - Amey (afterwards Mrs. Orrin
Canfield, of Chardon), General Paine's
hired girl walked with her. The boats were
signalled in, and the land and boat parties camped
together every night but one. At Fairport Mrs.
Beard was sick in General Paine's
tent for several days. Two pairs of oxen and sled
were sent from Burton for their goods, and hauled them
through. Mrs. Beard was so weak as
to fall five times from her horse in riding from
Painesville. There was not a house on the road,
and but 5 or 6 in Burton,
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set bewitching eyes on him. Rachel they
called her, not long after her advent in the family,
which was July 22d, 1784. Mrs. Fowler
and her husband vacated the log house the 30th day of
June, 1802, and that evening the
1st wedding - of the town, took place. Rachel
was the choice of young Brooks, and Judge
Kirtland came from Poland to unite them in
marriage. They went to their new home the same
evening, and the young bride found a pleasant surprise.
Mrs. Fowler had left both bread and cake
prepared on the shelves of the cupboard for the first
meal of this new pair.
The axe of Eli Fowler had spared a little
tree by the road side, when clearing in front of the
house. The maple grew to fine size, and was, long
years after a splendid land-mark on Cheshire street, and
its summer shade fell far along the highway. But
the axeman came; the cool shades have passed away, and
only yet is the stump seen. From the apple seed
planting in 1801, 20 years afterwards, a good bearing
orchard stood north of the house.
Their children were four - Selden, born Apr. 2,
1803; Linus, Apr. 25, 1805; Lovira, Aug.
13, 1809; Jonathan, Oct. 7, 1820.
Mr. Brooks was in Claridon, near where
Gorner Bradley afterwards lived, the day of
the tornado of 1804. He sought refuge beneath the
root of an upturned tree, and the crushing timber fell
upon the log and all about him, without harm to him.
He was a fine singer, and led the singing in the first
religious meeting held in Burton, and at the house of
Isaac Clark. His son Linus
relates that about 1809 provisions were scarce, and,
with two men his father went to Detroit. He bought
pork at $40 per barrel. Wind and storms so delayed
their return that his wife gave up hope, and one night,
being so alone in her anxiety and grief, sought
encouragement at Deacon Cook's. The
two boys, Selden and Linus, were left
asleep. On her return she heard a sound from the
bed of the children, and knew it was the voice of her
husband. The joy of their meeting can be imagined.
The boys awoke, and to their sparkling eyes, by the log
fire light, the red of two great apples seemed wondrous
as they looked at him who was lost, and the big apples
he had brought them, the first they had ever seen.
He brought a corn cracker from Cheshire, Connecticut, on
his back. It weighed 45 pounds, and was said to be
the first mill in this section. His bold venture
in the snows of winter, to Youngstown, for corn meal,
has been told in the story with Phineas Pond.
1812. On the 1st Friday of
September he was drafted for the war, but his family
being sick, Stephen Ford went as his substitute.
His death came suddenly Apr. 24, 1828. He had
been to mill with an ox team, and the load was lumber,
with grist bags on top. His wife knew that at the
crossing of Hopson's creek, west of their house,
the oxen had sometimes acted badly.
Returning this way, at the creek he must have had
trouble, and fallen, as the wagon wheel
had passed over his chest, and three ribs were broken
off at the backbone. George and William Hayes
found him and went for the doctor, leaving word at
John Ford's, from whence the distressing news went
to the family; but he died before his family could get
to him, and while they were yet in sight. His
widow married James Morgan, and lived in Bloomfield,
Trumbull county. Her death came Sept. 4, 1852, and
she rests beside Mr. Brooks in the lower ground.
Selden Brooks - married Julia Spencer, of
Claridon. They occupied the old
home place for many years. He died July 16, 1842.
Jonathan, - the youngest son, died June 16,
1845.
Linus, - the 2d son, married Eliza Humiston.
They moved to Illinois, quite
early, and started from there Mar. 18, 1846, for Oregon,
where he is farming
in the beautiful valley of the Wilamette.* The railroads
have come by his door,
---------------
* Died in December, 1879, since the above was written.
[Page 441]
and they call the station Brooks, after this pioneer of
Marion county, in that sea shore State. His was
the first white family in the place. He has given
to print many valuable recollections of his boyhood
days, upon which drafts have been made for history.
He was coming from Punderson's mill with bags on
the old mare, and near Beard's, when a bear
jumped in the track. Boy and grist both tumbled
off. A man passing helped him on, and, with the
grist, he pushed home in the dark. The cow
pastures were extensive and wearisome to the legs of
half-grown boys. He used to track their cows from
Page's east, to the Cuyahoga bottoms, and
sometimes two miles north along the flats, before they
could be found and started for home at night. The
Cuyahoga bottoms was one immense pasture along the
river, and shaded by huge elms, until this dam built at
the Rapids caused the water to set back, making
sickness, and the growth of low brush now seen.
Lovira, the only daughter, married Ira Hoadley,
and they always lived in Burton, where she still
survives him.
1802. J. S.
Cleveland's - name is given in Esquire
Hickox's account as the man who lived where the
Hickox brick now stands, in the 1st Frame House -
built in the county, in the year 1802. (Mr.
Witter says he came in 1800.) The little cellar
of this old house, at the south end of the square, was
filled up with earth by W. J. Ford, in the summer
of 1878. The 1st Store—he kept, and Elijah
Hayes bought his first jack-knife of him, when a
small boy. The Indians traded with him, and gave him the
fanciful name, "Kia-ho-gua," meaning crooked river. He
had no family, and Hickox says he moved to New
Castle, Delaware. He was the 1st captain of the
1st militia company; Jedediah Beard,
lieutenant; and Lyman Benton, ensign.
Eli, Seth, and Joseph Hayes,
were in the company.
1802. Vene Stone
- came this year, and settled on lot 1, north of the
road. His house stood near where his son Frank's
barn now stands, in Burton. His wife was
Charity, a sister of Samuel Hopson.
They were married in 1804. She taught school near
Hopson's creek, the summer of 1803. His 2d wife
was Alice, a sister of Calvin Williams.
She died in August, 1869. He was captain of the
company that went to Cleveland in the war of 1812; was a
member of the Ohio legislature one or two terms, and an
associate judge. Riddle says he was a man
of dignified manners, superior understanding and
sterling integrity, and would have been a leading man
anywhere; one of that rare old type that seems to be
nearly extinct.
1802. David
Barrett - built the first log house by the spring,
where Elijah Hayes afterwards lived on lot 22.
He married Phebe Fowler, sister of
Isaac Fowler. His bravery was known.
Four Indians came and frightened his wife, and he drove
them out of the house with a club. Daniel
Hayes bought his land, and he enlisted in the war
of 1812. In the fight one day, the bullets of the
enemy split slivers from a stump, throwing them against
his shins, bringing out the exclamation: "You
shoot d —d careless!" He died in the west.
1802. Benjamin
Johnson. - The lot which was a gift to Mrs.
Isaac Fowler, across from the fair grounds, he
purchased, and built there, in 1802. The record of
his birth is found in a quaint Bible, printed in
Edinburgh, Scotland, 1790, and is written as being July
22, 1761. The expectation of a college being
located in town, enabled him to exchange his
improvements, before he had paid anything on the land,
for eighty acres in lot 69, where he settled, a little
west of Erastus Johnson's present house,
on the north side of the road. Esther
Ford, mother of Horace Ford, of
Parkman, told of the labor directed to clean stumps from
off the square. Her father, Benjamin
Johnson, was justice of the peace. When a man
got drunk, he was fined and sentenced to dig up a stump
and remove it. This sentence was not often passed,
for it was a great
[Page 442]
disgrace, in those days, to get drunk—or even to be the
worse for using liquor.
One day, in early times, the children heard the dog
bark, and three boys ran down towards the brook, south
of where Orrin Dayton lives; but ran back
quicker than they went, followed by a she bear.
The elder boy, Oroon, jumped a brush fence; and,
hearing Billious, the younger, yell fearfully, saw him
plunge into the brush just ahead of the bear, which
seemed not a foot behind. The dog had cleared the
fence, and the yelling alarmed the beast and she
returned to her cubs. Esquire Johnson went
the next day and got a gun, determined not to have his
children driven out by bears again.
He was a soldier of the Revolution. His death occurred
Sept. 19th, 1825, at the age of 67; and his wife,
Susanna, died Mar. 26, 1843. They were buried
below the hill. He was a mason, and the funeral was
conducted with both military and masonic honors.
Down the line of descent from this soldier, we find
Oroon Datas, the eldest son, born Jan. 26,
1792. He married Betty, of the
Umberfield family. She was born Mar. 1,
1793. Their children were: Sophia, born
July 10, 1816, and died Sept. 21, 1864; Leander,
born July 28, 1818, and died Feb. 2, 1862, and Betsey,
born Dec. 29, 1819, who married Edmund Canfield, and now
lives in Cleveland.
The second child was Esther, born 1794.
She married Elijah Ford, of Parkman.
Died Aug. 25, 1852.
Dennison Johnson - second son, born 1795,
and died Mar. 6, 1813.
Billious K. - third son of Benjamin
Johnson, born Jan. 8, 1798, was married to Lucy
Hale, June 25, 1827, and died Sept. 14, 1866.
The wife, born Aug. 25, 1805, survived him a few years -
dying Apr. 3, 1877, aged 71.
He lived long on the old home farm, "over the river,"
and his son, Erastus, now occupies the place he
left.
Harriet—their first daughter, born Mar. 19,
1830, married Reuben Smith, whose birth
dates Aug. 19, 1823. The ceremony was performed by
Peter Hitchcock, esq., Jan. 1, 1855.
They reside in Middlefield.
Lucy Maria - born May 23, 1831, died July 16,
1850.
Erastus - born Aug. 14, 1834, was married to Sarah
M. Bossart, Mar. 2, 1862.
Polly - the youngest daughter of Benjamin and
Susanna, born 1804, married William
Bartholemew. They lived on the last lot in
Burton, No. 100, and raised nine children, all of whom
grew up. With patient toil she met the hard ships
of pioneer life for 36 years. 39 years a member of the
Methodist church, she was true in the faith to the day
of her death, which occurred Sept. 25, 1878.
1803. Gideon Finch - was a teacher
the winter of 1803-4, in the log schoolhouse on Hopson's
creek, near where Edson afterwards built his
mill. Elijah Hayes was one of his pupils.
He built, where Esquire Merriam resides, the
1st Stylish or Showy House - in the township about 1806
or '07. He kept a tavern in this house for a time.
His wife was a Hill, and cousin of Mrs. Eli
Hayes.
1803. Noah Page -was overtaken by Luther
Russel on the road west this year. They were
both bound for Trumbull county, Ohio, and journeyed
together. Mr. Kirtland is remembered as
coming at the same time. Mr. Page located
on lot 27. Ephraim Clark was there prior to
his coming, and it is thought he may have traded his
interest to Mr. Law, and that Page brought
direct from Esquire Law. Lots were often
exchanged, and payments on articles for land canceled by
the improvements made. In all the after life, with
its perplexities and questions, with him and Russell,
his near neighbor, there existed a feeling of
fellowship, and the word of each to the other was a
bound of honor.
[Page 443]
He was born in Northford, Connecticut, Mar. 20, 1772,
and died Jan. 20, 1849. His son Noah now
occupies the old farm.
Isaac Thompson once had a cabin there,
but thought the timber too heavy for him to clear, and
so "pulled up" and went to Middlefield, and his farm
there was paid for by his hunting and trapping.
1803. Luther Russel - and his
family, arrived in June of this year and stopped at what
was known as the Emigrant house. It stood
northeast of Hickox spring, and was probably the
"company house,'' left for the new settlers to occupy
until they could throw up a log house. This,
Russel soon did, and located his family on lot 38,
by a strong running spring.
Born at Danbury, Massachusetts, 1775, he caught the
military spirit of the times, and, at the age of 22,
enlisted in the regular army, being stationed seven
years at West point, and was away but twice during that
time. Married at 28, he yoked a pair of oxen, and
put a horse on lead, and, with his wife and goods behind
this "spiked team," started for Ohio. For the 100
acres in lot 38, he paid $125 cash, and had $25 left
with which to "set up" farming. Chills over took
him in 1805, and continued sickness left the family
without bread or meat. He crawled from his bed to
the door - to see a deer not far away. The gun was
handed him, and rested on a chair. Almost
fainting, he drew sight on the game, and it fell.
The load of venison was drawn to the house by his wife,
who dressed it, and had meat to share with her
neighbors. This year he went to Beaver and bought
a barrel of flour, for which he paid $16. He
wished that the barrel should be kept; Luther has
it in use in his house now. His 2d wife died the
year 1809. In poor health he returned east, but
found none of his kin. All had gone, nor did he
hear of them after. In better health he came again
to Ohio.
He married Polly Moss in 1813. She
had been deserted by her first husband, Joseph
Moss, and was divorced. She lived in
Mesopotamia, and the chimney part of the house not yet
complete, the cut away of the logs for the stone jams of
the chimney was open. It is said that a bear
disturbs no dead thing, but covers up what it finds, if
life has departed. Mrs. Moss was
startled at seeing, in the moonlight, a bear enter the
chimney opening one night. Resting quietly, she
held her breath and closed her eyes. Bruin came to
the bed, laid his cold nose on her cheek and walked off,
satisfied that she was scared to death. That this
was not a dog, was proven by the tracks, the next
morning. She traded a loaf of bread to an Indian.
He came next day, and pressing his hands together, said
"no good," meaning it was light, and drew his knife on
her. Catching a chair, she knocked him down,
and drew him out the door. He came again and
gave her a dipper to "make up," saying " me drunk" first
day. She was an enthusiastic Methodist, and as
early as 1812, Seth Burton tells of
meetings being held at Mr. Russell's
house; and that she offered prayer in the family of
Mr. Russell, for a year and a half, while
employed as a hired girl. Her executive ability
and tact made her ready for any emergency. He was
a trapper, and on Saturday night came home with a load
of muskrats. On Sunday there was to be preaching
at their house, but the rats must be skinned. She
took hold, and, swift as he was, she skinned three to
his one, and the skins were off before Sunday.
While at the Emigrant house, one evening the latch
string was pulled, and Marimon Cook
entered alone. He had been expected by Mr.
Russell for some time, and fears were felt that he
was lost. His appearance caused rejoicing.
After news from the east was related, and a hearty
supper was served by the light of the great log fire,
Mr. Russell went with him to Jonathan
Brooks.
His children, by the 2d wife, were: Eliza,
Lucy, Rebecca, and Julia; and, by the
3d wife, Luther, Mary, Polly,
Linus, Martha, and Caroline. The
first
[Page 444]
wife died very young. In his old home he died, Mar. 19,
1851, aged 77.
Luther Russel - his son, afterwards lived
on the old farm. He married a Miss
Creaser, and now occupies a house on the road
northeast from the former house. He went to school
in a log house, located on the northeast corner of the
Tolles orchard, near Beardsley's present
house. Jewett taught then [1826], and Dr.
Ludlow's academy school in the village was
challenged to spell. The town school came in the
evening. The syllables set at the head of the
columns of words in the books then in use, were put
together and pronounced as words. Julia
Russel spelled all down on the pronounced word "Kayda
rosko-muskogporto-bacco." For many years Luther
bought furs, and is still in the business. Taking
a lively interest in agriculture, he was at one time
president of the county agricultural society.
1803. Lyman Benton - came from
Guilford, Connecticut, this year. He married
Anna, sister of Samuel Hopson.
Their children were: Delia, Ann,
Augustus, Andrus and Lodemia.
The 2d wife was Rhoda Fowler.
Children - Woodruff, Cynthia, Maria,
and Lucretia. He settled on lot 43, a
little west of where the Benton house now stands, in
which Horace Crittenden lives. He
was a justice of the peace as early as 1814. His
name, with that of M. D. Merriman, Mansel
Wicks, Elison Sperry, and Edmund
Taylor, stands at the head of the Liberty party
in Burton. His health became poor, and dropsy set
in and his weight was said to be over 400. He
walked to Carlton's shop to hear the first
abolitionist lecture in town, by Elder Winans,
and was so interested in the first election, and to vote
for James G. Birney, that he had two chairs set
into a cart, and notwithstanding his great size, rode to
the polls to cast his vote with the party.
The first wife died Feb. 14, 1813. He died Mar,
7, 1845, aged 75.
Eleazer Hickox. - The very name of
this man has in it the snap of enterprise and go-ahead.
Probably to no man was Burton, in her early day, more
indebted, and in fact the whole country, far away and
round about, for the exchange of
goods; the barter of trade; the driving of cattle; the
finding of market, and the bringing back of money in
return for the poor product of that time, than to him.
Born July 25, 1776, in Watertown, Litchfield county,
Connecticut. Had the month and year anything to do
with the patriotism and energy which he developed in
this young country? He started for Ohio in
February, 1803, and that year worked for Jonathan
Fowler, who kept tavern in Poland, at $11 per
month. His first trip, made mainly by Indian
trails, to Burton, was this season, and to Cleveland,
where there were three or four houses. Fowler sold
goods to people in Pennsylvania, thirty miles east, on
credit. In the fall, Hickox collected in
the cattle of the debtors, from the woods, where they
ran wild as deer. In October, Fowler
started east with 100 head. The first day he lost
12 in the wilderness. They were afterwards found.
This was the first drove from Ohio over the Alleghenies.
There was no market. He packed the beef for the
West Indies, and a French privateer is said to have
captured part of it from an English vessel.
In February, of 1804, he started from Connecticut with
one horse and a sleigh loaded with 400 pounds of steel
chains, axes, etc. After reaching Buffalo, as was
quite common with winter or early spring travelers,
there being no road by land, he took along shore on the
lake ice. The action of the waves freezing had
formed breakwaters or ridges of ice parallel with the
shore. Between these ridges the valleys were one
glare of ice, and along them he drove. East of
Ashtabula creek he found a horse frozen into an old ice
crack, in a standing position, his head above the ice.
Fearfully dangerous were these watery roads so frozen.
Opposite Perry his horse broke through a seam, her hind
feet going down, but with a mighty spring she cleared
the gap, landing cutter and load
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her teeth upon his finger, nearly taking it off.
He abandoned the bed, and went wounded from the field.
After they had moved to Parkman she became furious at
Fred Kirtland, and went into his store,
giving him the lightning of her inflamed tongue in great
rage. He watched his opportunity, and when she was
near the door gave her a push, but she caught him and
they went out together, he falling uppermost. She
screamed "murder," "rape," all the time holding him fast
in her clutches. Esquire Parkman,
running up, cried out, "Why don't you let the woman up?"
He groaned out, "I would if I could."
After her husband died she returned to Burton, and
claimed dowery in all the lands he had sold. The
terror of her name had reached the children. She
came to Asahel Barnes, a mile southwest of
the village, and the children, knowing that she was
expected, saw a horse at the bars, as they came from
school, and shied around out of doors, not daring to
venture in. Julia Barnes (after
wards Mrs. Chase), was asked by her for a
glass of water, which she brought and was politely
thanked for it. John Ford, esq., made out
the papers for her to sign that night, and she received
one hundred dollars for her dower interest in the lands,
and was well satisfied. During the evening they
visited, and she called the prominent men nicknames - as
Ferris, a "catamount;" Umberfield, an
"owl," and Mrs. Umberfield, a "goose."
She had names for Hitchcock, Punderson and
Hickox, not mentioned. She was charged with
burning the academy, but Edwin Ferris, who
saw the fire, says she did not do it, as she was in the
house of Lyman Durand, and could not have
been at the academy.
1804. Asa
Wilmot was an apprentice of John Ford
at the carpenter's trade in the year 1804, and with him
worked on the first academy built in Burton, being the
first work done exclusively for the education of the
young. The building was not completed till the year
1806. He married Betsey Durand, and
settled a mile north of the village, and built this
house long known as the Stoddard house. In
taking down the chimney of this house in 18__, a brick
was found on which was distinctly marked the print of a
deer's foot. The brick is now in possession of the
historical society. He died at his son Burrit's,
on Oak hill. His son, Curtiss, was killed
by the falling of a tree, while chopping on Chardon
square (Colgrove).
1805. Uri
Hickox came in the year 1805, and with his
brother, Eleazer, bought a tract of 800 acres
belonging to Gen. Andrew Hull. He,
with Daniel Dayton, who came with him, in
his employ, went to work clearing on the public square.
This winter Eleazer gave up his house to Mr.
Hill and family, Eleazer, Uri, and
Hill sleeping in the barn. He was married
to Lydia Ford, daughter of John
Ford, Sept. 25, 1808, and settled the same year on
lot 50, in the west part of the town, near the spring
east of where now is the Woodard orchard. In the
year 1821 they moved into a frame house, which they had
built on the corners, some distance to the north, and
long know as the Hickox tavern. In
the joist above the bar-room is the bullet mark of a
shot fired by one Dick Burke, who was fooling
with his rifle. Mrs. Hickox was
weaving up stairs, and Hickox ran up to see if
she was hurt.
Of the bar-room stories, current in that day, is one
told of some parties making sugar in a camp off to the
southwest. The syrup was left in the kettle over
night, and in some mysterious way disappeared two or
three nights in succession. The two men had some
whiskey, and they poured a quantity into the syrup; then
tasted it, found the mix good, took "a little more," and
laid down for the night "well set." The first man,
on awakening in the morning, saw his companion lying
beside a huge bear, and at first supposed him killed.
Cautiously rising, he saw both man and bear were asleep.
The toddy had proved too much for the bear, that had
been the thief, as it did for the men. This
[Page 450]
time she had her last drink, and lay dead drunk. With an
axe she was dispatched. Johnson Hickox,
the eldest son, recalls something of this story.
In the year 1812 Hickox went with the soldiers to
Cleveland, his wife going to her father's with her two
children, Lovina and John. Wolves often
howledabout the door, and a bear was once driven away
with a pitchfork, when at tempting to steal a pig.
We find the following record of this family; Lovina,
born Dec. 6, 1809; died Apr. 9th, 1829; Johnson F.,
born Feb. 5, 1811; Polly M., born Dec. 22, 1813;
Lydia E., born Feb. 20, 1818; Esther E,
born Mar. 15, 1821; Uri C., born Dec. 18, 1823;
and Nabby, born Oct. 25, 1827.
Mr. Hickox died Jan. 17, 1835, in the 56th year
of his age, and Mrs. Hickox died Apr. 5,
1871, aged 80 years. They rest in the lower
ground.
1805. David
Hill. - A family of Hills wintered with
Hickox in 1805-6, but did not remain long. Hannah
Clark was married to David Hill, and they
settled here early, living on the lot opposite the fair
grounds. He was one of the first carpenters, and a
man of lively temper. At one time, when at work on
Joseph Hayes' house, he had spleen against
bear meat. Some was nicely cooked and carried to
him for dinner. He ate heartily, and called it
good. When told it was bear meat, his disposition arose,
and he made spasmodic efforts to clear his stomach, but
failed.
1805. Daniel
Dayton—came this year in February. On the lake
ice the horse broke through, and Dayton's life
was saved by clinging to the bit of the horse. The
square had been underbrushed and girdled : great
chestnut trees were left standing. Uri Hickox
set him to work, and from one cut of a chest nut log he
split 140 rails. He bought the farm on Oak hill,
where Hiram Chapman now lives, on lot 74.
One day in 1806, the townsmen and neighbors all came in,
cut logs and hauled, split shakes for roof and puncheons
for floor, and raised him a house before night. In the
afternoon darkness came on. The fowls sought
cover, and the animals gathered in the shadow of that
day. The men stopped work until the sun should
come from behind the great cloud. There was
something of terror in the gloom of the
Great Eclipse - that spread its night over the
day and the land. This house was built on the
north bank of a spring run, where an old orchard now
stands. He planted corn June 20, 1805, and claimed
the crop was good. Crossing from Esquire
Benton's, in the pines near the big pond, he met a
she bear. He carried a puppy in his arms.
The bear began to growl. He held the struggling
pup tight, ready to throw him into the embrace of the
bear, should she make an attack, while all the time her
cubs were scratching up a tree lively. When they
were safe she snuffed off, and Dayton got quickly
away from the path through the pines, with his dog, and
hurried home.
Wolves attacked his sheep, and, when he appeared,
made at him, driving both himself and dog out of the
lot, and made off with two sheep. About 1822, the
dogs drove a deer off the ice into the west branch.
The water had fallen, and the deer could not get out. It
was a large buck that had just shed his horns.
Dayton cut away the ice and the deer walked out
without fear. Dayton grabbed him by the
ears, and, in the struggle, dropped him, but not until
his clothing had been torn into shreds, kicked off, and
he was terribly bruised. When down he cut the
deer's throat with a jack-knife. Plucky for a man
who was no hunter and kept no gun. Out towards "Flemings
meadow" he drove back a bear, with whipping his tow
frock at her, until she had treed her cubs, and tore the
hem off the frock, when she left.
Of the first settlers here, he sought Fanny,
daughter of Nathan Parks, and they were
married in 1808. To them were born Sallie,
Stella, Elizabeth, David,
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[Page 452]
[Page 453]
[Page 454]
[Page 455]
[Page 456]
bered now, with the silver buttons of the family on it,
and which have been preserved. His death occurred
Aug. 25, 1858, at the age 96. The first wife died
Apr. 11, 1812. In 1815 he married Betsey
Hulburt, of Northampton, Massachusetts. She
preceeded him to burial - dying May 7, 1837, and now the
three rest side by side at the river, waiting the day of
the " great congregation." His children were:
John, Hiram, Clarissa, Loalma,
and Elzar.
Elzar Cook—the third son, born Aug. 30,
1799, came in possession of the homestead lot, where he
always lived.
He was fond of hunting. Jonathan Brooks
had a whiffet dog. It followed a bear and would
not be called off, but staid out over night, annoying
the bear by biting its hind feet. Cook and
Brooks pursued in the morning, into Huntsburgh,
where Cook shot the bear. The dog had
literally bitten off the bear's hind feet. June 7, 1829.
He married Ruth M. Heard. He died Oct. 21,
1870, and his wife soon after - Mar. 12, 1871.
Elizabeth - their only child, was born Mar. 24,
1830. She married Philander Parmele, May
13, 1868. The kindness of the "Missionary home"
has not waned- the orphan and kinless have found shelter
there from the storms of life.
Hiram Cook, - born Mar. 21, 1785,
came in 1815, and settled across the way from John's,
and just south of the present fair grounds. His wife was
Lydia Lorinda Hitchcock. He
was many years in company with his brother, John,
in the tanning business.
The children - four girls - married as follows:
Arvilla married Raymond Gaylord:
and the 2d time, Joel T. Case, and with him went
to Texas. Lydia married Dr.
Sherman Goodwin, and is now living in
Victoria, Texas. Eliza Ann married
Peter Hitchcock, and Sarrilla,
Richard Dayton.
For many years after coming here, he was an active and
earnest member of the Congregational church, and, with
his wife, readily joined in the prayer meetings which
were often held at their house.
The land where Kinney's mill now stands, 76½
acres, in lot 58, was set off to him by his father at
$3.00 per acre.
1807. Captain James
Bishop - settled, this year, on lot 1, where
George Wheeler now lives. He was taken sick
with fever. Elijah Hayes and
Hiram Fowler watched with him. He died at this
time, and was buried east of his house. It is
probable that he was the Captain Bishop of
the survey party of 1798.
1807. Captain
Eleazer Patchin - was here in 1806, but came
with his family, June 2, 1807, in company with John
Ford. He had one pair of oxen and one pair
of horses to his wagon. His family consisted of
his wife and four children: Levi, Linsen,
Daniel, and Abigail. He bought lot
No. 2 of David Warner, in 1806, and
settled there, in 1807, and afterwards moved on to the
State road, in Newbury.
1807. Gilbert J.
Ferris - was born in New Milford, Connecticut, May
6, 1779 married to Olive Griswold, Mar. 3, 1800, came
to Burton with his family wife, three children, and
wife's sister - in December, 1807, and settled on
fouracres bordering on the southeast corner of the
public square, which he converted into a garden and fruit
yard. The old trees standing on this lot were
planted in1808, and Edwin Ferris picked
fruit, of the "sheep-nose" variety, from one of these
trees in the year 1878. He bought a stock of
trees, and planted a nursery on the ten-acre lot, where
Mr. Witter now lives. It was
northwest of the house. He is said to have been
among the first to introduce the nursery business on to
the Reserve. Orchards are now standing that were
supplied with trees from his planting. Employed at
intervals by Eleazer Hickox, in his store,
and occupied in teaching school for a time, in 1815 he
moved to Oak hill, on lot 84, and from there to
Michigan, in 1821. At the time of Hull's
surrender, in 1812, Fer-
[Page 457]
ris was sick on the bed with rheumatism. On
hearing the news, he roused up, took a mop-stick for a
crutch, and hobbled off to alarm his neighbors.
Though unable to march himself, he took his own horse,
and, securing another and a wagon, carried the baggage
of the Burton company, which, all but one, went to
Cleveland, expecting to meet the enemy. He died at
John P. Smith's, in Newbury, Jan. 15, 1835.
Edwin Ferris - son of Gilbert J.
Ferris, was born in Otsego county, New York, Sept.
6, 1801, and came, with his father's family, to Burton,
in 1807. He lived with his father, working on the
farm until he was twenty years of age. He then
bought his time, by paying a note of one hundred
dollars, that his father owed John Ford,
esq. He paid the note by working for Mr.
Ford eight months. For several years he
followed teaching, and finally settled on a farm, on
Little Mountain, where he is now quietly living.
He has, for many years, kept a daily record of
meteorology. He has also furnished much
interesting material for the pioneer history. Of
his teaching and government in school, mention is made
under the head of "Education."
1808.
Adolphus Carlton - was born at Bellow's
Falls, Vermont, in 1784, and came to Ohio in 1798.
Was with Judge Kingsbury, near Cleveland,
but came to Burton in 1808. Loalma Cook,
daughter of Deacon Mariman Cook,
was born Feb. 24, 1792. She became Mrs.
Carlton, December 30th, 1809, Esquire
Lyman Benton marrying them. The style
of dress and particular fashion of that day is not
given, but the "setting out" which she received was
considered ample. It reads: 50 acres of land in
the north part of lot 58, $150; tea and bake kettle,
$4.50; crockery, $4.00; 3 small and 1 great chair,
$3.37; 1 set table spoons, $1.00; 2 beds and and bed
clothes, $20.00; 1 fire shovel, $1.00; 1 set knives and
forks, $2.00; 1 pair tongs, $1.75; 15 pounds feathers
and tick, $7.50, making her outfit $45.12. Land in
addition to the above, $64; total land, $214.
They located permanently on lot 79, about 100 rods east
of the Dickerman house, living there until his
death, Sept. 4th, 1823. He was a carpenter, and
also worked at clearing his land.
Of his shooting, Garry Cramton tells,
there was a place where the wolves came near a sheep pen
in the woods, some eighty rods from the house, and he
knew just where the pack centered. One dark night
he heard the continuous howlings, took his rifle and
stepped beside the door, and aimed for the spot from
whence he heard the dismal howls. In the morning
he found a dead wolf, and considered it the best shot he
ever made.
In the war of 1812 he was fifer in Captain
Murray's company.
The widow worked on as best she could to raise seven
boys, all of whom grew up to manhood, under the kind
influences of good moral training. Elisha
died Mar. 15, 1869; Hiram was killed by a boiler
explosion, June 15, 1867, being thrown from Huff's
shop above the trees, into his own yard, his body
falling in the path from the house to the barn;
Merriman was in the Union service from the State of
Iowa, and died Mar. 27th, 1862, near Vicksburg; Asa
died in Aurora, Sept. 27th, 1865. With Amasa
he repaired the old Hoadley saw mill in 1845;
built the Lathan mill in 1848. In 1858 they built the
grist-mill where the Center mill now stands, west of
town; sold to William Bolton in 1864, and
went to Aurora and built a grist-mill, which Amasa
completed in 1866. Amasa, with Andrew
Durand, built the blacksmith shop north of
Carlton's wagon shop, which, was torn down in 1878.
Almon, Hiram, and Merriman
were carpenters; Amasa and John,
blacksmiths; Asa, a wagonmaker, and Elisha
a farmer. Amasa and John live near
together on the street west from the old wagon shop, and
Almon on the east side of the park.
In temperance - the father of these seven boys, set an
example which they
[Page 458]
wisely followed. He always said no, to the social
invitation to drink, so common in that day.
The sons never acquired the habit, but lived temperance
men.
The mother died Oct. 9th, 1873.
1808. Thadeus
Bradley - made his home on lot 15, opposite, and
a little north from Judge Peter
Hitchcock's, where S. C. Hinkston now
resides. He was a soldier in the Revolution, and
many the tales he told. His wife was known as "Aunt
Parnall." They came here about 1808. He
planted an orchard when near the age of 50, and was told
he would not live to see any fruit from it, but at the
age of 75, said he had picked of its bearing many years.
Some of the trees are still standing. The children
were Selah, Nabby, Betsey, Gomer
and Hull. Hull lived north of the
road on lot 8, but later occupied the old home, and died
there May 1, 1863. His sons, Hull and Lawrence
are both practicing medicine. Hull in
Hillsdale, Mich., Lawrence in Horicon, Wisconsin,
many years, and now in California. Thadeus
Bradley died Nov. 16, 1840, aged 84, and his wife
died Jan. 16, 1861, aged 95. They rest in the
family yard with the Williams'.
Hull Bradley - was with Elzar
Cook and cut a hollow tree, falling it to stop the
hole from which a bear could come out. Then, they
punched the bear with a pole and he put his paws out at
a smaller hole, and each dog tried the paws, and had his
nose pealed. They cut the paws off and then cut
the bear out. After his feet were off he would
knock the dogs down with the stub of his paws, and was
too much for them in the fight. The hunters shot
him.
Selah - was a thorough mechanic, and started up
manufacturing of various kinds on the little stream
north of Williams. He was sick with typhoid fever,
it is said forty days, when he got up, walked to the
window and back to the bed and died, Sept. 16th, 1833.
1808. About this time Freeman Hyde moved
on to Oak hill, west of Daniel Dayton's, and had
his first blacksmith shop there. John
Ford went to Parkman with an ox team, and brought
him to town. Afterwards he had a shop west of the
square, and beyond where Dr. Lawyer's barn
stands. He lived on the brow of the hill south of
the square as early as 1814. A Vermonter, with a
fund of wonderful stories, and a very good mechanic, he
could always supply the trade. In later years the
marvelous story-telling grew with him, and the fires of
the imagination were kept aglow as -bright as the irons
from the forge, and it is said that it took a pint of
whiskey to get a horse shod.
1810. Solomon
Charter - located on northwest corner of lot 42,
a little way southwest of Beard's mill. His
wife was Olive, a daughter of Nathan
Parks. He was early engaged with his brother,
John, for Welsh, of Troy, in cutting the first
road toward Burton, and was a great chopper. Born
in Vermont, at Orwell, Apr. 3, 1792, he was yet a boy,
when coming here in 1810.
He told of a wild cat walking on a log, and that a big
deer stood looking at it. He shot the cat and let
the deer go. He learned the distillery trade of
Matthew Fleming.
1810.
Ebenezer Green - came to Burton about this
time, and occupied the house Lyman Durand
had left, and Edwin Ferris tells this
story of him: He made the acquaintance of Henry
Umberfield, Ebenezer Hayes, and
some other Burton men at Maiden, Canada, in this year.
These men were engaged in smuggling across the river
from Malden to Detroit. The authorities in Maiden
arrested Green, Hayes, and, I believe,
another or two, and put them in jail. Harry
Umberfield by some means escaped arrest, and
corresponded with the men in jail, and furnished them
implements to break out of prison. One day they
had a secret passage about completed, and told Henry
Umberfield to meet them, with a boat, at the
shore of the river, at a certain specified hour.
Accordingly, Harry came at the appointed time.
The men had anticipated him, and
[Page 459]
were at the shore before him. When the bow of his
boat touched the shore, Green seized hold of it
and called out: "Who comes here?" Henry,
supposing it to be an officer that was intending to
arrest him, cried out: "God Almighty!" Says
Green: "If it is God Almighty there is no danger; He
will not harm us." So they all got into the boat,
crossed over to Detroit, and shortly after returned to
Burton, Green in company. He used to say:
"I'll not take from a poor
man, but the world owes me a living, and I'll have it.
But, I'll take from such as can afford to spare it."
He was an excellent hand to work, so people would employ
him. He was one of the strongest, and most active
men in Burton. Very few men had any business with
him. Oh "training days" he had great sport,
wrestling and running foot races with the Indians.
There was no Indian who could run or wrestle with Eb.
Green. He ran with "Big Deer," a
fleet-footed Indian, from near the Hickox brick
to where the Store block now stands, and won the race.
The "redskin" said "white man spry."
Before Green came to Maiden, he had lived on the
plantation of Colonel Talbot, an
aristocratic Englishman, at St. Thomas, on the street
running parallel with the shore of Lake Erie, called
Talbot street, after the name of the colonel. When
Green was in jail at Maiden, the old colonel
called to see him, and accosted him with, "How are you,
friend Green; you've got into the right place at
last. You'll not get out of here very soon to
steal sheep and lambs, or grain from me." Green
replies: "D__n you, and your Canada jail. I am
only boarding here a day or two. I can walk out of
here any time I please." Says the colonel: "You'll not
leave these quarters very soon, you thief."
"Fudge," says Green; "you Canadians don't know
enough to build a jail that will hold a Yankee."
And sure enough, the next day but one, Green and
his associates left for Detroit.
1814. Ephraim
Cook. - A deed dated July 13, 1814, from
Samuel Hopson and wife to Ephraim
Cook, was witnessed by David Hill and
Thomas David son, before Lyman
Benton, justice of the peace, and conveys 75 acres,
east half of lot 43, for $600 - $8 per acre.
Cook arrived in June, and planted Yankee corn on
the lot, near the creek, east from the house, and it
ripened in good season. The house was of split
logs, and stood southwest from the present frame house,
which is east of where Horace Cook lives.
The present house was built in 1822. The 25th of
Junes and was being taken out of the bank east from
where the house was to stand. Samuel
Cook, a lad of 7 years, was in the hole. The
bank caved in, and he fell forward on to his face.
Only the head and shoulders were covered, but the ears
and nostrils were packed full of sand. His brother
Horace found him, and called for help, but before
any one came, he was dead.
Mr. Cook was born in Cheshire,
Connecticut, Dec. 21, 1775, and Oct. 16, 1799, he
married Susannah Ives. The children were:
Stephen, born in 1800; Marietta, born Mar.
4, 1802, died Jan. 11, 1870; Harriet, born Sept.
17, 1804; Sally, born June 4, 1807, died Feb. 5,
1860; Julia Ann, born June 24, 1809, died Sept.
12, 1819; Horace, born Sept. 27, 1811; Easter,
born Oct. 12, 1813; Samuel, born Dec. 1, 1815,
died June 25, 1822; Lavina, born Aug. 11, 1819.
Mr. Cook died Jan. 29, 1854. His
wife had gone before, Dec. 27, 1843. They rest in
the lower ground.
Stephen Cook - bought his farm of 118
acres, where Charles Rice now lives, of
Judge Hitchcock, and, Elijah Hayes
says, worked to pay for the whole of it. On it is
a fine sugar orchard, which he worked quite extensively.
He also made brick several years, and finally sold out
and resides in Michigan. His son, Samuel,
was in the service, with the 100 days' men, at Johnson's
island. Ephraim, the second son, was in the
128th Ohio infantry, stationed at John-
[Page 460]
[Page 461]
[Page 462]
running west from H. H. Ford's. He brought
the family through with one pair of oxen in 1822.
Many fine red cattle were grown on his farm, and to this
daythe Devon bloods fat in the same fields. A long
time deacon of the Congregational church, he will be
remembered as an attentive and faithful member, who was
always in his place, the venerable white head giving
dignity to his genial face. He was thrown from a
buggy and soon died.
Robert, his son, was a faithful worker, after
his father, in the church. He has passed away.
Gilum, the 2d son, still lives on the old
homestead.
1822. Burt Jewett
- built a house on lot 28, where the dilapidated orchard
now stands, opposite the Welton school-house. He
married Olive Hayes.
David Jewett. -
A land mark of these times is the lone pine tree near
the river, on lot 29. Close to it David
Jewett built his house, and probably planted the
tree about 1822 or '23.
Some militia men set out before break of day, at the
general muster in 182; to awaken the officers, by
shooting near their houses. A party gathered at
Jonathan Brooks', and fired. Frank
Jewett had his hand blown off.
David Taylor - married Lucy
Russel, and lived on lot 8, east of Merriman's.
About 1834 he and Anson Ford owned a
saw-mill on the Gulf.
1823. Benjamin
Stickney - arrived November 17, from Grafton,
Windham county, Vermont. His wife was Polly,
a sister of Robert Edson. They
rented the farm where Ferris had lived, on lot
84, Oak hill, the summer of 1824, and in August Mr.
Stickney died.
Two sons, Simeon and Elbridge, grew up to
manhood. Elbridge, an upright, sober, and
industrious citizen, has been equal to much hard labor,
and possessed of shrewd intelligence, has contributed
time and money to improve the breeds of cattle, sheep
and poultry, and to fruit growing. Simeon
carried on the harness business. He died Aug. 26,
1879.
Elbridge tells of hunting deer. A section
of bark of a 15 inch tree was cut, and one-half the
shell had a board fitted to it at one end, and the bark
was set upright in the bow of a canoe. A large
candle of tallow and beeswax was set into the board at
the bottom, and the bark shell became a reflector to
throw the light of the candle ahead of the canoe.
The hunters were in the boat, and screened from the bow
by the shadow of the bark. In the summer night
there was no wind, and the canoe floated noiseless down
the red waters of the Cuyahoga. Deer stood in the
water cooling, or feeding on the tall grasses. Merwin
Hoadley drew a bead on one that had watched the
delusive light until the hunter could see his eyes, and
fired. They did not stop for the game, but floated
on to find another shot. The game killed in this
novel way, at night, was picked up the next day.
This boat hunting with lights was quite successful, and
large numbers of deer were killed.
1824.
Brooks Bradley - located in April, on lot 90,
where Reuben Jolly now lives; afterwards
moved to Oak hill. His son, Stephen,
occupies the farm near the pond. He was a brother
of Justus Bradley, the hatter.
Cephus Smith -
first settled east of Bartholemew's, on lot 100.
He was a keen hunter. William Cay
tells of hauling from, the woods, nine deer which he
killed in one day, and Richard Slitor
credits him the same number, in one day's hunt.
Richard V. Slitor -
was born in Chatham, Columbia Co., N. Y., Nov. 24, 1790
and came to Burton in 1826. With an eight horse
team, in the year 1817, he moved the engine, boilers and
anchor from Albany to Buffalo for the first Lake Erie
steamer - "Walk in the Water" - hauling the whole
in three loads of four tons each. One load, by
mishap, slipped off with the wagon into a ditch.
His fellow teamsters brought their spans to his aid, and
when all were hitched, he had 21 horses under one rein,
which he drove with the one line so carefully as to pull
the load safely out.
[Page 463]
Under date of
Nov. 1st, 1879, the Cleveland Herald says: "58
years ago last night (Oct. 31st, 1821) the 'Walk in the
Water' was beached upon the coast near Buffalo.
From Mr. George Williams, the only
passenger of the ill-fated boat now living, a resident
of Cleveland, the Herald obtained a copy of a
paper, signed by passengers of the steamer, expressing
their gratitude to Capt. J. Rogers the officers
and crew for their gallant conduct in saving the lives
of all on board. The terrific storm which was
encountered, threw the boat, heavily laden as she was,
entirely on the beach. The first officer who
sailed her was Captain Fish, of Buffalo, and her
whistle first awakened the echoes of the "old Cuyahoga"
at Cleveland in Sept., 1818."
Mr. Slitor married Amanda A. Dayton
in the year 181 9, and the children that came with them
to find a home "across the river" on lot 96, were
Jerome, Caroline, Moses and Enoch.
Mrs. Slitor was born in Herkimer Co., N.
Y.,, in the year 1800. When he located, just north
of the Troy line, there were only three houses between
his own and the centre of Hiram. Coming into the
country with his family in a two-horse wagon, when he
reached Chardon he had barely six cents in his pocket.
Truman Slitor moved in after him, and then
came the Hubbards and the Silvernails,
In 1829 he began cutting the road from the Troy line
north to where it intersects the road leading to
Parkman, and with the help of others, in 14 days, he had
finished it so as to drive his team through.
In the war of 1812 he was in Capt. Lowell Hutchins'
company, Col. Nellis' regiment, 13th N. Y.
infantry, in the command of Gen. Oliver Collins,
and served 3½ years
to the end of the war. His first discharge was
from the 18 months service, and was written on white
birch bark, which he now has in his posession.
At Sacketts Harbor, at the close of the war, without pay
and 400 miles away, he started out for home, with but 3
cents for fare, on so weary a journey. He had gone
out a boy, and was so long away that his family gave him
up for lost, and supposed he was dead. Returning
rough and ragged, with nothing but his good name as a
soldier, he came to his fathers house and asked shelter
for the night. He was welcomed and fed, but
unknown. What a joy when the old father found his
son was alive, and the mother knew that her boy was home
again.
He cleared up his farm, and remained there until 1861,
when he removed to the village and lived there six
years, afterwads going back to the chosen spot of
his early days, and near by, just over the line in Troy,
he still lives, at the advanced age of 89, and is
vigorous and able to walk to town and back again.
The children born here, are: John E., Amanda
Ann, Fanny M., Richard L., and
George J.
Mrs. Slitor died Mar. 1, 1877. With
him she "walked with" the Methodist church for a time,
but when the Free Will Baptists organized in Auburn,
they united there. Elder Crafts
often held Baptist meetings in the school-house near by,
any the quarterly meetings were held in Mr.
Slitor's barn, and when the school-house was too
full they would adjourn to the barn.
Joel Tuttle
Merriman, - son of Joel Merriman,
was born in Cheshire, Connecticut, Apr. 21, 1804.
He lived at home till nearly 21 years of age, when he
went to work for William Law, and worked
for him eight years, at eight dollars per month.
During this time he met with an accident by which he
came near loosing his life. He was driving a
vicious boar across a field, when the animal attacked
him, mutilating him in a terrible manner. He
managed to escape to the house, exhausted and weakened
by the loss of blood, and at once became unconscious, in
which condition he remained for some time. Under
the medical treatment of that time it was twelve weeks
before his clothes could be removed, and more than a
year before he could resume his labors. He was
married Feb. 13, 1832, to Chloe, a daughter of
Erzra Merriman, with whom,
[Page 464]
the next fall, he came to Burton. They spent the
winter at Myron Beard's, whose wife was a
sister of Mrs. Merriman. The
following spring they secured rooms of Calvin
Williams, where they remained during the summer,
while he began to clear a spot, on which to build a
house, on a piece of land he bought soon after his
arrival in Burton. He moved on to his land, on lot
7, in November, 1833. He used to give two day's
work for one of a man with oxen. His father was
out in 1833, and saw the hard work going on. He
gave Joel $50 to buy oxen, and the son often said
it was the greatest present he ever received.
By industry and economy, he cleared up his land, and
made for himself and family a comfortable and pleasant
home. He had a peculiar fondness for bees, and a
natural tact for their culture, and was never without
them, from the time he purchased his first swarm, before
moving on to his farm, until the day of his
death. He had, at one time, 200 swarms. He sold 75
swarms to go to California. One winter he lost
over 100 swarms, valued at not less than $1,000.
In the dry season of 1845, Mr. Merriman
met a man, in Cleveland, by the name of Chenneworth, of
Harrisburg, O., who told him that he would furnish feed
on which to winter 12 head of cattle, and give him seven
dollars per month, if he would go to Harrisburg, and
work for him during the winter. Having 15 head
of cattle, and only about 600 pounds of hay, he accepted
the generous offer, and took his cattle, returning with
them in the spring, in good condition. The well,
by his house, was singularly affected. One day the
head of his father-in-law, Ezra Merriman,
was seen just at the top of the curb. He was asked
what he had been doing, and answered: "I dropped into
the well; can do it again," and down he went, 30 feet,
into a good depth of water. It is said the well
dried up after that, and is true that a new well was
dug.
Of their children, David, Henry, and
Maria are now living; Jonathan and an adopted
daughter having died. He was for many years a
faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
His strong voice, in songs of praise, will long be
remembered in the meetings. He was a respected
citizen; a generous friend to the needy, and a kind
neighbor.
1834. Joel
Merriman - the father, was born in Cheshire,
Connecticut, in 1777, and moved to Burton in May, this
year, on to lot 8, a portion of which he had bought of
Robert Hotchkiss. He first built a
log house, and the following year, a frame house, in
which his son, Lucius, now lives. There
was, at this time, only a small piece cleared, and on
this many girdled trees were standing.
This year, in Burton, arrived the Gaylords, and
Frederick Hotchkiss.
Lucius Merriman, son of Joel, was
born Apr. 17, 1813, and now lives on the old homestead,
and is engaged in the dairy business. He is a
Methodist, and astrong temperance man. He has
often taken premiums, on cheese, at the county fairs.
In the city of New York, he took the 2d premium of
$17.00, on best dairy make, from forty cows.
Willard Hale -
and his wife, formerly Harriet Merriman,
came to Burton, in 1834, and bought parts of lots 9 and
19, and moved into a log house, but a few years after,
built a frame house. He was an expert chopper, and
took jobs of clearing and fencing land, at ten dollars
an acre. He was a great hunter, and he and Marcus
Eggleston once agreed that they would do no more work,
until they had killed a certain deer they had often
seen. After following him two days, they gave up
the chase. But, about a year afterwards, Mr.
Hale saw him in the midst of a herd of steers,
and shot, wounding him only. He ran into a wheat
field, and trampled down one-fourth of an acre before he
was secured. This was the last deer killed in that
section.
Hewitt - a neighbor of Merriman's north,
in Claridon, was killed, in January, 1841. He went
into his stable, for his horse, and was found by Mrs.
Hewitt, tramped to death.
[Page 465]
1835. Johnson
Sperry - came this year and settled in a house
built by Augustus Benton, on lot 33, on
the road to the Hayes' settlement.
It was moved by Deacon Spring, and is now
the residence of Phillip Silvernail.
To the westward stood a house, built by Nathan
Parks, and long occupied by a Barrett family,
but deserted - lo, these many years! A great
two-story frame, with windows, doors and clapboards
gone, it was cheerless as a skeleton holding its ribs,
on the hill top, in a northwest wind, and seemed to the
boys haunted with spooks and traditions. It is
gone, but its shadows will live through the present
generations. Mr. Sperry was a
blacksmith, and had his shop on the corner near his
house. The children were: Elison, Bennett,
Lydia, Johnson, Charlotte,
Volney, Edwin, and Ellen.
Johnson studied and practiced medicine in the west,
where he died.
Elison Sperry - a great reader, and, by
profession and practice, a musician, lives in Troy.
He married Cynthia Benton, daughter of
Esquire Benton. A good
conversationalist, and full of opposition, he always had
a fund of matter, gained by careful reading, and was
ever ready for discussion of politics, theology, or
general subjects. He still keeps up a lively
interest in the stories of the anti-slavery times and
days of Abbey Kelly and Foster.
He was a great debater, and on one occasion was walking
behind Robert Edson, who carried a lantern.
Mr. Sperry was busy in thought and
argument, and did not notice carefully a plank laid for
a footway across the race, but mistaking a ray of the
lantern for the plank, stepped on the ray and off into
the middle of the race, going down with a splash, and
was wet through, but never, as Mr. Edson
told it, for a moment closed his mouth on the abolition
argument. Going to the mill, he sat by the stove
until the water ran from his clothes in pools on the
floor, and continued the debate until Edson
refused to talk longer with him, unless he went home and
changed for a dry suit. Such was the persistency
of the early abolitionists that water did not chill
their ardor.
Of the Flemings - there
is little record. Matthew had the name of hunting
Indians. It is said the red men were after his
sealp, and his reputation had come from Virginia to the
western lodges. He dared not camp two nights in
the same place. One night, as the story goes, he
smelt Indian, and "slid out" of camp as silenly
as possible. Returning, one day, he saw his own
figure drawn on a tree, and the head gashed with a
tomahawk. His shots were sure, and his stealth
equal to that of the race he helped to drive off.
At a training, one day, he brought his rifle loaded,
which was pointed at a pigeon on tree, and he wagered to
pick its head off. The claim still is, that, at
the crack of his rifle, the pigeon fell headless.
He died Dec. 10, 1831, aged 61, and his wife, Chloe,
May 8, 1821, aged 43. His 2d wife is still living,
and a daughter, Mrs. Root, lives in
Thompson. Nathaniel Fleming died May
27, 1811, aged 93. They sleep by the river.
Some of the early settlers came, staid a little time,
and went away again, leaving little or no record that
can be found. Others came later, and soon passed
away; while many left families settled, and more or less
connected with the later cultivation and interests of
the township. There is neither time nor space for
notice of all, even if it could be obtained, and little
more can be done than a mention of names, that may call
up a recollection of some forgotten one. Amos
Andrews, Sherebiah Burnett, Guy
Carlton, John Charter, Nathan
Hanchet, and Frederick Loveland,
all were said to have been in the rush for the defense
at Cleveland in 1812. Gilbert Loveland,
a son of Frederick, was on the farm near
Pope's mill, on Oak hill. He fell from a load
of hay upon a stump, and was killed.
About 1817 Nathan Ford came, and finally
located in Claridon. Matthias Fox was an
old man. He died Nov. 24, 1S46, aged 84. Ichabod
Brooks
[Page 466]
and David, and the Smiths, Cephus
and Russel, were here early. "Ceph."was
a hunter, and his rifle shot echoed the wood ranges from
Rocky river away to the corner of the township,
beyond where Henry Avery now lives.
The Herendeens - Solomon came early, Seth
later, about 1832.
The Humiston
family were early, and lived in the old Beard or
Law house, by the spring. They were all
prostrate with sickness at one time. Of the sons,
Samuel, Russell and Dewitt are
dead. Luther resides in California. Vanduzer
was a trader, and the store was long called after
his name. Doolittle made hats in the old
house where the brick block now stands. Edward
Collins was over west, and Deacon
Septimus Witter stopped here for a time.
Silas Gaylord
- the elder, lived and died on the corner where Mrs.
Silas Gaylord, jr., now lives.
He was a shoemaker, a kind old man, and used to crimp
and peg away in the back chamber of the story and a half
house. His family were: Hiram, Hannah,
Raymond, Silas, Lydia, William,
Oliver, Samuel, Hiram, and
Samuel.
Then there were the Stoddards, north of
Hitchcock's, by the brook. The Tolles,
on the farm where Seth Hayes, jr., had built,
east of Russel's, and, from the family went out
Goodwin S., now living in Michigan, and
Colonel William R., so well known in the late war,
now living in California.
John Tuttle -
married "Abby" Tolles, and lived on Oak
hill, and afterwards in the Stone house, "over the
river," where Albert J., second son, now lives.
Ransom, the eldest son, served as captain in the
army, and is now at Knoxville, Tennessee, in the iron
business.
Nathan - a brother of John's, was a
partner with Silas Gaylord, jr., in
trade. He had carried on tailoring. He was a
singer, and fond of music.
Ezra Merriman
- a hard working man, swept into the forests and did
much clearing on the farm where Monroe Moore
now resides. He had a bad taste for "old rye" and
cider. Losing his wife, he gave way to the monster,
drink, and was squandering the household goods.
One Sunday morning his daughters, Hannah and
Chloe, started out with Almira Chatfield
and her brother Lucius, and in company with
Marcus, Garry and Abel Cramton,
William and Orrin
Dickinson, went^our miles through the woods, half
terrified with the thought of wild beasts, and more
scared at the thought of the depredations they had
premeditated. Coming to the log house, they broke
the padlock and entered. Each one, loaded with
beds, bedding, clothing, and other valuables, beat a
retreat from that house, carrying their stores to the
garret of Major Isaac Chatfield's
house, in Middlefield. From there they were
afterwards distributed to Merriman's four
daughters. This action, with felonious intent,
might have landed all these youngsters at the mercy of
the court, but the boys were brave, and the girls equal
to so hazardous a Sabbath morning excursion. The
affair passed off as a raid for the saving of property.
Merriman used scripture names, and his repeat of
the Ammonites, the Jebusites, and the Canaanites - well,
well; here I say, the "Amelekites, and the Hittites"
come back to the boys who heard his singular tongue when
the imagination was fired up. "Rochester"
Brown. What a rough man he was, with his drove
of long-tailed colts down by the west branch.
There he had a sill laid for a mill on the west road to
Oak hill, and his house stood in the lee of the wood,
where he built it, siding up with plank grooved and
jointed together with inch strips for tongues, and
pinned on and where he made red sleds, on yokes, and
cradles. Hiram, his son, lives east, by the
old Fowler saw-mill. James Goff was
here, and Titus Goff, a quiet and
much-respected citizen, lived a long time on the
Ephraim Clark place, north from Russel's
and is now in Troy, and Solomon Leach, who
married a Fowler and raised five boys, all of
whom served in the front rank of the Union army.
Frederick Hotchkiss located on the
[Page 467]
Punderson road, on Oak hill, and at an advanced
age, is still where he settled. Beyond him was the
home of Hopkins Johnson, with whom lived
Chauncy H. Talcott, a faithful student and devoted
teacher, who was lieutenant in the 41st Ohio, and
Earl, his brother, the ox teamster, who still
believes in a good pair of cattle, for a good day's
work, or for mill and meeting. "Uncle Hopkins,"'
as the boys used to call him, forgot not the church, nor
the prayer meeting in his day. And there was "Uncle"
Robert Burnett, where Sherebiah now
lives, who
lived to be 88, 50 years of which, he spent in town,
dying Jan. 23, 1879, and then Justin Melvin,
and now Williams and Young in that
neighborhood. "Old Gesar," a colored man, settled
down there, and was great on raising blooded colts.
South was Evarts by the Little pond, and
east, the Chapmans still take pride in the big
pumpkins, high corn, and fat cattle of a good farm.
"Over the river" were the Hubbards, Hutchins,
and Miles Williams came in somewhere -
Booth's was east, Bates' south, and
Stephen Boom, who wore nohat, was near the
Run, and had a brother, Jesse, west of Beard's
mill, where the hemlocks shaded his retreat, with the
gang of counterfeiters, for so many years.
James Slitor is named, and there was
Reuben Brown, the father of James
Brown and Thomas, who lives on the Miner
place, and is a rich farmer, a lover of fine horses, and
has been town trustee.
Nathan Truman
- had his shop where the road turns to Punderson's
mill, and made shoes. His son, Morris,
still continues the trade, and has been in the service
of the town as constable. Nathan was funny,
and sent a boy, who was hunting for his dog which he
claimed had been stolen, to Rev. Mr.
Witter. He told the boy that Parson
Witter would deny, but to charge him with it, and
stick to it, and he would get his dog. Witter
denied, but the boy persisted, until asked who sent him.
He said "Nat" Truman. Witter
laughed, undedeceived the boy, and took the joke
in good part.
Samuel Forrow
who used to build houses here, the father of Asher
and Lester. Their mother, Mrs.
Lucretia Forrow, lived to the age of 81 -
dying Oct. 19, 1878. There were the Huffs -
the father, a large bony man, with strong voice, and odd
ways, and the son, Lawrence, a good workman, who
was ever hammering away in his blacksmith shop.
It is said Abner Doolittle brought the
first buggy in town, and Mr. Huff took
pattern from it, and built one strong enough for the new
roads. It weighed 720 pounds.
Beyond, on the hill, was Gould, who worked at
wagon-woods, where George Strickland now lives;
and below him, on the side hill, Baron, the
harness maker, lived so long.
With that endless name - Smith—this chapter
closes. It will be many a day before Burt
is forgotten. Through past generations, he has
walked all the ways of Burton. Houseless and
homeless in his wanderings, he has never failed to need
a little money for tobacco, which was always
appropriated to suit his own tastes, and his wits have
been so sharpened that his sayings have a droll sarcasm
that invites men and boys to let him alone, if they have
no pity for him in his forlorn and hopeless old age.
Some households are kind to him, and Burt Smith
will not forget them till the old hand is cold, and the
last night's rest is come.
BURTON EARLY RECORD.
1803. Sometimes
a township took its name in honor of some one of the
original owners. Titus Street had a large
interest in the first purchase. He was a father,
and waving his own claim, allowed it to be called after
his son, whose name was Burton Street.
Seth Burton (now living) is authority for
this, and was corroborated by Ira Hoadley.
Kirtland makes no mention of the set-
[Page 468]
dement in Mentor, in 1798, but it is claimed to have
been in June, while here it was the 15th of June, and
the Harpers were first at Unionville or
Harpersfield June 28, of that year. In 1800, "for,
the purposes of better government of the scattered
settlers," a committee of the court of Trumbull county
set off. Munson, Claridon, Huntsburgh,
Middlefield, Burton, Newbury, Auburn, Troy and Parkman,
to Middlefield. On the formation of Geauga county
in 1806, all
this territory constituted the township called Burton,
and probably Bainbridge, Russel and Chester were added.
In that far away time its borders reached over the 12
southern towns, but now it names only the title to five
miles square of the original land. The public
square, on which have been held trainings, colt and
cattle shows, circuses and many gatherings of interest,
was a gift from the first owners, to the town, as was
also the land for streets in the town plat. Oct 5, 1803,
the deed was made to Ephriam Clark and the
rest of the inhabitants of Burton for a valuable
consideration:
"Beginning on the line that runs north and south through
the center of said Burton at southeast, corner of lot
No. 25, thence south to the south line of lot No. 45,
and to be 4 rods wide on each side of said line; and to
begin at the southwest corner of lot 35, thence, east to
the southeast comer of lot 36, and to be 4 rods wide on
each side of said line. Also from the intersection
of these two roads 40 rods north and 15 rods south, and
15 rods east and 15 rods west, making 55 rods north and
south and 30 rods east and west, for a public square.
Plat to have 3 roads each way and on all sides. 40
rods distant from each other, the outer to be 120 rods
from the centre." Signed by Andrew Hull
jr., Benjamin Doolittle, Turhand
Kirtland, Titus Street, Thomas
Umberfield, Amoriah Beard and
Simon Rose, of Burton, in the township of
Middlefield. Law signed for Hull and
Doolittle as attorney, Kirtland for Street.
CIVIL ORGANIZATION
1802. The first
election was held, at Middlefield, in 1802. It is
probable that Benjamin Johnson was elected then,
as he was the first justice of the peace; Joseph
Clark, the second, and the third was Eleazer
Hickox, commissioned Sept. 12, 1806, as
given in his recollections.
1806. On the first Monday in April, were chosen:
Samuel Hopson |
|
Town Clerk |
Justus Miner,
George Wallace,
Joseph Clark |
} |
Trustees |
David Hill, |
|
Appraiser |
David Barrett |
|
Lister. |
Isaac
Thompson,
Jonathan Brooks |
} |
Overseers of the
Poor. |
Uri Hickox, |
|
Constable. |
Seth Hayes,
Noah Pate, |
} |
Fence Viewers |
Five, |
|
Road
Supervisors. |
This election
was ordered by the commissioners, in session at New
Market, Mar. 6, 1806, to be held in the academy at
Burton.
An old poll book, evidently written by Peter
Hitchcock, certifies to an election, held Aug. 31,
1809, at which Eleazer Patchin, Marmion Cook, and
Thomas Heathman were judges, and Peter
Hitchcock and Samuel Hopson, clerks, attest:
That the
election was for justice of the peace, and that the
number of electors amounts to sixty-five, majority.
The names of sixty-five electors only are given, as
follows: Vene Stone, Eleazer Patchin, Marimon
Cook, Benjamin Johnson, Chauncey Warner, David Barrett,
Theodore Roys, Uri Hickox, Andrew Durand, Stephen
Pomeroy, Joseph Noyes, Justin Bradley, Peter Hitchcock,
Daniel Hayes, Jacob Burton, Freeman Hyde, Amanah Beard,
Lyman Durand, Asa Wilmot, Simeon Rose. George Wallace,
Samuel Burton, Henry Umberfield, Calvin Williams, Seth
Hayes, Eli Hayes. Ebenaw Hayes, Isaac Thompson, Eli
Fowler, Daniel Townsley, John Bigelow, Bazalel Cohon,
William Barker, James Heathman, Luther Russell, Jonathan
Heathman, Guy Carlton, Adolphus Carlton, Silas Young,
Amos Andrews, James Thompson, Bennett Heathman, Stephen
Herriman, Elnathan Wilcox. John Wallace, l'aul
Clapp, I.evi Hardy, John Cohon, Nathan Parks, Ezra
Brant, Isaac Fowler, Hezekiah King, Noah Page, Daniel
Dayton, Thomas Umberfield. Matthew Fleming, Gideon
Finch.
[Page 469]
Thomas Heathman, John Ford, Thaddeus Bradley,
Jedediah Beard, Eleazer Hickox, John Cook,
Samuel Hobson, Joseph Johnson.
Eleazer Hickox had 41; Lyman
Benton, 30; George Wallace, 16;
Joseph Clark, t1; Thomas Heathman, 11;
Samuel Hopson, 2; Peter
Hitchcock, 1; Jedediah Beard, 4;
Paul Clapp, 5; Isaac Thompson, 4;
Gideon Finch, 3; James Thompson,
1. In all, 129 votes were cast. Hickox says
he was elected.
The fact of there being votes cast for 12 different
candidates, or persons, shows as much difference of
feeling, or interest, as has been manifest at any time
since.
A constable's bond was put at $400, as early as Apr. 2,
1810. Hezekiah King gave bond, with
John McNough surety - Marimon
Cook and Thomas Heathman, witnesses.
1812. October 13, Simeon Rose,
Marimon Cook, and Jonathan Brooks,
judges; Benjamin Johnson, and Peter
Hitchcock certify to sixty votes cast, and make
returns:
J. Meigs,
for Governor |
60 |
votes. |
John S.
Edwards, for Congress |
59 |
votes. |
Peter
Hitchcock, for State Senate |
56 |
votes. |
Samuel
Huntington, for State Senate |
1 |
vote. |
Samuel S.
Baldwin, for State
Representative |
56 |
votes. |
James
Montgomery. "
" " |
45 |
votes. |
James A.
Harper,
" "
" |
2 |
votes. |
Noah Page,
for County Commissioner |
49 |
votes. |
John Ford,
" "
" |
4 |
votes. |
Elisha
Norton, for Sheriff |
57 |
votes. |
Samuel
Punderson, for Sheriff |
1 |
vote. |
Nathaniel
Spencer, "
" |
1 |
vote. |
Isaac Palmer,
for Coroner |
56 |
votes. |
Elijah Risley,
for Justice of the Peace |
53 |
votes. |
Gideon Finch,
" "
" |
18 |
votes. |
Lyman Benton,
" "
" |
41 |
votes. |
Eleazer
Patchen, "
"
" |
1 |
vote. |
John Hopkins,
" "
" |
1 |
vote. |
Without further
inquiry as to the interests, political or personal, so
often awakened at town elections, the years are passed,
and 1879 finds
George W. Jaques,
Charles J. Scott |
} |
Justices of the Peace. |
H. C. Tuttle,
|
|
Town Clerk. |
R. N. Ford, |
|
Treasurer. |
George Phillips, |
|
Assessor. |
Andrew Fen,
Michael Kinney,
H. E. Ford, |
} |
Trustees. |
Porter Jacques,
Webb M. Beard |
} |
Constables. |
And Fifteeen |
|
Supervisors of Highways. |
Celebrating
Independence Day - in the earlier years, called the
people from a distance. Peter Hitchcock
and Joseph Noyes are remembered as giving
toasts, as far back as 1811, when the Indians gathered
with the whites.
Whiskey - was common at raising of buildings and on
public occasions. It came to be a custom on the
4th of July to have a "colt show." The people
would range themselves on either side of the highway,
north and south, through the square, and the owners of
colts would lead, ride or drive them between the two
lines, for exhibition. On the judges' decision,
the owners of 1st or 2d best colts would pay a premium
of one or two gallons of whiskey, and as there were
colts of various ages passed upon, the whiskey flowed
freely, and was generously consumed by the bystanders.
It is an open question whether the crowd came most to
see the colts or drink a full supply of the enlivening
spirits. So well established this custom became,
that owners, confident in the success of their colts,
would economize by taking full jugs from home, and if
they won, or not, no whiskey was left for them to carry
home. What a contrast between the largely attended
peaceable celebrations and well conducted fairs of this
later and more enlightened day.
[Page 470]
INDIANS.
1814.
Anything like authentic record of these people is very
meagre. They trailed along the river, and had
stopping places or camps - one near the lower burial
ground, by the Cuyahoga, and on the sand knoll across
the river, south, a place for their dead. The
tribe names remembered were the Delawarts, Tonawandas,
and Massasaugas. Red Jacket was here quite early.
Near where Nathan Truman now lives was a
camp in 1804. One night a squaw went to the brook,
east, for water, drank it and died. The Indians
thought her poisoned. There was some little
thought of civilization and change of custom shown in
coming to John Ford and Asa
Wilmot for a coffin. They made a box, and on
Sunday went to see her buried. With the body, the
Indians put in "nubbins" of corn and pieces of bread, to
feed her on the way to the other world, and a pipe and
tobacco to smoke. For burial they carried her
across the bridge to the sand knoll south, and on the
right of the road. After covering the grave with
earth, five Indians raised their guns over the grave,
pointed westward to the going down of the sun, and
fired, to tell the friends in the other world she was
coming. They drove stakes and put up poles, with a
cover of bark above the grave, which was there when
Stephen Ford came in 1807. No doubt,
Harry Umberfield pointed out this spot to
this wondering youth, with stories of wild red men, as
he came, on the last day's journey from Warren, through
the woods. They made sugar on the flats southeast
of Conant's, on the Hickox farm,
towards the river. They had a fine "bush" of large
hard maples, on the field where James Humiston
had corn in 1878. He plowed through the boiling
places and turned up charred stone and wood.
Hickox says, the Indians helped to feed the first
settlers the winter of 1798-9, or they would have
starved.
There was quite a village on the east bank of the
Cuyahoga swamp, northeast of where Obed Wicks
now lives. It was on a sandy rise of land, and the
marks of the camp can still be recognized. The
knoll is seen from the Middlefield road, about 100 rods
north, and near the east line of the farm. There
they wintered, hunted and trapped, having brought their
corn and beans from the Sandusky region, where they went
in summer to plant and fish. When elk were plenty,
they were driven out of the swamp in great numbers and
ran by the deer lick, where the Indians had sunk pits
and hid within. From these pits they would fire on
the running herds, and many an elk went down.
After their shots, their savage whoops and yells filled
the woods. Esquire Thompson, the
hunter, told that he had shot 100 deer at that salt
lick.
Daniel Dayton's house was convenient to
the river. The Indians came there drunk, and
ate everything in the house, and were so noisy as to
alarm Mr. Dayton, who was in the field.
He came, and with an "ox gad" threshed them out, and
they went off. In a day or two they returned and
apologized for their conduct.
As late as 1814, Julia Barnes saw two or
three Indians sitting on a log near Freeman
Hyde's house, as her father's family came up
Burton hill, on their arrival in the country. They
Indians did not remain long after the close of the war
of 1812. The Flemings were called Indian
hunters, and the Reddings are said to have
followed the last of these departing "sons of the
forest," down the Cuyahoga, and on nearly to Cleveland.
Neither squaw, nor papoose, nor painted hunter appeared
again.
ROADS.
1798. The first road was
cut from lot 11 to lot 35, as has been noticed, by the
company's men, June 25th, two miles, and finished the
next day. It ran fro the "Old garden" to the "west
branch," north of Eli Hayes', and across
[Page 471]
[Page 472]
[Page 473]
MILLS.
1798. One of the first
things sought in a new country is a mill site.
Friday, June 22, Kirtland says they were 2¼
miles down the West branch, and found what they supposed
to be a good site for a mill.
1799. June 8, Isaac Clark and his company
arrived to build the mills. The dam was built this
season, the settlers contributing labor upon it.
In August, Seth Hayes bought the irons and gear
at Pittsburgh, and John Moss brought them from
Fort McIntosh, at the mouth of the Big Beaver, with an
ox team. This was the gear for a saw-mill.
In the fall of 1799, Col. Jedediah Beard traded
for the property, and in June of 1800, the log mill was
completed and started. It took the name, and has
always been known as Beard's almost 80 years ago.
The grist-mill was begun the summer of 1800.
Kirtland mentions going with Thompson to the
mill, July 7th, to find a place for a sill. It was
a separate building of logs, but only a few feet from
the saw-mill, at the north end. It was burned down
very early, and never rebuilt. Alfred Beard
writes that it was used not more than three or four
years. It is probable that Nathan Parks
worked out the stones for this mill, from the granite
boulders of the surface, as he came with the mill men.
The saw-mill is said to have been the first one on the
Reserve.
Kirtland mentions Isaac Fowler going to
Abbottstown, Monday, the 17th of September, 1798, and
July 16, 1799, Kirtland "put up" at David
Abbott's, at Chagrin. A paper sent in by
Orrin Harmon of Ravenna, in September, 1878, says
that his father, Elias Harmon, went with an ox
team and sled, by way of Cleveland, to Abbott's
mill to get flour for Ebenezer Sheldon, of
Aurora, and that he was there July 12th, 1799, and that
the mill was then in operation, and that it was built
the fall before, being the year 1798. Mr.
Harmon often heard his father tell this, and finds
the date of his being at the mill, in an old diary kept
by his father. According to this date,
Abbott's must have been the first grist-mill on the
Western Reserve.
The year 1805 was dry. Eli Hayes and two
boys went through Wooster (since called Chester) to
Abbott's mill, on the Chagrin river. He was
gone two days. Jonathan Brooks overtook him
in Wooster, with 4 bushels of wheat, on horseback.
The 2d Grist-mill - was on the run near Austin
Conant's half a mile east of the square, and was
operated by Matthew Fleming, who had there a
whiskey still earlier than 1810 and it continued in
1826. Judge Taylor's address mentions
Fleming's whisky tax as $81.62 for the year 1818.
It was used about 1830 by David Earl for "fulling
cloth," and also worked as a carding machine.
Edward Rice, when a small boy, brought the bunches
of wool for some twenty neighbors here to be carded.
Cider brandy was about its last product. Only a
few yeas since, still on its "last legs," one morning, a
year or two ago, it fell down. Born a still, it
died a still.
1816. This year the grist mill known as
Edson's, was built west of town, on Hopson's
creek, by Robert Edson and
James Gilmore,
where the Burton center mill still stands. The
Carlton mill was burned there in 1875. When
the water was low, a tread power was used, and oxen went
round to do the grinding. Edson had a
saw-mill, distillery, and blacksmith shop near by.
1820. - James Gilmore - built a saw-mill on the west
branch, and soon after, his grist-mill, where
Alderman now continues sawing and grinding.
The grist-mill was rebuilt south of the first location.
The 2d Saw-mill - was on Hopson's creek,
and long known as Williams'. It
[Page 474]
was built by Calvin Williams, Thaddeus
Bradley, Asa Wilmot, and Selah
Bradley. Adonijah Bradley was
millwright. He worked for Punderson, at the
Rapids. Afterwards his mind was unbalanced, and he
wandered in the woods three days, froze his feet, both
of which had to be amputated. He was a good
workman and continued his trade.
Selah Bradley - had the 2d still on the
Claridon road, north of the fork, by the brook. On
the stream west of the Chardon road, some distance, he
had a saw-mill, pearl ash factory, wool carding works,
and machinery for making wrought nails, all under the
same roof, all of which were stopped by his death.
Another still is spoken of on the Wilmot
place, by the brook, one and a halt miles north of
the square, but they have all passed, may it be hoped,
forever away.
The saw-mill, east of town, it is claimed, was built by
Eli Fowler, on lot 50, in 1816. It
is now owned by Hiram Brown.
David Taylor and Anson Ford
had a saw-mill about 1834, at the head of Welton's
gulf, on No. 19. In 1840 the flutter wheel and its
mill went down the gulf into the darkness of its great
rocks.
South of the Cuyahoga, on Rocky run, Henry
Stull, who was a great hunter, built a saw-mill in
an early day. Later, below this, Merwin
Hoadley and Truman Slitor built the 2d
mill. The 3d was built by James Peffers;
the 4th by George Boom, and the 5th by
Asa and Amasa Carlton. It is now
owned and run by N. P. Latham.
Michael Kinney - has had a steam saw-mill
in operation some years, on lot 68, and another buzzes
and whistles just west of Beard's blacksmith
shop, in the shade of that grand old maple, owned by
Beard & Hoxter.
At the mouth of the gulf, coming in from Newbury, north
of Hickox's, Oliver Olney built a
carding machine. Solomon Herendeen
lived there and helped to build the works. They
used "teasels" for dressing off the cloth.
Woolen works were operated across the stream from
Beard's mill, quite extensively at one time.
Myron Burnett is remembered there.
Finally, Deacon Spring came to control
them.
In the fall of 1879, since the foregoing was written,
Messrs. Wells & Co., of
Pennsylvania, built a mill near the "old Umberfield
spring," where they set to work, cutting logs into
handles for forks, hoes, rakes, etc., and will no doubt
add stave and other machinery, to run with humming saws
that cut away, in the rapid round of manufacture.
BLACKSMITHS.
A Mr. Scoville had the first
shop in town, east near Conant's. Freeman
Hyde opened first on Oak hill, about 1808, and his was
the second shop. Afterwards he located at the turn of the road to Oak hill,
just west of Dr. Lawyers, and hammered away. Later, set up right at the top
of the hill near George
Carltons. A Mr. Woolsey had a shop north of Eli Hayes,
and later had a
shop in the forks of the road north towards Claridon. He
was a good work
man. Then Rufus Hoadley's shop near Chellis, then
Merwin
Hoadley and Andrew Durand, and Weatherbee, Lawrence Huff, John
and Amasa Carlton, Solomon Charter, Herendeen and
Harlow Charters. All
these about the Carlton's corners. Aaron
Beard started a shop west of the
Methodist church in the
old academy. The last ox-frame, for shoeing, stood
unused in Solomon Charter's shop, for many years.
WAGON SHOPS.
The first was built by Augustus
Rose and Lucius Chatfield, who began
carriage making. This shop, at last was used for a
plaining mill. An explosion occurred June 15th,
1867, which threw the boiler over the tops of trees and
20
[Page 475]
rods away, carrying with it the body of Hiram Carlton
who was killed. Lawrence Huff was so badly
injured that he died. The Carlton brothers,
Hiram and Asa, erected a large shop at the
corners, and for a time did a good business.
Andrew Fowler carried on the trade many years
and still has a bench there. George
Carlton works there now. Beard's have a
new shop and painting room "up town."
CARPENTERS.
First in Burton
was John Ford and Asa Wilmot,
an apprentice, in 1804. Then David Hill,
who built the Beals tavern for Gideon
Finch; also, Thomas Davidson and Abel
Cramton; then the Nettletons, Merritt
and John, and Selden Brooks, of the
early ones. Later, A. B. Carlton, G.
Cramton, Henry Silvernail, Seth
Herendeen, Monroe Herendeen, A.
Johnson, R. Cramton, L. Crittenden,
and other names not recalled.
CABINET MAKERS.
"Old Uncle Whitman,"
said to be the first, worked in the bar-room of the
Peter Beals tavern; then had his shop where
Mrs.
Bishop now lives, and old
furniture in several homes bears marks of his skill as a
workman. Benjamin Judd and Mr.
Spencer kept shop near the old Beach store;
Johnson & Sherwood, then D. L. Johnson, where the
Slitor store now
stands, and then on the
site of the brick block, and now Levi Johnson works at
the trade. John Slitor
occupies the Gaylord store, west side of the street, and
does a flourishing business in furniture, and also in groceries.
David Hitchcock worked at the trade,
and sold the cabinet shop to Boughton, which was so long
after used for a store.
COOPERS.
In the cellar, or sidehill
room, on the site where Thomas Brown lives,
Asahel
Barnes set up shop, and afterwards had shop on lot 8;
then Eggleston on No.
9. For many years Porter and George
Jaques coopered, and
Elbridge Stickney wore a leather apron daily from the shop. Now,
George Jaques and Asher
Forrow shave and hoop. There were others, not recalled,
and early settlers
learned to bend and notch their own hoops.
SHOEMAKERS.
The first was John Cook, with
whom was associated, at a later day, his brother Hiram; then
Marimon Cook. After him, 1816, was Shipman,
in Edson's hollow, then at Gilmore's. He had a contract for thousands
of shoes. On this
contract worked Joseph Nash and Miles
Williams, in John Cook's shop, who
furnished the stock. Shipman bet he could bottom as many
shoes in a day as
both Nash and Williams. He did 22, and they 24 shoes.
Truman Cramton was with Williams two years. Then
Silas Gaylord, sr.,
and Nathan Truman,
and after him Joseph Hinkston, and then Ansel Burnett;
and now J. B. Newman and C. J. Heathman.
STONE MASONS.
Simon Moss is
first mentioned. He was a workman considerably
known in his time, and was employed on Dr.
Goodwin's house. Later was Titus
Goff, and now George W. Jaques cuts stone.
BRICK YARDS.
Hayes says the first bricks
were made by William Lyons, near to and on the
south side of the Parkman road, across the river, and
south of the present Troy
road, about 20 rods. Mr. Grannison, a colored man, also
worked that yard.
Another, north and west of Williams' mill-pond - one west
of Gilum Hotchkiss',
where Goodwin's bricks were made: one by Eli
Fowlers;
another west, worked
by Stephen Cook; another west of Beard's mill where
Solomon Herendeen lived.
[pg. 476]
The clay and water was mixed, in early day, by oxen
tramping around in a tread. Near the 1st one, the
brick for the present block was made.
CHEESE FACTORIES.
1st one stands
near the spring, where the "Umberville Coffee House" was
built, called Plymouth, built by
L. J. Randall.
The 2d, called Torrey, on lot 2, the old Wooster
place.
OFFICES, POSTMASTERS, AND MAILS.
The nearest post-office, at first, was
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. There is no data showing
that Gideon Finch was, but it is though he
was postmaster, and about 1814 Peter Beals
was appointed, and continued to 1830, then James
Peffers had it 16 years; then John T. Johnson;
after him, Sherwood and D. L. Johnson;
then Joseph R. Johnson (Taylor's
administration); after him, George Boughton;
again D. L. Johnson; after him H. S. Tolles;
then Myron G. Manly; now, Chalmer J. Scott.
Hiram Fowler was a mail carrier, and on
the route from Ravenna to Cleveland, the 7th day of June
1816, he encountered a severe snow storm and suffered
with the cold. It snowed in Burton on the 6th.
Crops were cut off, and great fears fell upon the
people, because of the loss, and danger of scarcity of
food for the next winter. Seth Burton
says there were 12 frosts in June of that year.
The winter of 1826 the mail boy came to Beals,
minus the bag. It had fallen from the horse, and
went down through the Cuyahoga bridge, on the ice.
Elbridge Stickney, and others, went back with the
boy. The ice would not hold him up. They
lifted one of the puncheon planks, and letting him down,
head first, held on to his heels until he fished up the
mail, then pulled him out. Edward Rice
carried the mail from Ravenna to Chardon, on the old
State road, when but 12 years old, on horseback - a trip
from daylight to 9 and 10 o'clock
at night. Once four spirited horses started off
from Pinney's tavern, with the coach and
one lady in it. The reins were looped over the break.
They ran to the top of the old hill, and straight down
by where Freeman Brown now lives, and
thundering onto the bridge, before they brought up,
giving the lady a terrible fright, but doing no very
serious damage.
TAVERNS.
1798. The first
was the "Umberville Coffee House," by the Umberfield
spring. 2d, by Gideon Finch, where
Esquire Merriam now lives, and where
Peter Beals kept many years; then Umberfield
and Clark Howard, west side of square, on
the corner where the Exchange now stands; afterwards
Clitus Finney kept it in good style. It
was burned in 1843. The fire was supposed to have
been thrown in at the north door of the hay loft of the
barn, and burned rapidly in the breath of the north
wind. Pinney lost a fine carriage. The mail
coach and horses were burned - some seven horses in all.
The intent was to injure the mail contractor, it was
supposed. The house and barn was a total loss to
Esquire Hickox of $1,500. He rebuilt
in 1845. Hickox's brick house,
built in 1838, was occupied as a hotel, while the new
tavern was being constructed.
Then G. Cramton built, first, where is now the
Brewster house, north of the brick block.
It was enlarged to the present size by Almon Carlton,
now owned and kept by Seth Brewster.
The Exchange was rebuilt by John B. Corey, a
graduate of Oberlin, who used it for boarding students.
1878, it was a temperance house, conducted by George
Thompson.
MERCHANTS.
1802. This year, the first
storekeeper, J. S. Cleveland, had goods in the
frame house where the Hickox brick now stands.
It is claimed he came in
[pg. 477]
1800. Then Hickox, 1804, south of
Peffer's house. About 1807, Hall &
Bradley, hatters, came to start a shop. Hall was
disappointed in business and hung
himself. After Bradley came Doolittle.
Almon and Hiram Clark were here
early. James Converse, Hickox, and Jacob
Vanduzer, all
traded in a store on
the corner where Parmele's hardware now stands.
Vanduzer
died in 1836, and Samuel Humiston kept in the same store.
Noah Hall was in
trade here, where Carlos Williams now lives, He removed to Canton, Ohio,
and was robbed and
murdered in his store. James Peffers began early where
Dr. Lawyer now lives,
and afterwards long continued trade in the front of his
own house.
1831. Richard Beach - came to Burton, and was in
partnership with Boughton and Peffers. The
Beach stores still stand on the west
side of the street, and Boughton's is now used for a banking office. Both these
men continued steadily in trade, and became rich. Joseph
Johnson, a man
highly esteemed in all
circles, was a partner with Boughton about 1850, and
after his death Silas Gaylord;
then S. C. Ford and Marcellus Cook, and then
George H.
and R. N.
Ford. Gaylord was a thorough business man, on hand early
and late. He
built the store where John Slitor now trades.
Mr. Beach
associated with him
the Tolles, and also, for a time, Silas Gaylord. He was
a remarkably good
business man, and conducted for many years a heavy
trade. Unassuming in
manner, and pleasant in his ways, his customers found
him prompt and attentive
to business at all hours. He erected a large house on
the corner next to his
store. In digging the cellar for it, a great chestnut
stump, said to be eight feet
across the top, was removed. George Strickland was at
one time working for
him in digging a well, by the house. It was 33 feet
deep. Strickland fell from
the top to the bottom, striking his feet on solid rock. He was crippled for some
time.
G. Cramton, S. C. Hotchkiss, R. Tuttle, J. Johnson, the
Hydes, and others,
did business. W. J. Ford started the first hardware and
tin store in 1855; Dr.
Cleveland the first drug store about 1857.
The first tailor was William Neal, a Manxman; afterwards
Reuben Welton, Wicks, Tuttle, Dyke, and others, and now
Tolles & Tuttle
keep a man employed. Long ago many a woman pressed the "goose" on her
"cut and fit" of
homespun.
Simeon Stickney conducted a harness shop nearly all his
life, some 50 years,
and was last on the west side.
In the brick block P. W. and Frank Parmele, brothers,
are selling hardware; Tolles & Tuttle, clothing, and boots and shoes;
Scott &
Burleigh, drugs and
groceries; E. E. Nash, dry goods; Cleveland &
Crittenden, drugs and groceries; S. M. Dayton, jewelry, and
Forshee, harnesses; and
across the way: Mrs. Milo
White, millinery; Turner & Hungerford, meat market;
E.
J. Slitor, furniture; Miss Alice Smith, dressmaker;
Miss Mills, milliner, and
W. H. Reed, livery
stable.
BOUGHTON, FORD AND CO., BANKERS.
1872. This firm, as
organized in 1856, was composed of George Boughton,
S. C. Ford, and John M. Cook. Their business was that of
a general country
store, dealing in produce and wool to a considerable
extent. In 1862 the firm
was dissolved by the death of Mr. Cook. In 1864,
S. C.
Ford withdrew, to
enter the wholesale business in Cleveland. Mr.
Boughton
then associated his
two nephews, George H. and R. N. Ford, with him, and the
business was contined,
without change of name or style of business, until 1872,
when Col. H. H.
Ford entered the concern, and a banking institution was
organized under same
name. The bank was a result of two things: First, the
great decline in value
of merchandise had rendered merchandising unprofitable;
second, a portion of
[pg. 478]
the large amount of money then in circulation had
already found its way into
their hands as deposits, and the business grew upon
them in such a way that,
before they were aware of it, the Internal Revenue
officers were upon them, and
informed them that they were liable to the government as
bankers. This, more
than anything else, suggested the idea, or rather the
necessity, of changing their
style of buisiness. So it was a result of growth of
business, and of the need of
an institution of the kind, rather than of any design or
premeditation on the
part of the firm. Miss Ella S. Dayton has been their
efficient, reliable and
faithful bookkeeper since October, 1874. The business is
larger than would be
expected in a place of the size of Burton.
PROFESSIONAL MEN.
It is possible that the two
foremost men of the township, Judge Peter
Hitchcock and Seabury Ford, had so extensiive a reputation as
lawyers, and in the
wider field of politics, as to dwarf the aspirations of
succeeding generations.
Since their day, no lawyer has held to a regular
practice in Burton. Of their
eminence and ability, notice is made in the biographical
sketches. G. H. Ford practices occasionally.
C. E. Ward opened an office here
in October, 1879. Reuben Hitchcock,
Homer and Lewis Goodwin, started out
from here, and
began at other places, a successful practice.
The Ministry - is given in connection with the churches,
and needs no mention here.
PHYSICIANS.
1804. The first was
Dr. Joseph
Clark, this year, who occupied Law's house. He
was elected as one of the trustees in 1806, and, in
connection with him, appears
the name of George Wallace (with whom Hickox lost in the
canal contracts), with Justus Miner. Dr. Clark afterwards lived where
Edward Beardsley now resides,
and, in 1812, went to Painesville. He returned to the
Durgee place, on the old
State road, in the corner of Huntsburgh, where travelers
used to stop. He died
there, and Mr. Witter preached his funeral sermon, in
1828. He treated horses
as well as people, and a balky one had come to him in a
trade. He started it
for Burton, and on the way it stopped, and would not go,
but commenced backing. He turned the buggy round, saying: "If she won't go
forward-wise, let
her go hind-wise."
Dr. Kennedy was the 2d, and occupied Hickox's store
prior to 1810. Dr. Erastus Goodwin came in 1811. A man of very marked
character, he had an
extensive practice, and continued a lifetime in the
profession, as an allopath.
(See biographical sketch.) His son, Dr. Sherman
Goodwin,
studied, and practiced here until 1848. Losing health, he moved to
Victoria, Texas, and is still
living in that country.
Dr. Cox was known as skillful in treatment with "Roots
and herbs."
Dr. Burritt, one of the most successful practitioners,
was the apostle of homoeopathy, who startled the community, and the dispensers
of calomel, by a regular
cannonade of little pills, about 1840. For years it was
a battle of "Sugar-coats
and water," blue-mass and drugs and blood-letting." How
the practice has
changed and progessed since that day.
Drs. Coulter, Sumner and Pond, had a good practice,
after Burritt, as homoeopaths. Dr. Colbert,
A. Canfield, a graduate of Hudson,
gained something of
a ride, as Dr. Goodwin grew old, but finally went to
California.
Dr. Lawyer, a well-read physician, commenced here in
1855, and gained a
good practice. He had a drug store, which was lost in
the fire of 1871. Of
good judgment and attention, he has been faithful in his
calling, and serves the
people yet. In the educational matters of the town he
has taken a lively inter-
[pg. 479]
est, and been often, and is now on the school board.
Dr. Cleveland located and died here, but was
not considered in practice.
Dr. Aaron McGraw - who went to California, this
year (1879), was a surgeon in the service, in 1864.
Thoroughly read, keeping to the front with the advance
of science in his profession; a man of determined
purpose, always cool and
skillful, he controlled an extensive practice, and
gained the strong attachment of his friends. His
ability was undoubted, and to-day he is the
surgeon-in-chief of one of the great mining companies of
California, at a large salary.
Dr. Strickland - came, served a
time, and moved away.
These last five were allopaths, and in that practice
now is Dr. Steers, who was an army
surgeon. He has a large practice, and with him is
Dr. Dixon. Dr. Rider,
who was in the army, practices homoeopathy; as, also,
does Dr. Hargett.
Dr. Goodwin - did all the ride for a
great region, in 1811. Now the town has five practioners.
EDITORS.
Only one has
arisen. J. B. Coffin, formerly of Hudson, New
York, established the Geauga Leader, in December,
1874; a fair-sized, eight-page weekly, which aims to be
up to the times. He is proprietor and editor, and
conducts the working of a job office, and, by strict
attention to business, is making a success of the
enterprise.
TOWN HALL.
Unfortunately,
for the beauty of the park, it was built on the
northeast corner, in 1871, at a cost of $4,000. Of
fair size (36x54), it is not large enough to
accommodate, with comfort, the audiences that gather, on
many occasions. It is to be hoped it may be
removed to a more eligible site, and enlarged.
BURNED.
1871.
Wooden buildings, occupied for stores, shops and
offices, and a Masonic hall, stood on the east side of
the main business street in Burton. A cold frosty
night, the 5th of December, when the wind was sweeping
in a fearful storm, at 1 o'clock, the cry of fire was
heard. Miss Emily Wilmott first discovered
it and gave the alarm. The excited people roused
suddenly, and saw the flames in possession of the row.
The cold was intense, and work against wind and storm
was almost impossible. Buckets and ladders came
with the crowd of men, women and boys, and with heroic
determination, the battle against the elements began.
Lines of men, with buckets, were formed, and water was
thrown where there seemed any hope. It froze on
everything it touched, and helped to stay the flames.
The tremendous efforts of the citizens fighting the
blaze, fanned by the angry winds on the hill top,
conquered when it reached the house where D. L.
Johnson resides, next south of the Brewster
house. It swept all the buildings from the
south corner to this point. The loss was with out
insurance, and said to be upwards of $20,000.
Stock was subscribed, a company formed, and the summer
of 1872 work was begun, and in 1873 the fine brick block
of seven stores, took the place of the burned ones.
The large window fronts of these stores, light up in the
evening with an array, that is a "City set on a hill
that cannot be hid."
EDUCATION.
The New England
idea of a school-house first "and all the time," came to
the west. Elijah Hayes remembers
going to school through the woods two miles by marked
trees, to the weaving-room built near Mr.
Umberfield's house, and that within its wall of
logs, in the summer of 1802, Sallie Miner,
a daughter of Dr. John Miner, was teacher.
Rufus Beard was naughty, and was led round
with his arm pinned to the school "marm's" apron.
[pg. 480]
1803.
The settlement being mainly west of Hopson's creek.
For the convenience of the town,
The First School-house - was made of logs, on the north
side of the road, east of the creek, near where runs the
present mill-race, and that spring and summer,
Charity Hopson, afterwards wife of Judge
Stone, taught the first school in it.
Stella Umberfield was one of Elijah Hayes'
playmates there. The Indians had a camp by the big
spring, near where the old Edson house
stands, now owned by Caleb Johnson, and
from their two or three huts, the younger ones used to
wander out and startle the school by throwing clubs upon
the roof above the heads of the children.
The first winter school in 1803-4, Gideon
Finch taught, and Joseph Noyes taught
one winter, probably in 1804-5.
The winter of 1805-6, Esquire Hickox
taught the first village school in his store. It
stood in what is now James Peffers'
garden.
The 2d district school-house was located near to Eli
Hayes', on the west side of the road, on lot 13.
Col. Beard's family, Stephen and
Anson Ford were with the Hayes boys,
at this school. The winter of 1808-9, Peter
Hitchcock, afterwards a supreme judge, was
teacher. He took pork and provisions for his pay,
and thus found support for his family in the time of
scarcity.
Seth Burton was at school in 1812 in Esquire
Hickox's store. Jerusha Guile
taught. Burton, a lad 6 years old, was sent to the
Hickox spring for water, and was complained of
for soiling the water. On examination it was found
he had tumbled into the spring. He gives the names
of his classmates: Orson Finch, 6 years;
Addison Hopson, 5; Harriet Cook,
5; Julia Russel, 5.
The First Frame School-house - was built on the
northwest corner of the square, a little east of where
the Congregational church now stands. Thomas
Davidson helped to build it in the memorable year
of 1813, when the war and rumors of wars kept the people
excited.
THE ACADEMY.
1804.
It is not an unnatural thing that men deprived, in early
life, of culture, should see to it that those coming
after them should have opportunities for education.
With what thought then went down the clips of John
Ford's broad axe, as he hewed to the line on the
timbers for the great academy, began in 1804. With
Asa Wilmot on the score, he laid well the
work, and his first blows in the new land were for
education. The building was 25 by 50 feet, large
for that that day, with rooms 20 by 25, and a 10
foot hall below, and a room for church above. It
was to be sealed throughout with pine, and had brick
chimneys and fireplaces. It was considered the
most elegant building on the Reserve, at the time, and
was the first erected for a literary institution.
Not only was this material work begun, but as early as
1801, the territorial legislature had been petitioned by
Rev. Joseph Badger, and others, to grant a
college charter, so anxious were the settlers for
education. The year 1803, the act was passed
incorporating the Erie Literary Society. The first
corporator named was Joseph Hudson, and
the last Rev. Joseph Badger. Lands were
donated in July, 1806. William Law
gave 1,130 acres - the land to revert to his heirs, if
ever the college should be removed from Burton.
The building began in 1804, was not so far completed as
to be occupied until 1806. Ford and
Wilmot working again upon it the latter year.
Esquire Hickox says, Peter
Hitchcock was the first teacher in the academy, and
this winter of 1806-'7 the scholars were very few, some
of them walking 5 and 6 miles and returning home at
evening. The first attendance being so small, it
was probable there was no school in the academy the
following winter. Stephen
Ford relates going to school in Esquire
Hickox's store building the winter 1807;
[pg. 481]
-'8. Hitchcock taught in the Hayes
district, during the winter of 1808-9.
The winter of 1809-10, Edwin Ferris says he was
in attendance at the academy, and remembers Anson
and Seabury Ford, a daughter of Judge
Stone's, afterwards Mrs. Patchen,
then under Judge Hitchcock's instruction.
The next summer and winter Gilbert Ferris
taught, and the names of Theron Graham,
Stephen Worthington, and Solomon Charter are
recalled. One of the lower rooms and the hall had
been finished. Mechanics had been at work, in the
daytime, in the unfinished room. At night, in the
early winter [December, 1810] fire was discovered in
that room, before it had burned through into the hall.
It was concluded to be the work of an incendiary, who
had fired the shavings. The building was an entire
loss. Ferris lived in a large log house. The
inhabitants immediately built a smaller one adjoining,
for his family, and he finished his school term, in his
own house.
A string of red peppers hung on the wall, left there by
the family. One boy offered another boy, much
older, a jackknife if he would eat a pepper pod.
It was done, and the knife claimed. The small boy
said it wasn't worth the knife to eat the pepper, but
admitted the bargain to the teacher, who asked the other
boy if he would release the claim to the knife if the
younger would eat a pepper. He said yes, and the
younger boy was asked which he would do, eat or give up
the knife. "Eat the pepper," said the younger boy,
and with heroic will the little fellow shallowed it
down. He was afterwards governor of Ohio.
Ralph Cowles - always beloved, taught in
the house of Bradley, the hatter, below John
Punderson's, and also in Lyman Durand's
house, near where Dr. Lawyer now lives.
He was skilled with the pen. This was after the
first fire. He taught in 1814, and for two or
three years thereafter.
The loss of the building, the coming on of the war,
with its uncertainties, had a depressing effect, and it
was some years before the trustees decided to rebuild.
The foundation, from which it was burned, will be
remembered by many a school boy, forty years afterwards,
as being on the west side of the square, and almost in
front and a little north of the present union school
building.
In 1817, a new building, similar to the first, was
commenced on the east side of the square, near where
Almon Carlton's house now stands. It was finished
and dedicated in 1819. In May, 1820, Mr. David
L. Coe, a graduate of Williams College, Mass.,
opened school in this new building and the college work
for all northeastern Ohio, went on under the care of the
Erie Literary Society, and in charge of Mr.
Coe, until 1824, and was continued under the
original
charter until 1834. The Presbyterian and
Congregational churches of the reserve decided to add a
theological department under the charter. Sickness
incidental to a new country, had visited Burton the
years 1823 and 1824, and this, with other causes, led to
a decision of the churches to build, under religious
control, at Hudson, Ohio, and for this purpose a charter
was obtained Feb. 7, 1826. This change of base was
strongly opposed by Judge Hitchcock and
others, and the success of the academy here and health
of the country in after years, proved the fears against
Burton groundless. Students came in from all
directions, and to the thorough acedemic work of
those years, in the early time Burton owes much for its
high reputation throughout the Reserve and the State.
The Tods, David and Ingersoll, the
Wicks, Henry and Samuel, from
Youngstown, attended, and there were the Austins
and Hawleys from Austinburg, and Joseph,
Jacob and Charles Perkins, of
Warren, Moses Hampton and Birchard,
afterwards both supreme judges, Walter H. Bidwell,
an editor of New York, the Wallaces, of
Brandywine in Cuyahoga county, and Joel T. Case.
Aaron Austin tells of walking from
Austinsburg, through the Windsor woods and swamp, by
Huntsburgh, in early winter, wading in deep snow and
mud, with his pack of clothes on his back, and getting
on to Col. Stephen Ford's
[pg. 482]
that night, thirty-two miles in one day, to attend
school, under Mr. Coe.
David Tod, the war governor of Ohio, got
on well in his classes, but always had time for fun.
It is told how, one winter day, when a deep cut had been
shoveled through a snow bank, he led others to fill the
cut with wood, and when Mr. Coe returned
from dinner, he had to climb the pile to get into the
academy.
David Smith, now living at Chagrin Falls, tells
of a liberty-pole that stood at the south end of the
square the winter of 1821. Tod bantered
Case to climb the pole, and Case pulled off his
shoes and stockings, and climbed 20 feet when Tod
caught up the shoes and stockings, and ran to Peter
Beals, leaving Case to come barefoot in
the snow, which was cold and deep. He was not too
old when in the governor's office, to laugh over the
story of his fear of a large flock of geese which were
always hissing at him, as he passed from John
Ford's, where he boarded, by Hiram Cook's,
on his way to school. One day he espied Arvilla
Cook, a fascinating young lady, starting up town.
He caught a brush, and went at the geese, making frantic
efforts to pass the squalking flock, but all the time,
careful to keep them yelling close behind her, most
ridiculously, through the village. The boys,
perhaps rougher then than now, but none the less
generous, made grand men, as has since been known, in
their day of trial Mr. Coe was much liked,
and his school prospered. Beside the governors, who had
a start in the academy, there were Judge
Reuben Hitchcock, Rev. Dexter
Witter and Lawrence Hitchcock, afterwards
president of Hudson College. These three taught in
the academy, as did, Dr. Ludlow, who
afterwards practiced medicine in Auburn; Dr. Sherman
Goodwin, Homer Goodwin, esq., the Hon.
Peter Hitchcock and others of influence -
whose names cannot now be recalled. This second
building was burned on Jan. 18, 1842. It was in a
very shabby condition. The Disciple church offered
to help put it in repair, and use the upper room for
meetings, the town to have the school rooms below, but
the whiskey party's jealousies were aroused, and the
incendiary's torch made ashes of the house, and smoke of
the plans. The lands reverted to the heirs of
William Law, as shown on Recorder's books at
Cleveland, vol. 30, p. 29. For much information,
relating to the Erie Literary Society and the early
action in removing the college, the writer is indebted
to President Cutler, of Hudson College.
Another academy was built in the year 1845, west of the
Methodist church. Of late, used for a wagon shop,
it was burned down Dec. 28, 1878, since the first
chapters of this history were written.
Joel T. Case, Frederick Thomas, William Colegrove,
O. P. Miller, J. B. Corey, Charles Welton, and
others, were principal teachers there.
At the close of the term in the winter of 1850,
February 7 and 8, Thomas had an exhibition in the
Congregational church, a large stage being erected in
front of the pulpit. People gathered from the
surrounding towns and crowded the church. How the
memories come back from that far away time! S. C.
Ford recalls Delos Baxter and himself,
in all the pomp of school-boy airs, repeating "Lochiel's
Warning," and the writer, with trembling knees,
flourished, oratorically, his high notions of "True
Greatness." How has the ideal vanished in the
awful roll of the swift passing years! Other names
come up: Lewis Goodwin, Henry Cramton, Lawrence
Bradley, Charles Miller, ChaunceyTalcott, Lester Patchin,
Samuel Cook, Harriet Johnson, Rhoda Herendeen, Lorilla
Dayton, Permonaand Augusta Edson, Julia Thomas, Libby
Cook, Emily Ford, Emily Brooks, Augenette Wright,
and others, all big boys and girls then.
The evening of the 8th a party and supper was held in
the academy. What responsibilities, what
rivalries, what "pit pats" of the heart, as the big boy
loves, saw the girls "playing off" with some "other
fellow," espied over the shoulder, in that social
gathering.
[pg. 483]
In 1868 a union
school building was erected by D. Woodard, on the
west side of the square. It cost $4,000; is 36x48
feet, and two stories high. The township board of
education established a high school in 1866, which is
conducted on the upper floor, and below is a primary and
intermediate. The first term in the building was
held the winter of 1868-9. A young man who has, by
settled determination and energy, worked his way up to
an education, and to the respect of his fellow-citizens,
and who is now one of the county board of school
examiners, has been for three years, and is the
principal of the high school now, a working educator -
Mr. Edward Truman. Those who preceded him
were in the order as follows: J. A. Wood, one
term; B. S. Dean, one year: J. W.
Crenshaw, one year; F. A. Snow, one year;
W. P. Cope, one year; Miss O. A. Udall, two
years; J. F. Rodifer, one year.
Julia Chase taught in the district east of
Page's about 1824. She received six shillings
a week, and boarded 'round. Now ladies' wages
average $16 per month, and men teachers $20.
Edwin Ferris was a noted teacher, and had
order and obedience in school. An instance of
governing in the log school-house time, is related of
him. He began a school in district No. 9, in
Kirtland, where rowdy boys had generally broken up the
school. The two ring leaders staid away for
several weeks. At length they came one afternoon,
spent their time whispering and laughing, making mouths
and cutting up generally, until near time to close
school, when he enquired of them what their object was
in coming to the school. They replied "we come to
see
the school." "Very well," said he, "you have seen
the most of it. There is one thing to show you,
that is of more importance than anything else we have
here." So taking a good whip from the closet, that
he had procured for an emergency, he fastened the door,
and, taking one at a time, gave them a good thrashing.
"Now," said he, "you have seen all, you can go."
CHURCHES.
[pg. 484]
[pg. 485]
MINISTRY.
DEXTER WITTER,
[pg. 486]
[pg. 487]
[pg. 488]
[pg. 489]
[pg. 490]
MUSIC.
[pg. 491]
[pg. 492-494]
MILITARY
[pg. 494-497]
MILITARY ROSTER.
[pg. 497]
SOLDIER'S AID SOCIETY.
[pg. 498]
SOCIETIES.
Agricultural Society - Free Masons and Odd
Fellows are mentioned in the general county
record.
Temperance.* - The first temperance society formed in
Burton, of which we have any record, was
organized June 1, 1832. It would
appear, from the records of the secretary's
book, that the constitution of the society
had been previously drafted, and some
signatures obtained. How long previous
to this date, is uncertain. The
objects of this organization were succinctly
stated in the preamble to its constitution,
as follows: "Impressed with the fearful
magnitude of the evils resulting to
individuals, to families, and to our common
country, from the noble and successful
experiment already made in almost every
section of our country, from the prevalent
use of distilled liquors, and from the noble
and successful experiment already made in
almost every section of the country,
believing that voluntary associations on the
principle of entire abstinence, combining
the influence of numbers and example, to be
a most efficient means of resisting those
evils, and suppressing their cause,
therefore we the undersigned agree to form
ourselves into a temperance association."
The constitution, which was signed by all
the members of the society, contained the
pledge. By this signing, each member
was bound to "consider himself pledged
(until he withdrew his name), to entire
abstinence from the use of ardent spirits,
either, as an article of luxury or common
use, except by the prescription of a
physician, or where there is reason
conscientiously to believe that a skillful
physician would prescribe it as a medicine."
The association was styled "The Temperance Society of
Burton and Vicinity." It had, during
the course of its continuance, 222 members.
Erastus Goodwin was chairman,
and Seabury Ford, secretary
pro. tem, of the first meeting. For
the first year, Peter Hitchcock,
was elected president; Erastus
Goodwin, first vice-president;
Seabury Ford, second
vice-president, and Sherman
Goodwin, now of Victoria, Texas,
secretary.
These officers remained the same, the two following
years, with the exception that Lawrence
Hitchcock and George
Boughton were successively elected
secretaries. At the first meeting, an
address was delivered by William L.
Perkins, esq. On Oct. 5, 1836, the
association was dissolved, and a new one
formed, with a constitution varying in some
respects from the former. There were
66 signers to this constitution.
At some time previous to 1842, the Youth's Temperance
Society was formed, concerning which the
writer of this has no data.
About 1842, the Washingtonian Temperance wave struck
Burton. A pledge was circulated, which
read as follows: "We whose names are hereto
annexed, believing that the use of
intoxicating liquors as a beverage, is not
only useless but hurtful to the social,
civil and religious interests of man, that
it tends to form intemperate appetites and
habits, and that while it is continued, the
evils of intemperance cannot be done away.
Do, therefore, agree that we will not use
them, nor traffic in them as a beverage,
that we will not provide them as an
article of entertainment, or for persons in
our employment, and that in all suit able
ways we will discountenance their use
throughout the community." To this
pledge, 256 names were appended. Many
meetings were held. Speakers were
present from Cleveland and Pittsburg, and
there was much excitement and enthusiasm,
probably equaling if not exceeding the more
recent Murphy move ment in those
respects, although not in the number of
names obtained to a temperance pledge.
Mar. 1, 1848, Geauga Division No. 4to, of the Sons of
Temperance, of the
---------------
* By Herbert W. Hitchcock.
Page 499 -
Page 500 -
Page 501
-
WEDDINGS
A
house of logs, with stone jams at the
chimney, two rooms and an airy place "up the
ladder," a trundle bed and ten children,
with heads of tow, all dressed "home-made"
flax, and shying back behind the neighbor
women who crowd in, while the men gather
round the door, to see that "oldest gal"
married, comes before one, in thinking of
the first days. Possibly she has a
calico, or it may be, some forehanded
relation east has sent on a silk, for that
wedding dress. Cake, it was flour,
sweetened with maple "lasses," and
ornamented with wintergreen berries.
Venison and wild turkey broiled on the
coals, with pork, by the quick-handed
mother, was savory, nor was it too late for
bear's meat. These, and little more,
was at the hands of those who would prepare
the "corn and the wine" for a wedding, in
this land of "milk and honey," seventy odd
years ago. Possibly a minister might
"tie the knot," but more likely the
squire, said they were married. Then there
was rejoicing in a jolly good way, in
the cabins for miles around, and the old
ladies hoped it true, "she might have gone
farther and fared worse." Page 502
-
EARLY
MARRIAGES.
1806. - |
April 10th,
Robert Wallace and Rebecca
Menough, of Burton, by
Benj. Johnson, J.P.
April 24th, Simeon Rose and
Limery Umberfield, of
Burton, by Benj. Johnson,
J. P.
July 30th, Stephen Bond and
Polly Thompson, of Burton,
by Isaac Thompson, J. P.
December 18th, Justin
Bradley and Laura
Ely, of Burton, by
Eleazer Hickox, J. P. |
1807. -
|
May 29th,
Burnet Heathman and
Chloe Walker, of
Burton, by Joseph
Clark, J. P.
October 12th, Silas
Bush and Keziah
Parks, of Burton, by
Eleazer Hickox, J. P. |
1808. -
|
February 11th,
Simeon Morse and
Betsey Burton, of
Burton, by Eleazer
Hickox, J. P.
March 6th, Daniel
Dayton and Fanny
Parks, of Burton, by
Eleazer Hickox, J. P.
August 14th, Vene
Stone and Alice
Williams, of Burton, by
Eleazer Hickox, J. P.
September 11th, Frederick
Kirtland and Sophia
Parkman, of Burton, by
Eleazer Hickox, J.
P.
September 25th, Uri
Hickox and Lydia
Ford, of Burton, by
Eleazer Hickox J. P.
September 11th, David
Curtis of Trumbull county,
and Nancy Hathman,
of Burton, by Joseph
Clark, J. P.
October 20th, Eleazer
Hickox and Stella
Umberfield, of Burton, by
Joseph Clark, J. P.
October 20th, Lemuel
Punderson and Sybil
Hickox, of Burton, by
Joseph Clark, J. P. |
1809. -
|
March 5th,
Theodore Roys and
Clarissa Parks, of
Burton, by Eleazer
Hickox, J. P.
December 31st, Adolphus
Carlton and Loalma
Cook, of Burton, by
Lyman Benton, J. P. |
1810. - |
October 11th,
Alpheus Sheffield and
Dorothy Minor, of
Burton, by Lyman
Benton, J. P. |
1811. - |
January 13th,
Calvin Williams and
Betsey Bradley, of
Burton, by Lyman
Benton, J. P.
February 17th, Asa
Wilmot and Abigail
Durand, of Burton, by
Lyman Benton, J. P.
June 13th, Jeremiah
Iles and Betsey
Minor, of Burton, by
Lyman Benton, J. P. |
1820. -
|
January 4th,
Justin Miner and
Hannah Morse, of
Burton, by Lyman
Benton, J. P.
February 26th, John
Fields and Sally
Ensworth, of Burton, by
Rev. Thomas Barr. |
1813. -
|
January 28th,
James Heathman and
Nancy Young, of
Burton, by Lyman
Burton, J. P.
February 17th, Israel
Coe, of Portage county, and
Asenath Fowler, of
Burton, by Rev. John
Seward, of Aurora.
April 11th, Elijah
Ford and Esther
Johnson, of Burton, by
Lyman Benton, J. P.
June 3d, Theodorus
Miller and Lucretia
Pomeroy of Burton, by
Lyman Benton, J. P.
June 5th, Solomon
Charter and Olive
Parks, of Burton, by
Lyman Benton, J. P.
July 19th, Lyman
Benton and Rhoda
Fowler, of Burton, by
Elijah Risley, J. P.
September 2d, Luther
Russell and Polly
Morse, of Burton, by
Lyman Benton, J. P.
September 15th, Ebenezer
Hays and Paulina
Ford, of Burton, by
Lyman Benton, J. P.
|
1814. - |
January 15th,
Oroon Datas
Johnson and Betsey
Umberfield, of Burton, by
Rev. Giles H. Cowles.
February20th, Erastus
Goodwin and Dothia B.
Gilbert, of Burton, by
Rev. Giles H. Cowles.
July 28th, Amos
Andrews and Hope H. Taner,
of Burton, by Lyman
Benton, J. P. |
1815. -
|
June 18th,
Jacob W. Burroughs and
Harriet Fowler, of
Burton, by Lyman
Benton, J. P.
October 29th, Aranda
Kellogg and Laura
Cowles, of Burton, by
William Hanford, V.
D. M. |
1816. - |
May 14th,
Moses Bradley and
Celia Parks, by
John Ford, J. P.
June 12th, Ariel
Wolden, of Mantua, and
Almira Carlton, of
Burton, by John Ford,
J. P.
August 19th, Stephen
Ford and Eunice
Brooks, of Burton, by
John Ford, J. P.
September 14th, Eliphalet
Gay and Colista
Burnett, of Burton, by
John Ford, J. P.
November 25th, Jacob
Pease and Sally
Seymour, of Burton, by
John Ford, J. P.
December 4th, Ira
Hayes and Julia
Durand, of Burton, by Rev.
Luther Humphrey.
December 5th, Luther
Hemenway and Mary
Borroughs, of Burton, by
Rev. Luther
Humphrey |
1817. - |
January 28th,
Nicholas Chinmark and
Elizabeth Moss, of
Burton, by Frederick
Kirtland, J. P.
March 6th, Horace Peck
and Mary Johnson,
of Burton, by Rev.
Luther Humphrey.
April 7th, John
Johnson and Sally
Young, of Burton, by John
Ford, J. P.
May 14th, Edward Collins
and Thalia Beard,
of Burton, by Rev.
Luther Humphrey.
June 30th, Jacob
Burton and Sally
Hayes, of Burton, by John
Ford, J. P.
December 23d, John P. Smith
and Maria Ferris,
of Burton, by John
Ford, J. P. |
1819. - |
February 24th,
William A. Messenger, of
Portage county, and Desire
Fowler, of Burton, by
Rev. Luther Humphrey.
March 7th, Oroon Datas
Johnson and Edna
Fidelia Bartholomew
, by James Brown,
J. P.
April 14th, Samuel
Newell and Jane
Kincaid, by John
Ford, J. P.
April 15th, John B. Brown
and Maca Hyde, by
John Ford, J. P.
May 4th. Joseph Hayes
and Abigail Miner,
by John Ford, J.
P.
May 28th, Daniel
Dayton, of Burton, and
Chloe S. Humphrey, of
Burlington, by J. Ford,
J. P.
June 30th, Burt Jewett
and Olive Hayes,
by Rev. Charles
Waddell.
August 19th, Daniel
Burton and Eliza
Russell, by John
Ford, J. P.
August 20th, Ralph
Cowles and Delia
Benton, by Rev.
Luther Humphrey,
September 4th, Dennis
Cramton and Chloe
Burke, of Burton, by John
Ford, J. P.
November 27, Fabian
Beard and Alice
Tomlinson, by Rev.
Luther Humphrey. |
1820. - |
April 1st,
Ichabod Brooks and
Electa Boswotth, by
John Ford, J. P.
April 1st, John A. Ford
and Eliza A. Barnes,
by John Ford, J.
P.
April 16th, Robert
Edson and Polly
Umberfield, by John
Ford, J. P.
September 6th, Orrin
Dayton and Sally
Truman, of Burton, by
Jonathan Brooks, J.
P.
September 25th. David
Taylor and Lucy
Russel. by Rev.
Luther Humphrey.
September 28th, Levi
Patchin, of Newbury, and
Emetine Fowler, of
Burton, by Jonathan
Brooks, J. P.
December 27th, Eli
Beals, of Burton, and
Lucy Gager, of
Claridon, by Eleazer
Paine, J. P. |
Page 503 -
POPULATION
STATISTICS OF BURTON
TOWNSHIP—FROM TAX LIST OF 1 879
PRODUCT OF 1878—FROM
ASSESSORS' RETURNS OF 1879.
LANDS.
ORCHARDS—ACRES, 288.
Page 504 -
MAPLE.
BEES.
PRODUCE.
ANIMALS DIED FROM DISEASE.
CEMETERIES.
The
first location mentioned, was just east of
the square, south of the road, on the bill,
and next east of where Esquire
Hickox planted the grove of mulberry
trees. It is claimed that Hugh
Sharon was the first person
buried in
Page 505 -
town, and this was the place. When the
burial ground was located for the town, it
seems to have fallen.
By the river - at the foot of the hill, and the bodies
from this first spot, were transferred
there. Luther Russel,
the elder, helped in the removal, and
related that one coffin lid was loose, and
they lifted the cover. The face was
natural as life, though the body had been
buried many years. In five minutes,
the vital air so needful in life, changed
this dust of mortality, and it shrank and
fell away to a nameless ash of earth.
On this sand knoll, by the river, sleep many
of the original settlers of Burton.
The Williams and Bradley - burial ground,
west of the road north from the square, in
lot 15, lies cheerly nigh to the wood tree
shade on the bank of the brook.
Northwest, - and just across from the "Old Wooster"
place on lot 2, and almost within sight of
the first camping spot in 1798, is another
yard, occupied by those who had lived in
that quarter of the town.
South - on the Troy road, on lot 96, just east of the
first home of Richard Slitor,
is his family ground, and there some of the
people of that locality are buried.
East of the Village - in a grove of maple trees, Dr.
Goodwin allowed a new cemetery to be
opened, at a later day. The maple
trees have fallen; only one remains.
The white marble stone, the shaft and
column, granite, red and grey, have risen,
as the trees departed from this city of the
dead, and stand thick, within a few short
years, marking all there is of this life,
and its end in death. Here come, most
often now, the mourners with their dead.
EARLY WOMEN.*
Page 506 -
Page 507 -
Page 508 -
Page 509 -
without hope, and, for a time, would not be
comforted. But after the first
disappointment, her good sense taught her a
better way. Remaining single for many
years, she yielded to an offer of marriage,
and wedded Raymond Gaylord.
They lived together a number of years, and
by him she had two sons. When they had
grown to be quite lads, Mr.
Gaylord had consumption, and died.
Now comes the strange part of the history.
Carefully preparing the way, Case comes back
and renews his offers of marriage.
They are accepted, and the union takes
place. They seemed fitted to one another,
and the fires of the new love, or old love
renewed, burned as brightly as ever.
After a little, they returned to Texas,
taking the sons with them, and continued
happily living together for many years.
All are now dead except a daughter, born
after this last marriage, who is married and
lives at Ft. Wayne, Indiana.
______________
PERSONAL SKETCHES.
JUDGE PETER HITCHCOCK - 509 - 516
JUDGE REUBEN HITCHCOCK - 516 - 519
HENRY LAWRENCE HITCHCOCK, D. D. -
519 - 521
PETER HITCHCOCK - 522 - 531
JOHN FORD - 531 - 534
STEPHEN FORD - 534 - 537
JOHN S. FORD - 537 - 538
JOHN ANSON FORD - 538 - 542
WALLACE JOHN FORD - 542 - 547
ELIAS ALONZO FORD - 547 - 550
SEABURY FORD - 551 - 561
GEORGE HENRY FORD - 562 - 563
HENRY HINE FORD - 563 - 567
DOCTOR ERASTUS GOODWIN - 567
- 568
ASAHEL BARNES - 569 - 570
ROBERT EDSON - 570 - 571
ABEL CRAMTON - 572 - 572
JOHN L. FOWLER - 572 - 573
JAMES PEFFERS - 573 - 574
GEORGE BOUGHTON - 574 - 575
MATTHEW D. MERRIAM 576
- 577
WILLIAM CAY - 577 - 578
CALEB JOHNSON - 578 - 579
OBED WARREN WICKS -
579 - 581
JOHN F. WELTON - 581 - 581
SILAS GAYLORD - 581 - 582
ALMON B. CARLTON - 583 - 583
JACOB B. COFFIN - 584 - 584 |