TOWNSHIP

     This township, prior to its receiving the appellation of Montville, was known as being township nine, in the sixth range of townships, in the Connecticut Western Reserve, and is supposed by some to be the most elevated of any township in the county.  Whether this is true or not, I am not prepared to decide.  The geographical features of the surface are variable, the general descent being southerly.  The greater portion of the eastern half of the township lies low and level, while the western and northern parts are elevated and gently undulating. Perhaps there may be a section or two, in the extreme north, as high, at least, as any point of land in the county.
     There are no streams of water in this township of any considerable size.  One of the tributaries of the Cuyahoga river has its source in this township, on the farm of Captain R. H. Baldwin, about one mile west of the center, its general course being southwest.  On the next farm west, owned by A. Shaw, the surplus water from the south part flows into the Cuyahoga, while the same from the north part is received by one of the tributaries of Grand river, which flows to the northwest.  The soil is favorable to the production of the different varieties of grain and grass, and will, perhaps, average with that of other townships of the county.
     The settlement of this township, from some cause, was commenced at a later date than even some of the adjoining townships; and, after the advent of the first families, in the year 1815, accessions to their numbers were discouragingly slow, so that, in the year 1819, there were only four families in the town.  Mr. Roswell Stevens, who had long before become inured to pioneer life - first in Austinburgh, in 1799, and, at a later date, in Morgan, Ashtabula county, was the first man who ventured to establish his domicile among the wild animals that roamed at will through the unbroken forests of this township, and contend with them for the right of soil.
     Mr. Stevens came over from Morgan in the fore part of the summer of 1815, and selected land whereon to locate, in great lot or section number thirteen, in the immediate vicinity of the center of the township; this lot or section being a part of what was then known as the Torringford tract, which consisted of a belt of land, a mile in width, extending the entire distance through the township, from east to west, including the center.  This tract, as well as other still larger ones, in different parts of the Reserve, especially in Ashtabula county, was owned by a company formed in the State of Connecticut, some time in the latter part of the eighteenth century, and known as the Torringford land company.  Eliphalet Austin, formerly a citizen of that State, was a member of this company.  He, however, emigrated, with several others, in 1799, to northern Ohio, locating in Ashtabula county, in the township that now bears his name.  This company established an agency in that county, investing the said Austin with plenary powers to sell and convey said company's land to actual settlers, by deeds of general warranty.
     Mr. Stevens, immediately after locating his land, commenced making improvements on the same, and, during the summer and fall of that year, erected a comfortable log dwelling, besides clearing off a piece of land and sowing the

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same to wheat. In the month of December he moved his goods and family from Morgan to this township, a distance of fourteen miles, via Trumbull, a wilderness town, and, of course, without roads or bridges, coming with an ox team all the way, through the trackless woods, having to make his way through swamps and marshes, and fording all the streams they came to, until they arrived on that sacred spot of ground they had selected for a home.  Mr. Stevens obtained a deed of his land from the said company, through the agency of Mr. Austin, which was signed and acknowledged before Orestes K. Hawley, a justice of the peace of the township of Austinburg, on the ninth day of January, A. D. 1816; which is found recorded in Geauga County Records, book D, pages 417 and 418, by Edward Paine, jr., recorder.
     Soon after the arrival of Stevens, three other men - Orizon Cleveland, Jehial Wilcox, and Hazard Andrews - came and took up land on the Torringford tract, in the neighborhood of the center of the town.  Wilcox built a double log house on the premises now owned by Spencer Garritt, esq. Cleveland established his domicile about three-fourths of a mile north of Mr. Stevens', it being the premises now owned and occupied by E. H. Brown, on what is called
the old plank road.  Mr. Andrews, being a single man, resided with Mr. Cleveland.  These three families composed the entire population of Montville during the fall and winter of 1815-16; but, the following summer commencing cold and dry, the beautiful stream of crystal water which flowed near the house of Mr. Cleveland, totally failed, leaving its channel dry and dusty, and the family half a mile or more from any living water.  This circumstance, combined with the gloomy prospects of this ever-memorable year, so discouraged Mr. C. that he sold out, or gave up his claim on that land, to Andrews, and left for parts unknown.
     Mr. Stevens remained at his post until the latter part of January, or the fore part of February, 1817, when he, too, on account of the partial failure of crops that year, and the consequent scarcity that followed, was under the necessity of abandoning his new home, at least for awhile, and returning to the older settlements, where he could more readily obtain supplies for his family. He remained in Morgan until May, 1819, when he returned to Montville, and lived for many years, to enjoy the fruits of honest industry, society and friends, that sprang up around him in the latter years of his life.
     Mr. Wilcox, who located at the center, was left alone in the wilderness for awhile, sole "monarch of all he surveyed;" but, being a man of uncommon energy and perseverance, succeeded in sustaining himself and family through the hard times, and continued to labor on until the barren wilderness was transformed into fruitful fields, and competence crowned his labors.
     During the sojourn of Mr. Stevens in Morgan, two other families moved into town - Joshua Stuart and James Andrews - and, as near as can be ascertained, in the year 1818.  Some time during the summer or autumn of this year, the first road in this township was laid out.  From the best recollection of the oldest inhabitant, it appears that Ralph Cowles, esq., of Chardon, was the surveyor.  The surveyor, with his necessary suite, commenced at some point in Huntsburg - probably on the north line of the township - and, running due north, with the intention of locating a north and south center road, and continued their course until they arrived at a point, in Montville, near the present residence of J. B. Brace, about one and a half mile south of the center.  Here the committee, in order, as it is said by some, to accommodate the two or three families who had located on a line ranging a little west of north, and about half a mile west of the center, thought best to vary from a due-north course a certain number of degrees westward, which they did, thereby crossing the premises of the said Roswell Stevens, and also of the two other families who resided north of

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him.  Others say it was because the committee had a very imperfect knowledge of the geography of the township, they supposing the center to be in the midst of a large swamp, and made the angle for the purpose of shunning it; but the former reason is probably correct.  They continued to run northerly on the same degree, intersecting the north line of the township about one mile west of the center.  Subsequently, this road, with some slight alterations, was laid with
plank by the Painesville & Warren Plank Road company.  Though the plank has long since been superseded by a gravel turnpike, yet it is still known by the familiar name of the old plank road.  The east and west center road, leading from Hambden to Montville, was laid out and established this same year.
     Mr. James Wintersteen came and settled in this town, in the month of March, in the year 1819, on land now owned and occupied by his son, Mr. James Wintersteen, in the north part of the township, the highest point of land in Montville, and some think that it is the highest land in the county.  He is now seventy-one years of age, hale and hearty as the generality of men at fifty-five or sixty.  His memory is unimpaired.  He was sixteen years old when his father moved into this town, and remembers distinctly the names of the first settlers and the date of their arrival.  Fifty-five years have rolled away since Mr. Wintersteen first took up his abode in the wilderness of Montville; and all the changes that have intervened since that time, who is adequate to tell?  But one thing is certain: the old pioneers of this township have long since passed to "that bourne from whence no traveler returns."
     Though the first settlers of this township have nearly all passed away, yet their children, some of them at least, who were old enough to remember events that transpired when their parents first settled here, are still living upon the old homesteads, their locks whitened by the frosts of many winters, and to whom we are indebted for much information relating to the early history of the township. In the interim between the years 1819 and 1822, several persons, most
of whom being heads of families, to wit: Sherman Dayton, Joseph Metcalf, Caleb H. Wintersteen, Samuel Nye, Solomon Chapin, Baldwin Morris, Nicholas Wintersteen, Ransom Billings, Samuel M. Lowden and John Carman, came and located in different parts of the township, the Wintersteens generally settling in the north and forming a neighborhood, which is called by their name even to the present time.
     The territory of which this township is composed, prior to the year 1822, was set to Hambden, a township west of this, and settled at an earlier date.  But, early in the year 1822, this territory was detached from that township, and erected into a township by itself, as the following preamble and notice from the county auditor of that year will show:
     "Whereas, On the fourth day of March, A. D. 1822, township number nine, in the sixth range of townships in the Connecticut Western Reserve, was set off from the township of Hambden, and erected into a township by the name of Montville; therefore, notice is hereby given to the qualified electors of the township of Montville, aforesaid, to meet at the dwelling house of Jehiel Wilcox, on Monday, the first day of April next, for the purpose of electing township officers for the township of Montville aforesaid."  Dated at Chardon, Mar. 5, 1822, and signed, Eleazer Paine, auditor of Geauga county.
     In pursuance of the above notice, the legal voters of the township assembled at the residence of the said Jehiel Wilcox, at the time appointed, for the purpose of organizing their township, and proceeded to business by appointing Sherman Dayton, Roswell Stevens, and James Wintersteen, judges of the election; Baldwin Morris and Peter Wintersteen, clerks; these appointments being necessarily pro tem., and preparatory to a permanent organization. This election, held on the first' day of April, 1822, was considered by the people as of more than ordi-

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nary interest, it being the first election ever held in the township, where even.  qualified elector could exercise the right of franchise as a free citizen of the State of Ohio, and was, in fact, the organization of their infant township.  As a final result, the following persons were elected to fill the various township offices required by law at that early date, to-wit :

     It is but fair to presume that, being only two supervisors elected, there were only two highway districts at that time in the township. It appears, also, from the township clerk's record, that the above named John Carman failed to qualify and give bail as required by law, within ten days, and, as a consequence, that office was left vacant.  The record does not show the reason for this neglect, but I suspect that Mr. Carman thought, as there was no justice of the
peace in town, the profits accruing from the office would hardly pay him for the trouble.  But, in the autumn of that year, the people of the township, desiring a justice of the peace, made the proper application for the same, as shown by the following order and certificate from the court of common pleas, to-wit:
     "On application of sundry inhabitants of the township of Montville, ordered that one justice of the peace be allowed said township.  Clerk's office, Geauga county.
     "I certify that the above is a true copy of an entry made on the journal of the court of common pleas for said county, at the October term, 1822.
     "Dated, Chardon, November 27, 1822.

"ELEAZER PAINE, Deputy Clerk."

     An election was accordingly held on the eleventh day of December following, for the purpose of electing a justice of the peace.  The poll-book of this election being preserved, shows that there were fourteen votes cast, of which number James Wintersteen received five votes for justice of the peace, Roswell Stevens eight, and Sherman Dayton one.  Mr. Stevens, receiving the highest number, was declared duly elected; but on account of some illegality in the proceedings, this election was contested, and declared null and void.  No record was made of this election by the township clerk, except to indorse on the back of the pollbook:
"This election is quashed."  Immediately after the failure of this, notice was given for another election for the same purpose, to take place on the second day of January, A. D. 1823.  At this election the whole number of votes polled was eleven, Sherman Dayton receiving three votes, and Roswell Stevens eight.  Mr. Stevens, being again duly elected, is justly entitled to the honor of being the first justice of the peace in and for the township of Montville.
     At the township election, on the seventh day of April, 1823, no material change in township officers was made, most of the officers of the preceding year being re-elected.  At this election, however, Josiah Nickerson was elected constable, but he refusing to serve in that capacity, the trustees of the township

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appointed Solomon Chapin to act as constable, but without success, he also refusing to qualify.  Afterward, the trustees appointed Hazzard Andrews, and the record shows that, on the thirtieth day of May, in that year, Mr. Andrews appeared before Roswell Stevens, esq., and took the oath of office of constable, thereby becoming the first constable of the township.
     According to the recollection of Mr. Seth Stevens, son of the said Roswell Stevens, who is now nearly seventy years old, and residing upon the old home stead of his father, the first mail route was established through this township about the year 1823, or, at all events, as early as the year 1824.  The written evidence as to dates being lost, we are under the necessity of fixing the dates from the memory of those who lived at that time.  The mail route extended from Unionville, a small village located, at the present time, on the line between Lake and Ashtabula counties, to Parkman, in Geauga county, by way of Thompson, Montville, Huntsburg, Middlefield, or Batavia, as it was then called.
     A man was hired to carry the mail on this route for one year, and, starting on his mission from Unionville, on horseback, succeeded in getting along with his horse as far as Thompson, but finding the road so bad, and some part of the way impassable, even for a horse, he deemed it expedient to leave his horse at the last mentioned place, and make the rest of the journey to Parkman on foot, carrying the mail in his hat.  Roswell Stevens was appointed postmaster
that same year, and kept the office in his, dwelling house.  In this manner the energetic mail carrier would frequently make the trip from Unionville to Parkman in one day, and back the next.  My informant is quite positive this mail carrier is still living, and resides in the township of Madison, Lake county, but his name is not remembered.
     At this early day, bears and wolves were numerous, and at night the woods were rendered sonorous by the growling of bears and the barking of wolves.  Deer and elk were also plenty, frequently venturing out of the forests in the summer season, to graze in the fields of the early settlers.
     Immediately after the battle of Lake Erie, in which Commodore Perry gained a signal victory over the British, Sept. 10, 1814, the Indians evacuated northern Ohio, so that, when the first settlers arrived in this township, the county was free from these pests of civilized society.
     Many of the first settlers of this township were men and women of education and refinement, of good principles, and possessing sterling virtues; and, previously to their immigration to northern Ohio, moved in the best society in the community where they resided.  But, in this, as well as in all new settlements, the people, after viewing their situation, become satisfied that aristocracy in the wilderness is untenable; and are soon brought to realize that each family is dependent on their neighbors for that assistance which is so indispensable in
pioneer life.  The people of new settlements, as a general thing, form an attachment for each other, and sometimes lasting as life, but it is more generally lost sight of after the country becomes old, and the inhabitants become more or less wealthy.  This township, perhaps, was more highly favored in the beginning than some others, in consequence of many of the first families being morally honest, upright, and some of them truly religious, and having brought
letters of commendation from the different churches to which they belonged.  Good regulation and order characterized the township in its early history, and the people, during the intervening years, have nobly maintained its reputation in this respect, even to the present time.
     In regard to the privations and hardships incident to pioneer life, it may be superflous to write anything ; but, lest any should think the pioneers of this township were more highly favored than those of other places, I will write a few incidents, as narrated to me by truthful witnesses:

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     Mr. J. R. Whitney, who came to this township in the year 1827, says he has known, in times of great scarcity, in the early days of the township, families so entirely destitute of provisions of any kind, they were compelled, from necessity, in order to sustain their lives, to dig certain kinds of roots in the woods, and pluck the tender leaves from the beech, and boil them with roots, for food, subsisting in this manner for days, without any other nourishment.   Little children were frequently seen searching the woods for ground nuts, and eating them to allay their hunger.
     Another incident, as related to me by Mrs. Deborah Baldwin, an old resident, who is now over seventy years of age, with memory unimpaired, of a family, consisting of father, mother, and three or four small children, at a time when provisions could not be purchased, even for money, having to subsist for a considerable length of time, upon the milk of one cow, pastured in the woods, and affording only a small supply of milk, being destitute of everything else that
could be used as food, and the father, having to swing the axe and fell the trees, the good wife gave him the greater part of the milk, and the rest to the hungry, starving children, going without nourishment herself until so weak she could scarcely walk about the room.
     Many similar incidents could be mentioned in the history of pioneer life, but enough has been written to convey to the mind of the reader the hardships and suffering endured by our fathers and mothers in preparing beautiful and pleasant homes for their children to enjoy.   Scarcity of provisions is not uncommon among the people of new countries.  Sometimes there is a failure, or partial failure of crops; some years, so many immgrants arrive, that there is not grain raised to supply the demand, and, before the arrival of another harvest, some of the families are left entirely destitute.
     For many years, early settlers suffered much inconvenience from the scarcity of lumber, having to haul all the boards they used about their houses from the township of Madison, most of the way through the wilderness.  Some of the people were not able to obtain it, and adopted the method of thatching the roofs of their cabins with elm bark, getting along without doors, at least for awhile; and, in some instances, families were under the necessity of living in their log houses, without having any lower floor; but, having a floor overhead, the attic being used as a sleeping apartment, because it afforded greater security from the nocturnal depredations of bears and wolves, which were very numerous, and very annoying to the early settlers.
     Sherman Dayton came to the township of Massachusetts, if I rightly remember, in the year 1820, and took up land and built him a log house on the premises owned, at the present time, by Joseph Tucker and Frederick S. Pitkin, in the north part of the township.  Mr. Dayton has long since passed away, yet, there are many of the old settlers still living who remember him, as a kindhearted man and a gentleman of the old school; he was a man of some wealth,
and greatly relieved the necessities of many of the families around him.  In consequence of the difficulty in obtaining lumber, the family lived, for a time, without any doors to their house, going at night, by means of a ladder, into the chamber to sleep, and pulling the ladder up after them.  One night the wolves were unusally venturesome, even intruding themselves into the lower part of the house, after the lights were extinguished, while others were climbing all over
the roof, snuffing, and rendering the hours of darkness hideous by their discordant howls.  Mr. Dayton said he endured much from fear that night, lest the hungry animals should tear the boards from his roof, and find their way into his chamber. At length, he discharged his musket in the chamber, which had the effect to frighten the wolves away.
     The Rev. William Brown, whose name is mentioned above, came to this

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township with his family, as nearly as can be ascertained, in the year 1822, locating on the center road, in the extreme north part, near the present residence of Daniel Dudley, a short distance from the present village of South Thompson.  It is said by those who claim to be familiar with Mr. Brown's history since his arrival in northern Ohio, that he first selected a location in the township of Concord, now in Lake county.  He had not enjoyed his new home but a short time, when the authorities of the township sent the constable to serve a notice on him to leave the township, as was customary in those days, in order to prevent people from becoming a town charge, and was generally called "warning people out of town."  This notice Mr. Brown considered a personal insult, and, after hearing the notice read, made this laconic reply: "I cannot go to-night, sir, but I will to-morrow;" and accordingly packed his goods on the following day, and, with his family, started on their pilgrimage for this township, where he resided until his death.
     Mr. Brown was a preacher of the Methodist persuasion, was zealous and even enthusiastic in matters of religion, and was generally known throughout north eastern Ohio, by the familiar name of "Billy Brown."  He was quite celebrated as a preacher, generally calling out large audiences to hear him, more, perhaps, on account of his eccentricities and ludicrous manners, than from any rhetorical eloquence.  His general custom, while preaching, was to stand behind a chair and fly, as it were, from one side of the house to the other, carrying the chair with him, stopping at short intervals, and bending low down over the chair, but never losing the thread of his argument.  On one occasion, says an eye witness, when leaning over his chair, he lost his balance, the chair tipping over, and he, turning an awkward somersault, striking on his feet, without causing any interruption in his discourse.  The old ladies screamed, the young folks laughed, but he went on with the discourse, as though nothing had happened.  He was a man possessing more than ordinary religious zeal and enthusiasm; yet, on some occasions was quite mirthful, and seemed to enjoy a harmless joke as well as any one.  One day, on meeting a man, he accosted him with, "Brother W., can you tell me which side of a jug the handle is on?"  Mr. W., not suspecting a joke, answered that perhaps the handle was not always on the same side, and therefore could not tell.  "Yes, it is," replied Mr. Brown.  "Well, then," said Mr. W., "will you tell me which side the handle is on?"  "Why, on the outside, of course," was the answer.

MILLS.

     Some time between the years 1827 and 1830, Captain Elihu Moore came from Connecticut, and located at the center of this township, and, being a man of some wealth, took upland (timbered land, of course, as the township was still new), in the immediate vicinity of the center, and, in the year 1829, erected a saw-mill on his own land, and, in the course of the year, had his mill completed and in operation. This mill did a fair amount of business for many years, and was, probably, the first mill built in the township.
     About the same time, or soon after, Abial Haskins built a saw-mill in the northeast part of the township, on the premises now owned by Luther W. Wight.  This mill was not of long duration, being accidentally destroyed by fire.  Soon after this, Mr. Gould Nickerson built a mill at the same place, which was also destroyed by fire.  Mr. Nickerson had good reason to believe that the destruction of this mill was the work of an incendiary.  A man was arrested on suspicion, but the evidence was not sufficient to convict him. Mr. Nickerson rebuilt on the same site, and afterward sold out to Rev. William Brown.  Mr. Brown kept the mill in operation for several years, and, in the year 1849, came to his death by falling through the floor of his mill, among the gearing.

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     Amasa Stetson, at an early day, built a saw-mill on his own premises, about two miles north of the Center.  This mill did not remain long enough to do much business, being carried away by a freshet.  It is said that Mr. Stetson built this mill under the strong protest of his family.  One evening, as Mr. Stetson started out for his mill, with a lantern, Mrs. Stetson remarked that she sincerely wished she could see that mill scattered in fragments over the fields.  She was gratified, as there came a shower that very night, and, in the space of half an hour after the rain commenced falling, every vestige of dam and mill were swept away, and the next morning, in answer to prayer, were seen the fragmentary remains of each, scattered broadcast over many acres of ground.  Mr. S. C. Stetson informs me, that the water rose so high on that occasion that trees, standing in the ravine were marred by the floating timber, full fifteen feet from the ground.
     There is a difference of opinion among the early settlers, in regard to the priority of these mills, some claiming that the mill built by Mr. Haskins was the first, while according to the recollection of others, Mr. Moore's mill was the first.  It does not matter which of these mills was built first, as they were of untold benefit to. the early settlers, and prosperity and thrift did not begin really to manifest itself, until the people could get their lumber manufactured in their own township.  There is a difference in the recollection of the early settlers, in regard to events that transpired, many years ago.

MERCHANTS.

     From the best information that I am able to obtain, it appears that William Dewey, who resided in the northwest part of the town, on the premises now occupied by Leander Rhodes, retailed dry goods and groceries, prior to the year 1830, occupying part of his dwelling house for a store.  Mr. Dewey owned an ashery, and bought ashes of the early settlers, paying for them with dry goods and groceries.  The early settlers, while clearing their land and burning timber, were careful to save their field ashes, scraping them into heaps, and selling them generally for six or seven cents a bushel.  While Mr. Dewey was selling goods at his residence, Mr. Andrew Tryon, from Huntsburg, fitted up a small frame building, at the Center, for a store, filled it with goods, and did business a year or two, adopting the credit system; but, finding it unprofitable in a new township, to sell goods on credit, abandoned the enterprise, and went into other business.  After Tryon evacuated his store at the Center, Mr. Dewey filled the same building with goods, and continued in the mercantile business for several years, employing the venerable Spencer Garritt, who was then a young man, as clerk.  Henry Wells succeeded Mr. Dewey in the mercantile business, erected the first building at the Center, designed especially for a store, and brought on a large assortment of dry goods and groceries.  Mr. Wells continued in business for several years, and until his death.  After the demise of Henry, George Wells bought the store, and engaged in the same business for a time, and finally sold out to George W. Garritt, who continued to occupy the same building, until about the year 1865, when he sold the same to Horace Tucker, and built for himself a new store on the opposite corner, where he is still doing a successful business.  Mr. Tucker, after trading a year or two, abandoned the business, and, about the year 1872, sold the old store to Mr. H. G. Rich, of Trumbull, Ashtabula county.  Mr. Rich brought on a large assortment of goods, and, being successful in trade, the next year, erected a large and commodious building for a store, which he still continues to occupy.

TAVERNS.

     About the year 1836, there being no tavern in the township, Bushnell Austin, who resided about one mile south of the Center, near what is known at

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the present time as the plank road corners, made a public house of his residence, where he continued to entertain travelers for a number of years.  Soon after the completion of the plank road, in 1848, from Painesville to Warren, Mr. Austin built a large, elegant hotel, on the same corners, which still remains, not a hotel, but as an institution of by-gone days.
     About the year 1840, Archibald Austin, commenced keeping a public house at the Center. "Uncle Archie," as he was familliarly called, continued to "run" the hotel, for better or for worse, for some years, and was finally succeeded by Daniel Robinson.  About the year 1864, Mr. Seth Whitney, the present proprietor, purchased the hotel and premises, and has, during the past few years, enlarged and improved the same, until it has justly merited the reputation of being one of the most comfortable and pleasant hotels in the country.

HISTORY OF CHURCHES.

     Previous to the year 1820, no Christian minister had found his way among the early settlers, to preach the Gospel, though many of them, if not all, desired to hear the Gospel preached, and participate in divine service, on the first day of the week.  Soon after the above date, the Rev. Jonathan Winchester, a Congregational preacher and missionary, sent to northern Ohio, by the Missionary Society of the United States, came occasionally, and, perhaps, by invitation, preached to the people.  At a still later period, the few members, who formerly belonged to the Congregational church, procured the services of the Rev. Orange Lyman, of Madison, one-fourth of the time, preaching alternately, at the residence of Sherman Dayton and Rosswell Stevens.
     About the year 1822, the Rev. William Brown, a Methodist preacher, located in the north part of the township, where he gathered a little band of Christians, and instituted a class, or society, where they enjoyed preaching or social worship, as often as once a week.  Baldwin Morris was chosen class-leader.
     Sometime during the year 1828, a few who had formerly been members of the Methodist church, in other States, residing at the Center, or in the immediate vicinity, deemed it expedient to organize themselves into a church, which was accordingly done.  The charter members of this church were, Mr. and Mrs. Elihu Moore, Mr. and Mrs. John C. Williams, Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan R. Whitney, Almeda Moore, and Harriet Miller.  This church, consisting of
only eight members, held their weekly meeting in a log building, the residence of Capt. Elihu Moore.  Mr. Moore was chosen their first class-leader.  Not long after the organization of this church, a powerful revival of religion commenced, under the preaching of the Rev. Mr. Crawford, an eloquent preacher and persuasive exhorter, which continued, says my informant, until a majority of the inhabitants of the township were converted, and gathered into the church.
     About this time, the class at the north part of the town, having no permanent organization, came and united with the church at the center.  This church, for several years, continued to exert a salutary influence in the community, and gain in numbers and wealth, so that, about the year 1830, they were able to build a large meeting-house, sufficiently capacious to accommodate an audience of five hundred persons.  In the interim, between 1840 and '45, the equanimity of the church was seriously disturbed by the agitation of the subject of slavery.  The whole brotherhood professed to be opposed to slavery, but still a majority of them took conservative ground, while others, becoming ultra in their views, severed their connection with the church, eleven members withdrawing in one day, and, during the year 1845, several others seceded.  These seceders, united themselves in a separate church organization, under the name of " True Wesleyans," or "Wesleyan Methodists."  This new church, for a few years, had

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some accessions -to their membership, and, with some outside assistance, erected for themselves a comfortable house of worship, and continued a separate body of Christians, until after the slaves were made free by virtue of the Emancipation Proclamation, of President Lincoln.  For several years prior to the abolition of slavery, this church had evidently been on the decline, and had discontinued their regular meetings.

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

     In the year 1829, the few families residing in different parts of the township, having formerly been members of the Congregational church, prior to their immigration to northern Ohio, deemed it expedient to enter in covenant relations with each other in a church capacity, thereby forming a nucleus around which others of like faith might be gathered in future years.   Prior to the year 1829, a missionary in the employ of the general assembly of the Presbyterian church of the United States, by the name of Jonathan Winchester, occasionally visited Montville, and preached to the people, alternately, at the residences of Roswell Stevens and Sherman Dayton.  Saturday, Aug. 1, 1829, the said Winchester met the brethren at the residence of Christopher Pratt, and delivered to them a lecture, preparatory to the formation of a church.  Accordingly, on the following day, (Sunday, August 2d), the brotherhood assembled at the same place, and united themselves in church relation under the name of "First Congregational church of Montville."  The charter members of this church were Roswell Stevens and wife, from the Congregational church in Austinburg, Ashtabula county, Ohio; Sherman Dayton and Elizabeth Dayton, his wife, from the church in Eden, Erie county, New York; and Christopher Pratt, formerly a member of the church in Westfield, Hampshire county, Massachusetts, and Abigail Pratt, wife of Harvey Pratt, presented a letter from the church in North Guilford, Connecticut, where she had formerly been a member, and united in the new organization in this township.  The first officers of the church were Roswell Stevens, deacon, Sherman Dayton, moderator and clerk.  The Rev. Mr. Winchester, being present on this occasion, preached a sermon, and, after setting things in order in the church, administered the sacrament to them.  This devoted band of Christians did not forget the assembling of themselves together weekly, for prayer and social worship, having only occasional preaching for nearly two years.
     In the year 1831, the church had some accessions to its membership by the arrival from Conneccticut, of Randall Hart, George Cook, with their families, and Seth Whitney.  These, uniting with the infant church, and combining their efforts, succeeded in procuring the services of the Rev. Mr. Cobb for a portion of the time; and, the next year, (1832) the services of the Rev. Jason Chapin.  In the latter part of September of this year, Absalom Wells, his wife, Henry Wells, Anna Wells and Harriet Wells, their children, united with the church, presenting their letters from the church in New Hartford, Litchfield county, Connecticut, Jan. 6, 1833, Olive Pratt, joined by letter from the church in Burton, this county.  During this year (1833), the church enjoyed the preaching of the Rev. Orange Lyman, of Thompson.  The family of Absalom Wells were well educated, especially in the science of vocal music.  Henry Wells was an efficient teacher, and the early settlers of this township were greatly indebted to him for their knowledge of the science of vocal music.
     During the year 1833, the membership of the church was still further in creased by the arrival from Connecticut of the following persons, to wit: Noyes Baldwin and family, Stanley Spencer, and George A. Mowrey and his family.  These, on the 10th of October, united with the church, except Mr. Mowrey.  During the year 1834, Lyman S. Bacheldor presented his letter from the Con-

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gregational church of New Hartford, and united with the church here.  For some years after this, the church continued to receive accessions by emigration from abroad, and conversions at home.  About this time, a religious revival commenced, and continued until fifteen or twenty were converted and gathered into the church.
     The congregation at this time, becoming numerically strong and influential, continued to exert a salutary influence in the community, until about the year 1843, when arrangements were made by the church for building a house of worship.  A site whereon to build was secured and paid for, the timber and other lumber were mostly on the ground, four or five hundred dollars were paid on subscription as a building fund, and the prospect for the future prosperity of the church was all that could be desired.  Soon after this, however, certain events transpired which seriously affected the peace and harmony of the brotherhood.  The membership became divided into two nearly equal parties or factions, which increased to such a degree that the enterprise of building was abandoned, and the church continued to wane rapidly until its organization was given up.  Several of the members of this church are still residents of this township, and are numbered among our most exemplary citizens.  Some of them have united with the Methodist church, and others remain firmly adhering to their former principles.  I have the authority of J. V. Whitney, esq., for saying that the Congregational church, soon after its formation, organized the first Sunday-school of this township, with Henry Wells as superintendent.  The Methodist people organized a Sunday-school at an early day, which has been sustained with commendable interest to the present time.

DISCIPLES CHURCH.

     For several years after the Congregational church discontinued their meetings, the Methodist church had the controlling influence in religious matters and morals, until as late as the year 1859, when Elder Orrin Gates, a Christian or Disciple preacher commenced a protracted meeting in the Wesleyan church, at the center of Montville, on the 30th day of December, and continuing until the 16thday of January, 1860.  At this meeting, twelve persons became obedient to the faith, and were buried in baptism; and these converts, together with the few others of like faith, who were residing in the township, at a meeting called expressly for the puropose of organizing a Christian or Disciple church, on the 14th day of February, A. D. 1860, pledged themselves to each other and to God to walk in love and in obedience to Christ.  The names of the charter members of this church are as follows: Lucius A. Baldwin and Frances Baldwin, his wife; John Murray and Esther Murray, his wife; Henry N. Skinner and his wife, Mary Skinner; Kate Chamberlin; William Proctor and Martha, his wife; Stephen Case; Luther Wight and Eliza Wight; William Johnson and Catharine Johnson, his wife.  The first officers of the church were Lucius A. Baldwin and John Murray, overseers or elders, and Stephen Case was elected deacon.  June 10, 1860, Jerusha Baldwin united with the church; also, on the same day, Lucius A. Robertson and Emeline Robertson united, presenting letters from the church where they had formerly been members.  July 29th of the same year, Mrs. Lois Hayes united by letter, and, on September 23d, Caroline Robinson identified herself with the church.  The above shows the rise and progress of the church for the, first two years of its existence, until June 15, 1862.  After this, for four or five years, the church continued to prosper, having frequent accessions to its membership, until it numbered about seventy-five.  This church, about the first of May, 1864, organized a Sunday-school of about one hundred scholars, on the union plan, with Anson Shaw, superintendent, and the Rev. Joseph Davidson, of Oberlin, who was temporarily residing in this

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township, assisting superintendent.  This school has been continued with more or less interest to the present time.  In the year 1866, the church made arrangements for building a house of worship, and, with the aid of friendly outsiders, succeeded in building and completing a commodious and pleasant house of worship.

EARLY SETTLEMENTS.

     Roswell Stevens and wife, whose history has already been given in a previous chapter, were the first settlers of Montville.  Their son, Seth, and their grandson, Nelson A. Stevens, are now living upon the old homestead.
     Mr. Stevens' daughter, Venice Hart, says, as she was going, about a mile and a half, through the woods to school, a large bear followed near her, by the side of the road, for a considerable distance.
     Rufus B. Dayton came, in 1816, from Eden, Erie county, New York, and several others came about the same time, whose names are mentioned in a previous chapter.
     In 1822, Abijah Nickerson came to Montville, from the State of New York, and purchased the farm of Hazard Andrews, where Eber H. Brown now lives, in sections twelve and thirteen.  The names of his sons are: Hiram, Jonah, George, Joseph, and Gould, and his daughter, Almira Underwood, wife of the Rev. Asa B. Underwood.  Nickerson lived on that farm, until he sold to Philip Garritt, in 1829, and removed to Portage county.
     The same year, 1822, Moses K. Stevens, from Buffalo, New York, Richard Richardson, Amasa Stetson, from New York; and James Andrews, brother of Hazard Andrews, immigrated to Montville. Moses K. Stevens, and his son, Ephriam C., lived on the farm, now owned by Oliver Basquin, in section number two.  Mr. Stevens was a remarkable man, and a very unfortunate one.  He was called Captain Stevens.  He was, for many years, captain of a boat on the lakes, and, at the commencement of the war of 1812, was very wealthy.  His son says he owned, at that time, six vessels, on Lake Erie, a fine dwelling-house, and a large warehouse.  One of his boats, which cost him three thousand dollars, was lost on its first trip.  The British destroyed his other vessels, and in five minutes after, his wife and children were compelled to flee for their lives, and, looking back, saw the soldiers setting fire to their residence, and in a short time all was consumed.  They were, thus, in a few days left penniless.  All lost, by the cruel ravages of war, Mr. Stevens felt the loss so severely, that his reason became dethroned, and ever after, until his death, he aimlessly wandered about the country, without making any effort to accumulate property, and even refused to stay with his son.  He was large in stature, and very strong, and while unloading his vessels, would enter the hold, and throw barrels of salt on deck, as easily as a common man could throw a ten-pound weight.  Mr. John V. Whitney informed me that he was a frequent visitor at his school every winter, until he died. He died, suddenly, at a hotel, in Concord, now Lake county, and his remains were laid in their last resting place, in the Montville cemetery, in the lot owned by Peter Wintersteen.  During the beginning of his prosperity, he was in the military service of the United States, and was posted, with a detachment of soldiers, at Black Rock, New York.  He at last rests in his peaceful bed, where the ravages of war will never reach him more.
     Amasa Stetson took up one hundred and forty acres of land, in section number three, about two miles north of the center. His family consisted of himself, wife, and eight children: Amos, Benjamin C., Spencer C., Priscilla, Fanny, Elosia, Fidelia, and Sally Ann.  Mr. Stetson was an exemplary man, and was much respected.
     Spencer C. Stetson lived on the old homestead until his death, which hap-

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pened in the year 1875, February 10th.  During his life time, he filled many places of trust in the township; was class-leader in the Methodist Episcopal society, in his neighborhood, for many years.
     In 1821, John Conant settled in this town, locating at the center.  He was a shoemaker by trade, and a very quiet, in offensive citizen.
     Gould Nickerson was accused, by some, of encouraging litigation among the people, but afterwards, he held the office of justice of the peace for several years, and during his official career, greatly discouraged the habit of going to law, and his influence effected a very. desirable reformation in the practice of litigation.  His example has been followed ever since.
     Asa B. Underwood settled on a piece of land in section number twenty-three.  Afterwards he purchased one hundred acres, about one and a half miles east of the center; he eventually sold this last place to Washington Brockway, and is now living with his son-in-law, George Wells, of Grundy county, Iowa.  He was a preacher of the Methodist Episcopal church for more than forty years.  For many years Mr. Underwood held the office of township clerk, and for several years was one of the trustees of the township.  In early times Mr. Underwood went to Windsor to purchase a young pig, and in returning home with his pig, it was through the woods most of the way, and when nearing some large oak trees, much to his surprise, came in contact with two bears.  One climbed a tree, while the other sat upon its haunches, showing no disposition to retreat, but saluted him with a surly growl. He said he clasped his hand over the pig's nose and mouth, to prevent its making a noise, and left bruin, " alone in his glory," as fast as possible.
     Daniel B. Underwood purchased land in section eighteen, where Canfield L. Whitney now resides, and lived there until the spring of 1835, when he sold to Bushnel Austin, and moved to Portage county, where he soon died of the hemorrhage of the lungs.  He was a man of more than ordinary ability.  In education, he excelled.  A splendid penman -  much of his writing can now be seen in the old township records. He was an excellent teacher - the third justice of the peace - of sterling integrity, and strictly honest.
     Jonas Underwood, jr., came here from the State of New York, but all of the Underwoods were originally from Barre, Worcester county, Massachusetts.  Jonas settled on a farm in section twenty-three, on the center road, where he lived until about the year 1850, when he sold and, with his family, moved to Henry county, Illinois, after which he was killed, by being run over by a train of cars, while on a visit in Michigan.  He held many positions of trust in the
township.
     In 1824, Jonas Underwood, sr., Ransel, his son, and Philander Raymond settled in the township.  The Underwoods bought and lived on a farm in section eighteen, one mile south of the center. Ransel Underwood held office in the township for many years; a truly pious man: a pillar in the Methodist Episcopal church, and a class leader for over forty years.  Jonas Underwood claimed to be a Universalist, but anything but pious.
     Joseph Metcalf originally came from Connecticut.  The Metcalf family owned about eight hundred acres of land, in sections twenty-two, twenty-three, and twenty-four - the most of it in section twenty-two.  Metcalf settled on the place now owned by Homer Bill; lived there many years, until he finally sold out, and went to Illinois.
     Sherman Dayton, whose name has been mentioned in a former chapter, was an intelligent, enterprising and kind-hearted man.
     In 1833, a project was started to lay out a State road, and establish a mail route, and daily mail coaches, from Mantua, Portage county, to Madison, then in Geauga county.  Two routes were proposed; the settlers residing on the

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north and south road, in the west part of Huntsburg, Montville, and Thompson, contended for the west route, while those living on the center road through those townships, contended as earnestly to have the route located through the center of said townships.  The contest became so bitter that it was the cause of the estrangement, forever, of old and intimate friends.  The center route was finally established.  Colonel Dayton felt disappointed and aggrieved, and soon sold his farm to Richard Curtis, in 1837, and removed to Madison, now Lake county, where he died, in 1862.
     Spencer Garrett, son-in-law of Elihu Moore, came from Torrington, Connecticut, in the year 1829, and located at the center of the township.  He was a cooper by trade; was many years postmaster; was an acting justice of the peace twelve years: township clerk three years, and has held the office of township trustee.  He is still living on his old place, aged eighty-three years.  He had one son, FreHderick, an editor, who died in the State of Arkansas.
     George W. Garrett continued in the mercantile business up to July 14, 1878,when he died.  His store and goods were sold to A. E. Miller and a Mr. Hendry, of Madison, who are continuing the trade.  His son, James W. Garrett, is living on his farm, in the north part of the township.  Henry W. is living at the center.  His daughter, Louisa, was married to D. M. Robertson, and died some years ago.  Elizabeth married a Mr. Logan, an editor in Texas, and died there,in 1876. Esther is living in the township, the wife of J. A. Mowrey.
     Nathaniel Bailey and his sons, Jesse and Elijah B. Bailey, emigrated from the State of New York, and purchased land, about one mile north of the center, on the old Stevens road, in sections eight and nine.  Jesse Bailey died about 1868, and Elijah B. died Mar. 21, 1871, aged sixty-six.  Elijah acquired a handsome property, and was justice of the peace for three years.
     Sept. 23, 1831, Randall Hart and his family, Salmon, David, Randall, jr., Lemuel, Amerit, Lois, Cortentia, and Letitia, came from Westfield, Hamdencounty, Masssachusetts.  Randall Hart, sr., died many years ago, - date not remembered.  Salmon and David are still living in this town.  Randall lives in Ashtabula county, and Lemuel resides in Cleveland, Ohio.
     Seth Whitney came from Granville, Massachusetts, in September, 1831, and resided in this town until his death, Oct. 12, 1875.  He was an industrious man, and enterprising, and acquired a large property.  He held many positions of trust, in the township, both civil and religious.  He left one son, Henry P. Whitney, now living in the old mansion house, built by Elihu Moore, which was owned by his father at the time of his death.
     Henry P. held the office of postmaster for several years, until this present summer (1878) he resigned the office, and Veits E., son of John V. Whitney, was appointed to fill the vacancy.
     Johnson Allen and family, Samuel Roath and family, his sons, John, Lewis, Isaac, James, and Samuel, jr.  Mr. Allen located northeast of the center, and the Roaths located in the extreme north part of the town, on the old road, north of Wintersteen's, in section number two.  They are all dead, or moved away, except the wife of James Wintersteen, and the wife of Ephraim C. Stevens.
     Absalom Wells and family, Israel Barnes and his wife, Lucy Barnes, came from New Hartford, Connecticut, arriving here June 4, 1832.  Wells came the year before, and began to build his house.  He purchased seven hundred acres of land, extending from the center, east, in sections thirteen, fourteen and fifteen, on the south side of the road.  Barnes lived with Wells until his death, which occurred June 5, 1832, aged seventy-seven.  Lucy Barnes died Oct. 24, 1834.  Absalom Wells died at his residence Dec. 11, 1842, aged fifty-six.  Marilla Wells, his wife, died at the residence of her daughter in Sandusky, Aug. 30, 1866, aged seventy-five years.

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     In the year 1823, John Carman, Dr. Daniel Allen and his sons, Daniel, jr., John and Albert, came to Montville.  Jonas Underwood came at the same time.  Dr. Allen lived in Montville many years.  His son, Albert, is still living in the north part of the township.  Daniel Allen, jr., sold his farm in 1836, and united with the Mormon dupes at Kirtland.  John Allen died, leaving a son, John Allen, who is now, living in the north part of the township. John Carman settled on a piece of land in section number two.  After a few years, he sold out to Solomon Chapin.
     In 1825 James Noble, James T. Dewey, Amos Dewey, Mosely Dewey and Philip Smith were added to the list of settlers.  James Noble married Henrietta Dewey, and purchased a farm in sections nine and twelve.  James T. Dewey lived on a farm in section eight, lor several years.  He finally sold his farm to Orin S. Pease, and emigrated to Iowa.  Amos and Mosely Dewey owned farms in section nine.
     Philip Smith purchased a farm in section number two, lived on it several years, then sold, and went west.
     James and Abial Haskins, and William Dewey settled in Montville in 1826.  After a few years, the Haskins, as the township became more thickly settled, found it expedient to flee before the advancing civilization, sold out, and went further west.
     William Dewey purchased several hundred acres of land in sections nine and ten.  He was quite wealthy, had several thousand dollars in money, and his wife, thousands more.  He always wanted to do a large business, to have many hired men about him, but lacking energy himself, he constantly lost money, his business did not pay, and eventually, his money was gone, and he a poor man.
John C. Williams and Stephen Kelsey came in 1827.  Williams was the first militia captain in Montville, and first class-leader of the Methodist Episcopal church.  He lived in peace with all mankind, and died as he had lived, in Montville, in 1870.
     In the year 1828, a number of immigrants arrived from the east: Jonathan R. Whitney, Josiah Miller, and Elihu Moore with his family - Lucretius, William C., Charles A., Josiah G., Mary, and Adaline.  These new-comers all settled at the center - Miller on the southwest corner, and Whitney on the northeast.  Miller was, for many years, a prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and afterwards in the Wesleyan church.  He now lives at the center.  Miller and Whitney both married daughters of Elihu Moore.  Whitney was oneof the charter members of the Methodist church, and afterwards joined the Wesley United Brethren church, and for many years preached to both churches.  He now lives at the center.  Elihu Moore purchased about nine hundred acres of land at, and east of, the center, on the north side of the center road. He had a brother, Theron, who had an interest in the land.  Moore built the house where Henry P. Whitney now lives.  He was enterprising and benevolent;  his house was the home of the weary traveler, and his table was constantly spread for the hungry.  He furnished a home for all preachers and members of the Methodist Episcopal church while attending meeting.  He died at his own residence, Nov. 19, 1862.  His son, Lucretius, lives in Michigan; William, in Fredonia, Portage county; Charles, in Adams county, Wisconsin.  Lyman Allen came also in 1828, and settled on section number four.  He lived there many years.  He sold, and he and his family moved to Evansville, Indiana.
     Levi Beach also came the same year, and settled in the east part of the town.  I find by the records that, in 1828, there were twenty-four persons listed for taxation of personal property.  There were thirteen horses, and ninety-six head

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of cattle of all ages, taxed in the town.  In 1827, twenty-one persons were taxedon eight horses and seventy eight head of cattle.  In 1825 there were only five horses and sixty-three head of cattle listed for taxation. 1826, nineteen names,listed six horses, valued at two hundred and forty dollars, and seventy head of cattle, valued at five hundred and sixty dollars.  All horses were valued at forty dollars, and all cattle at eight dollars each.  Sheep, swine, furniture, and some other property, was not taxed.  In 1829, there was no house of sufficient value to be taxed.
     Gould Nickerson says he built the first framed house and barn in Montville.  The first lawyers that ever managed a lawsuit in Montville were Samuel Mathews and Henry C. Paine. 
     In 1829, Truman Allen came, and purchased a farm of one hundred acres in section eighteen, one-half mile south of the center, and has lived on the same place until the present year, 1878.
     Philip Garritt, from the Isle of Man, purchased Abijah Nickerson's farm, and lived on it for many years.
     William Vorse, a brother of the wife of Jonas Underwood, a joiner by trade, lived in town several years, married Lois Hart, daughter of Randall Hart, and subsequently went to Wisconsin.
     The same year, Christopher and Harvey Pratt, father and son, came from Westfield, Massachusests, and settled on land one-half mile north of the center, where they lived many years.  William Bugby now owns part of the Pratt farm, on which he now resides.
     In 1835, several persons moved into Montville.  The Austin family came early in the season - Archibald, the head of the family, with his sons, Bushnel, William, and Andrew, and Emeline, his daughter.  Rufus H. Wrisley and William Johnson, sons-in-law of Archibald Austin, came this year.  Uncle Archie, as he was familiarly called, died about the year 1863 or 1864.
     Bushnel Austin, at the plank road corners, erected two dwelling houses and a hotel; he also bought Mr. David Underwood's place, and, some years after,sold to his son, Lyman H. Austin, removed to Concord, and bought a farm there, upon which he lived until his death.  William is still living upon the same place he purchased of Gould Nickerson.
     Rufus H. Wrisley purchased a place of Mr. Nickerson, and occupied it for several years, and afterwards sold to Simeon Evans, and purchased a place at South Thompson, where he still resides.  For many years, he held the office of justice of the peace, and other positions of trust.  Johnson is now living in the northeast part of the township, a quiet, peaceable man.  Andrew, is living in the south part of the township, and, for many years, has filled offices, both
civil and religious.  He has been an acting justice about fifteen years or more.  Emeline married Seth Stevens, and is living with her husband, on the old Stevens homestead.  Linus Batchelder purchased land in section number eighteen, Munn tract, and shortly after, sold to Reuben Loomis, and is non-living in Wisconsion.  Alfred Robinson, came to Montville, in 1835, and took possession in the name of his wife, Clarrissa Metcalf, of one hundred acres, more or less, in section twenty-four.  This land was claimed by the Nickersons, and one of them sold the same, to a man by the name of Bruce,* who tried, by legal means, to eject Robinson from the land.  The title was in litigation, ten or fifteen years.  At length, Robinson obtained a decree in his favor, and sold the land to Rufus L. Rhodes, and went to Claridon to live.  Philemon Batchelder, and his son, Benjamin N. Batchelder, came to Montville, about this time, 1835, and purchased a farm of Guy Carlton, in section number twenty-
---------------
     * We think this name should be Drew instead of Bruce.

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three, where B. N. B. now resides.  Philemon died many years ago.  In 1836, Isaac Leggett, and his sons, Mortimer D., Charles and James, with his sons-in-law,G. N. Hoffman and Jacob Clock.  Mr. Leggett, was a Hixite quaker in principle, a quiet, intelligent man.  He emigrated from Tompkins county, New York.
     M. D. Leggett is well known throughout the entire country.  He was first a teacher, then an attorney, then a brigadier-general, making his mark in every engagement, whether in the swamps of the Yazoo, or storming the hill in front of Atlanta, and four times at the bayonet's point, repulsing Hardee's desperadoes, never yielding an inch.  General Leggett is now holding office under the government of the United States.
     John and Peter McNaughton, came to Montville, from the state of New York, in 1835, and settled in section nineteen.  Their father purchased about seven hundred acres of land, and intended to settle all of his sons, seven in number, upon it.  Some years after, M. D. McNaughton, came and located a part of the land, and lived on it, several years, and then sold the same to Enos Clark, who still resides on the farm.  Mr. Clark has sold the farm to R. L. Rhodes, and bought a house and lot at the Center.  Mr. C. will give Mr. Rhodes possession Apr. 1, 1879.  M. D. McNaughton has gone to reside in Medina county.  Peter McNaughton, after staying on his land two or three years, left, and went to Cincinnati; from there to New Orleans, and has not been heard from for the last twenty-five years.  John M. McNaughton, is still living on the farm he first improved.  Orin S. Pearce, purchased a farm of James F. Dewey, in 1842, in section seven and eight, and lived upon it until 1852, when he sold to H. B. Everett, and purchased the farm formerly owned by Absalom Wells, at the Center, and after a few years, sold the same to Julius Baldwin, and built him a house, on the opposite side of the street, where he lived until his death, May 26, 1870, Mr. B. Everett came from Granville, Licking county, in the fall of 1852.  Mr. Everett is still living on the farm bought of O. S. Pease.
     Selah Daniels came from Freedom, Portage county, many years ago, and purchased lands a mile and a half east of the center, where he and his son have built a steam saw-mill that is doing a fine business.
     About the year 1847 Alvin Crittenden and his son, Henry, came to Montville from the State of New York, and purchased the Wells farm, of James Porter, and lived upon it till 1853, when he sold it to Orrin S. Pease.  He has gone west.  Mr. Crittenden was a gentleman of culture and refinement.
    Sept. 29, 1848, E. B. Perry, from the township of Perry, Lake county, came and purchased one hundred acres of land from Joseph Battles, in section number eleven, cleared up the farm, and erected buildings, where his son, Albert, now resides.
     James Porter came to Montville, from Portage county, and purchased, at first and subsequently, five or six hundred acres of land, in sections nineteen, twenty, twenty-one and twenty-two.  He erected a saw-mill that was run by water power, but subsequently changed the water for steam power - this mill is doing a good business.
     Evelon and Truman Bill came from Massachusetts, and settled on lands in the east part of the township, in the year 1834.  About this time Samuel Wilkinson purchased lands in section fifteen, south of the road.  Evelon Bill, soon after coming here, met with a loss of three hundred dollars, which was stolen from his vest pocket, while the house was left alone a short time.  Evelon and Truman were keeping bachelor's hall, in the Beach house, so called, and were out working on the road.  They lived secluded in a small settlement, east of the swamps, the road through which was almost impassable, and with them as with

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others, " necessity was the mother of invention," they, for many years, used as a vehicle of travel, what they called a "dug out," which was one half of a large whitewood log, eight or ten feet long, dug out like a canoe, made round at one end, with a knob, by which to hitch a pair of cattle with chain; with this they could cross our creeks.  It would not turn over, or catch against roots, or any other obstruction.  For years some went to church, regularly, with their families in the "dugout," improvising a seat at the back end.  Mrs. Levi Beach, on one occasion, with her "dug-out" and one ox, went through the woods, without any road, not even underbrushed, or marked trees to follow, to Huntsburg, to do her marketing.
     The Bills have become wealthy, and, as a contrast, they ride at present, in fine covered carriages, on grand roads, in the summer season, as smooth as the house floor.  Evelon died Dec. 7, 1868; Truman is still living about a quarter of a mile west of the center; Wilkin lived a few years on his farm, when he exchanged it for a farm in Windsor, and, selling that, went west, but soon came back, broken down in health, when he entered the Methodist Episcopal conference, as a traveling preacher.  He is now practicing medicine in Jefferson, Ashtabula county.
     The same year, 1834, Lyman Williams came from Massachusetts, and settled on lot six, in section nineteen.  Munn tract, where he lived for many years, working his farm, and blacksmithing. He has a son, John M., who is in a banking house in Iowa.  Williams now lives in Windsor, Ashtabula county.
     The same year, Samuel P. Whitney and his son, John V. Whitney, his daughter Harriet, and Lurena L., came from Granville, Hampden county, Massachusetts, and settled on lands in section seventeen, Munn tract.  Samuel P. was an honest, industrious and quiet citizen, lived respected by all.  He died Dec. 16, 1871, aged ninety-six years, one month and seven days - the oldest man that has died in the township.  John V. is still living on the old homestead.  Harriet married Samuel Rhodes, jr., and lives on lot one, section seventeen, Munn tract.  Lurena L. married Horace B. Everett, and lives about one and a quarter miles north of the center.  John V. Whitney is a man of more than ordinary talent.  He has done a business at surveying in this and the adjoining county of Ashtabula, has been a successful teacher, for many years, and has held various offices of trust and profit -county commissioner, three terms; county school examiner for many years, and still holds that office; he has held the office of justice of the peace, and has been township trustee for several years.  All of which offices he has conducted to the satisfaction of all.
     Lyman S. Batchelder came, in 1831, and purchased land in lot number three, section number eighteen, in the Munn tract, and with his son, James, is living upon the same land at the present time.  Mr. Batchelder is a quiet man, and a substantial citizen.
     In 1832, Guy Carlton, Fred Tucker, and his brother, Asa Tucker, Geo. Cook, and his son, Geo. S. Cook, and Hiram Tucker, settled in this township.  Guy Carlton came from Huntsburg, as, also, did the Tuckers.  George Cook came from New Hartford, Connecticut.  He was blind for many years.  The time of his death is not remembered.  Ceo. S. Cook sold his farm, a few years since, and went to McLean county, Illinois.
     Rufus L. Rhodes came from West Hampton, Massachusetts, in the fall of 1833, and purchased lands in section twenty-three, where he now resides.  By untiring industry, and close economy, he has accumulated a large property.  The next spring, 1834, his father, Samuel Rhodes, and his brothers, Alonzo and Sydney, and the next fall Samuel, jr., came and purchased lands, and, by untiring industry, all have acquired a handsome property, and each of them are well to do and independent farmers.

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Montville has never had a murder, assassination, or a suicide, that has been known, committed within its limits.
     Leonard Stroud, who murdered his wife, and committed suicide, in Troy, last winter (1877), once lived in Montville, nearly or quite, forty years ago.  His first wife was the daughter of Nathaniel Bailey, of this town.  He was always considered a man of violent temper, and inclined to be revengeful.  "I once," says John V. Whitney, esq., "at a law-suit before Spencer Garritt, saw Stroud get very angry with the court, and use very insulting language, when the court ordered the constable, Guy Carlton, to interfere.  The constable reprimanded him, when Stroud turned upon him, and said: "You old catfish, you are fit for nothing but to hang up in a 'pothecary shop, to cut emetics off  from."
     In the fall of 1853, John B. Brace came from Victor, Ontario county, New York, and purchased Asa B. Underwood's farm in section twenty-three, and where he and his son, Peter B., are living at the present time.
     In 1856 Edward Bailey purchased the farm of Truman Bill, in section number fifteen, where he still resides.  Mr. Bailey came from Goshen, Litchfield county, Connecticut.
     Jonas B. Underwood, sr., said, that about the year 1825, he was, at onetime, in the large extent of woods, in the southeast part of this township, he heard a terrible crashing noise, in the distance, that seemed to be approaching nearer to him every moment.  In fear, he stepped behind a tree, and looked to ascertain the cause of the noise, when he discovered a drove of animals, that, to him, seemed much like a drove of mules with kitchen chairs tied to their heads,  He afterwards, from description, concluded they were a drove of elk.
     In 1844 I. N. Skinner came from Kirtland, and bought Henry Campbell's farm, about two miles north of the center, where he still resides.  He is eighty-four or eighty-five years of age, this present year (1878).  He is remarkably active and cheerful, and retains all his faculties, seemingly unimpaired.  He first located in Mentor, Lake county, in 1816, and married in 1817.  His wife was Sylvia Baldwin, the first school-teacher in Kirtland.  He walked, about one year ago from Painesville to Montville, in one day, a distance of fourteen miles.  Mr. Skinner was a soldier in the war of 1812, and now draws a pension.
     Henry Wells, son of Absalom Wells, was well educated, especially in the science of vocal music.  He was many years a merchant.  He died Dec. 24, 1844.  Ralph, after living on a farm some years, died Jan. 22, 1854.  Absalom, jr., died Oct. 21, 1845; at the time of his death he was only nine teen years old.  Maria Wells married Stanley Spencer, and is now living in Huntsburg.  Harriet married a Mr. Cowdery, and is now living in Sandusky.  Marilla married M. D. Leggett, now Gen. Leggett, of Cleveland; she died in 1877.
     In the year 1832, Noyes Baldwin came from Connecticut, and purchased lands of Horace Gillett, one mile west of the center, where his widow still lives.  He was a man of sterling integrity, very industrious, and made a very useful citizen.  He died many years ago.
     Stanley Spencer came the same year, and settled on lands in section twelve, adjoining Mr. Baldwin's.  He died on his farm, of apoplexy, in the year 1860.  One of his daughters married Charles Steer, now living in Huntsburg; the other married Dayton Steer, M. D., and is now living in Huntsburg.  His son, John, is now living in Painesville.
     George A. Mowrey came in the year 1832, and settled on land next west of Spencer's.  He died in 1863 or 1864.
     Anson Shaw came to Montville, in 1861, from Munson, in this county, and purchased the farm formerly owned by Stanley Spencer.  He lived on said farm

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for twelve or thirteen years, then sold out to M. B. Bacon, and bought Lyman William's place, at the center, where he still resides.  His wife died Apr. 27, 1878.  Shaw has been an acting justice of the peace for the last twelve years.

SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

     Nov. 10, 1826, the trustees of the township met, and divided into two school districts.  The north half was set off as district number one, and contained two tiers of sections, or a strip across the north part of the township nearly two miles in width.  District number two contained all the remaining south part of the township.  District number one, as certified by the trustees, Contained, at that time, fifteen freeholders, and district number two contained seven freeholders, as certified by Jonas Underwood, Sherman Dayton, and Samuel Lowdon, trustees, and attested by Asa B. Underwood, Clerk.  Jan. 18, 1828, the trustees of Montville, and the trustees of Thompson, met, and, by mutual agreement, attached the northwestern part of district number one, in Montville, to district number three, in Thompson, called the Bostwick district.  Apr. 24, 1830, the trustees met, and formed another district - number three - from the south part of district number two, containing two tiers of sections, or a strip two miles wide, across the south part of the township.  Jan. 30, 1830, the trustees formed a district in the west part of the township -number four - taken from districts numbers one and two.  The trustees, at that time, were:  Spencer Garriit, Sherman Dayton, and Ransel Underwood, and David B. Underwood, clerk.  In 1843, district number one was again divided, and another district formed - called district number five.  Afterwards another district was formed from the east part of district number two, and still another from district numbers one and two, making seven in all.  Log school-houses were built in districts numbers one, two, three, and four, and occupied for a few years.  During the years 1834 and 1835, good frame houses were built in districts numbers one, two, three, and four.  The rest of the districts never had any other than frame houses, from their organization.

SECRET SOCIETIES.

    The following account of Odd Fellows was not received in time to be printed with Judge Smith's history of the societies of the county:
     Several persons in Montville were members, for several years, of Geauga lodge, I. O. O. F., located at East Claridon, they took demits, and, on the fourteenth day of August, 1856, having obtained a charter, organized a lodge in Montville.  The names of the charter members are as follows, to-wit: George A. Mowrey, N. G.; William Austin, V. G.; Joshua Bosley, Seth Stevens, Job Broughton, and Anson Gridley, secretary.  They first owned a hall in the store
of George Wells.  Some years after, their membership having rapidly increased, by the addition of persons residing at the center, and further north, they deemed it expedient to locate the hall at the center.
     About the year 1865 they purchased a piece of ground of Spencer Garritt, esq., and, joining with H. G. Rich, who built a large store, partly upon his own and partly upon land of the Odd Fellows, they occupied a large and beautiful hall, and a suite of rooms in the second story of the building.  They continued to occupy this hall, and prospered, until the fifteenth day of March, 1877, when the building took fire, and burned to the ground.  The Odd Fellows sustained a severe loss; all of their furniture, emblems, and regalia, were consumed.  They were insured for one thousand dollars, which partially made up their loss.  The next year, 1878, they erected another building of the same size as the one burned, on their own land, twenty-six by sixty, and finished the whole of the second story, for their own use.  The lower story they sold to George W. Garritt, for a dry-goods store.  They now have a splendid hall, newly furnished, to-

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gether with a beautiful parlor, and ante-rooms.  For two terms, of two years each, George W. Garritt has filled the office of representative to the State lodge.  One term the district comprised the counties of Geauga, Lake, and Ashtabula.  The present officers of the lodge (1878) are as follows: V. E. Whitney, N. G.; Charles Lorriers, V. G.; William Stillwell, R. C; William Leland, treasurer; M. J. Leland, permanent secretary.

PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY.

     Mar. 3, 1873, the following persons met at Whitney's hall, at the center, and were, by Deputy Roswell Beach, of Thompson, organized into a grange, to-wit:  R. H. Baldwin, Rosie Baldwin, Eugene Skinner, Orville Coe, John Allen and wife, Stephen Case, H. E. Roberts and wife, Benjamin Trask and wife, Byron Trask and wife, L. S. Batchelder, Jane Batchelder, Helen F. Shaw, and Frank Carraher.  Their numbers have gradually increased.  They now number about forty-five.  They continued to meet at the above-named hall for a time, and then occupied the hall in the "Plank Road house," about a year.  Since then they have occupied the hall first mentioned.  Their agent, W. E. Baldwin, keeps a store of goods in the west part of the town, for the benefit of the grange, and others.

TEMPERENCE.

     About the year 1876, the temperance wave reached Montville, and one hundred and twenty persons signed the pledge of "total abstinence" from all intoxicating drink.  There has been a lodge of "Good Templars," and a lodge of the "Sons of Temperance," but for some cause, both have ceased to exist.

TOWNSHIP AND COUNTY OFFICERS.

     Spencer Dayton was county commissioner from 1854 to 1857; John V. Whitney, from 1857 to 1860.  A. E. Miller was coroner for three years.  John V. Whitney has been county school examiner, twenty-five years, from 1853 to 1878.
     The first justice of the peace was Roswell Stevens, elected June 2, 1823.  The following persons have held the office of justice of the peace: Roswell Stevens, Sherman Dayton, David B. Underwood, Spencer Garritt, Absalom Wells, Gould Nickerson, Rufus H. Wrisley, Hosea Harned, Randall Hart, John V. Whitney, Spencer Dayton, Andrew Austin, Zeno Sheldon, John M. Williams, L. M. Allen, Elijah Bailey, Job Broughton, and Anson Shaw.
     The following persons have held the office of township clerk: First, Baldwin Morris, John Conant, Roswell Stevens, Asa B. Underwood, William C. Moore, David R. Underwood, Absalom Wells, Spencer Garritt, John V. Whitney, Josiah G. Moore, Ralph Wells, Daniel M. Robertson, William G. Green, Rufus H. Wrisley, Ralph Wells, John M. Williams, Samuel L. Worden, Spencer Dayton, A. E. Miller, James W. Garritt, John E. Carlton, Andrew Austin, John S. Murray, Edward Tucker, Veits E. Whitney, Fayette W. Shaw, L. A. Baldwin, Almon A. Coe.

TOWNSHIP TRUSTEES.

     Sherman Dayton, Roswell Stevens, James Andrews, Amasa Stetson, John Conant, Jonas Underwood, jr., Samuel M. Loudon, Baldwin Morris, Philip Smith, John C. Williams, Samuel Nye, James Wintersteen, Asa A. Underwood, Lyman Allen, Spencer Garritt, Ransel Underwood, Randall Hart, Samuel Roath, Elihu Moore, Levi Roath, James Wintersteen, jr., Amos Dewey, Hosea Harned, Isaac Harned, Benjamin C. Stetson, William Austin, Asa Tucker, Henry S. Noble, Bushnel Austin, Stanley Spencer, R. L. Rhodes, J. M. McNaughton, Charles A. Moore, George S. Cook, Lyman Williams, G. N. Hoffman, George A. Mowrey, David Hart, Abram Phelps, Seth W. Long, Seth

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Loomis, L. A. Baldwin, E. B. Perry, Anson Gridley, Isaac Leggett, J. N. Skinner, J. J. Williams, A. T. Paine, Seth Stevens, L. M. Allen, Joseph Tucker, William Proctor, John B. Brace, H. C. Skinner, Barney Ruggles, Archibald Austin, Thomas Gould, John V. Whitney, J. S. Leggett, L. C. Baldwin, R. H. Baldwin, S. C. Stetson, S. T. Paine, O. L. Coe, George Gray, Stephen Case, John Burr, J. M. McNaughton, jr., M. W. Nickerson, M. J. Leland, S. N. Dutton, Porter B. Brace, A. Basquin, Charles Hall, S. S. Hodges, Andrew Austin.

A LIST OF SCHOOL TEACHERS.

residents of Montville, that have taught schools successfully in this town, and in other places, to-wit: John V. Whitney, who taught school in a new schoolhouse, about two miles north of the center, in the winter of 1835-6.  The house was inclosed, but without any floor, except loose boards thrown down, with temporary seats and desks, and not lathed or plastered.  The school consisted of seventy-five scholars, taking all the children from Hambden to Hartsgrove,
and from the south part of Thompson.  He taught this school three winters in succession.  The wages the first winter was ten dollars a month: the second and third, eleven dollars per month. Here follows a list of teachers:  M. D. Leggett taught several terms in this town: more recently Helen F. Shaw, Fayette W. Shaw, W. A. Shaw, Eliza Hart, Ann Hart, Sarah Gould, Sarah and Mary Underwood, Emeline and Hattie Rhodes, Herbert Skinner, - Veits E. Canfield, L. Frank, Nina and Worrallo Whitney, Elsie Garritt, Alta Burr, and others have all been successful teachers in this and other places. 

POST OFFICES AND MAIL ROUTES.

     In 1823, a mail route was established from Unionville to Parkman, passing through Montville.  The first postmaster was Roswell Stevens, who attended to the business faithfully until the year 1837, when he resigned, and recommended Andrew Tryon, who was selling goods at the center.  Tryon held this office one or two years, when he left town, and Spencer Garritt was appointed to fill the vacancy.  Before this time, the mail route was changed, and the mail was carried from Painesville, via Leroy, Thompson, Montville, Huntsburg, to Batavia (now Middlefield).  At the change of administration in 1841, Garritt was removed, and Henry Wells received the appointment, and held the office until his death, in 1844.  Seth Whitney succeeded Mr. Wells, and held the office until 1848, when he resigned and moved out of town.  Alvin Crittenden then received the appointment, and made Jonathan R. Whitney his deputy, who attended to the duties of the office until Mr. Crittenden resigned, in 1851, and recommended George W. Garritt, who was selling goods in the building erected by Henry Wells.  Garritt held the office until Abraham Lincoln was elected president, with the exception of a short time.  George Wells held the office at the plank road corners.
     At the commencement of Lincoln's administration, Cornelius Hill took the office, and held it four years, until 1864, when James W. Garritt received the office, and performed the duties of the office for a term of nine years, when he sold his property at the center to Alvin Bill, who got the appointment, and held the office for some time over a year, when Bill resigned, and Henry P. Whitney became postmaster, and held the office until the present summer, 1878, when he resigned, and recommended Veits E. Whitney, who is the incumbent at the present time.
     Montville now has a daily mail on the route from Chardon to Rome, in Ashtabula county.   We have also a tri-weekly mail from Painesville, via Leroy, and Thompson to Montville.

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THE CONTRAST.

     In 1823 the mail-carrier from Unionville to Parkman, three times a week, on foot, carrying the mail in his hat and pockets; and in 1878, we have two mail routes, and bushels of mail-matter daily.

PHYSICIANS.

     The first resident physician, we hear of among the early settlers of the township, was an old gentleman, having but little practice, named Daniel Allen.  For many years among the early settlers there was no resident physician, and Dr. Loyal Tillotson, of Thompson, was generally employed.  His practice was "Thompsonian," and he used to treat his patients quite freely with lobelia emetics, and cayenne pepper, externally and internally.  Some of Dr. Tillotson's patrons had strong faith in his ability and practice.  The writer credits the following anecdote to Miss "Billy" Brown:  She said, that a neighbor by the name of Sloat, dislocated his shoulder, and Tillotson, in order to set it, gave him a lobelia emetic, and during the retchings of the operation, his shoulder joint came into place, with a noise that could be heard about the room.  In 1837, Dr. Hiram Davison, a physician of the alopathy practice, moved into town, from Windsor, Ashtabula county, who was a native of Vermont, and had practiced a few years in the State of New York.  He was a graduate of a medical college in Philadelphia - well read and very successful in practice.  Dr. Davison died Feb. 23, 1864.
     In 1853, D. A. Baldwin moved into the township; his father, Julius Baldwin, having lived here several years before.  Dr. Baldwin was a regular graduate of the alopathy school, and did quite an extensive business for many years.  During the last few years he has given more attention to the cultivation of his large farm, than he has to the practice of medicine.
     In 1873, a homoeopathic physician by the name of West, practiced in this town very successfully about two years.
     About the year 1871, Dr. H. H. Webster, an eclectic physician, came in from Niles, Trumbull county, and has acquired an extensive practice, and has been successful.

CEMETERY.

     Prior to the year 1828, there was no regularly laid out cemetery, or burying ground, in the township.  This year [1828] Mr. Elihu Moore sold to certain individuals, one acre of land, for twenty dollars for a cemetery, it being the same land which is known, at the present time, as the old part of the cemetery., located nearly opposite the Methodist Episcopal church.  This land was laid out into family lots, and sold to the people for fifty cents each.  After awhile, the people becoming dissatisfied with that arrangement, it was sold to the township.  It lay in that condition for awhile, and, the township trustees failing to perfect their title, the lands adjoining, including the cemetery ground, was sold Enoch Drake, of Freedom, Portage county, and by him sold to Lucretia Robertson.  I find on file in the clerk's office an old deed from Lucretia Robertson to trustees of Montville, dated Mar. 4, 1844, conveying this same to the township, for the consideration of twenty-five dollars. This deed ended all dispute, and conveyed the title of the land to the township forever.  The family lots in the above described cemetery, in the course of several years, became occupied, so that families that came into the town at a later date could find no place to bury their dead.  May 2, 1864, Rufus B. Dayton deeded his village lot to John V. Whitney and Abram Phelps, containing one and a half acres of land, lying on the north side of the old lot, and they sold one acre to the trustees of the township, for cemetery purposes; consideration - one hundred and twenty-five dollars.  The cemetery is located in the north part of the

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village, at the center, on the west side of the north and south center road; a beautiful location, and tastefully ornamented with evergreens and flowers, as befitting mementos, offered to the memory of the departed.  Here lie the early pioneers, who helped to change the howling wilderness into fruitful fields, and labored to sow the seeds of education and religion, for the benefit of succeeding generations.

POLITICS.

     During the early years of the history of Montvllle, when the two great political parties of the nation were known as the Whigs and Democrats, the legal voters of this township, almost to a man, attached themselves to the Whig party.
     The first State election recorded, was held Oct. 14, 1823, when the Whig candidates received all the votes cast, which were only seven.  The first presidential election held after the organization of this township, was on the twenty-ninth day of October, 1824, when the Whig electors received six votes, which was the whole number of votes cast at that election.  Allen Trimble ran for governor, at this election, and Elisha Whittlesey for congress, and each received six votes - the entire vote of the township.  In 1825, there were seven votes polled for State officers, all for Whig candidates.  In the year 1826, Allen Trimble received the unanimous vote of the township, which was eighteen.  At the presidential election, in 1828, for the first time, there was a division on party lines.  The Whig electors received fifteen, and the Democratic, eleven votes.  At the presidential election, in 1832, thirty-five votes were given for the Whig electors, and sixteen for the Democratic.  At the election in 1836, the Harrison electors received fifty-three, and the Van Buren electors, thirty-six.  In the ever memorable year, 1840, the Whig vote for the Harrison electors was eighty-seven, and for Van Buren, twenty-six.  At the election in 1844, the Whig vote was sixty-seven; the Democratic, twenty-six, and the Free-soil, or Anti-slavery, twenty-four votes.  The vote recorded in 1848, was: Whig, thirty-nine, for the Taylor electors; thirty-eight, Free-soil, for the Van Buren, and seventeen, Democratic, for the Cass electors.  In 1852, the vote of the township stood as follows:  fifty-six Free-soil, fifty-eight Whig, and nineteen Democratic.  The vote of the township in 1856, was: Whig, one hundred and twenty-two, cast in favor of the electors of John C. Fremont; Democratic, twenty-seven, and Anti-slavery, two.  At the election in 1869, the Republican party gave a very strong majority in favor of Abraham Lincoln.  In 1864, the Lincoln electors received one hundred and twenty votes; McClellan, twenty-two.
     The township, generally, has always adhered to anti-slavery principles, and have manifested true sympathy for the slave.  At one time a fugitive slave passed through the place, and was directed on the road to Madison.  After the slave had been some time on his way, he was met by a man from this township, returning home, and soon after passing the fugitive, he met the master following on his track.  Th master inquired if he had met a negro, giving a description:  to which the man replied, that he had, not long since, passed such a nergo on the Painesville road, and, if he would hurry, he would soon overtake him.  The master took the advice, and followed on the Painesville road. I think he never overtook his slave, who probably found a land of freedom nearer the north pole.
     In the fall of 1877, the Republican candidates received one hundred and twenty votes, the Democratic, forty-three, and the prohibition, two.
    

MECHANICS.

     The first man that ever worked at blacksmithing in Montville, was a man by the name of John Quinn.  His shop was at the center, near where the shop of Orrin Picket now stands.  In the year 1838, Mr. Quinn moved to Cleveland, and was succeeded by Jabes Smith, who carried on the business in the same

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shop for a short time.  Then John B. Mathews, now living in Chardon, worked at the business for several years, and was a good workman.  About the year 1834, Lyman Williams emigrated from Massachusetts to this township, located in the west part, built him a shop, and carried on blacksmithing there, and at the center, for over forty years.  L. A. Robertson has worked at the business, at the center, for over twenty years.  Orrin Picket carried on blacksmithing in
Montville for more than thirty years.
     In 1834 Nelson Brooks was working at the carpenter and joiner business; a first-class workman; a good, and a kind-hearted man.  After some years Mr. Brooks moved to Chardon.  William Vorse for a time worked at the business.  In later times, Andrew Austin, Henry Skinner, Augustus Skinner, and his son, Herbert Skinner, Porter Brace, F. W. Shaw, and some others, have made that their business.
     Spencer Garritt has worked at the cooper's trade from 1829, until a very few years since - a period of more than forty years.  About the year 1830, Stephen Kelsey carried on the business of making tubs, pails and small vessels, from pine procured from Pennsylvania.  In the year 1836 he made a sugar tub for John V. Whitney, esq., in part payment of his school-tax, for teaching his children in the district-school.  The sugar tub is still in good condition, and highly valued as a relic of "ye olden times."
     From the year 1828, until this present year, 1878, Jonathan R. Whitney has worked at the shoemaker's business, a period of fifty years.  Cornelius Hill carried on the business for many years.  More recently, John Burr has been the principle manufacturer of boots and shoes in town. Martin Basquin and Alvin Stetson work at the business.

MANUFACTORIES.

     About the first article manufactured in Montville, was black-salts.  In the early settlement of the township, when the settlers were clearing off their farms, and burning up the massive heaps of timber and brush, and, as a matter of economy, the people would scrape the field ashes into heaps, and sell them to the ashery men, who manufactured them into black-salts, which always commanded the money, at a fair price.  Field ashes generally sold for six and seven cents per bushel.  William Dewey, for many years manufactured potash, in the west part of the township.  Then Henry Wells carried on the ashery business at the center, for several years. Then George Wells purchased the factory, and kept up the business until the country was so far cleared, that ashes could not be obtained in sufficient quantities to make it profitable.
     In the spring of 1865, L. J. Randall, of Chardon, familiarly called "Jake," erected a large cheese factory, at the center of the township.  Mr. Randall generally purchased the milk, some years paying the farmers as high as fifteen cents a gallon, and manufacturing his own cheese.  This was the first cheese factory, and is still doing a fair business.  After the death of Mr. Randall, the factory was purchased by Mr. Seth Whitney, and, after the death of Mr. Whitney, the cheese factory was sold to M. L. Latham, who is the present owner.  A year or two subsequently, Jenks Budlong erected a cheese factory at the center, and manufactured cheese for about two or three years.
     The building has been occupied as .a cutter shop for several years. Montville, for many years, has been noted for the large number of cutters and sleighs which are yearly manufactured.  They are made in the summer season, and sold to the farmers and others for winter use.  Miles Nickerson and B. F. Ruggles made them in large numbers as early as 1853, and the manufacture of cutters has been continued by them, and their successors, to the present season, 1878.  Sherman E. Spencer, Edwin Morehouse, and Edward Bailey, in one

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season, made and sold two hundred and fifty.  M. J. Whitney, F. W. Shaw, Luther Johnson, W. E. Fales, and M. L. Dutton, have each manufactured many.

MILITARY.

     Prior to the organization of the township, all the able-bodied men, between the age of eighteen and forty-five, were required to go, twice a year, to Bondstown, (now Hambden), to perform military duty.  James Wintersteen informed me, that on one of those occasions, when he and some others were returning in the evening to their homes, they had to pass through a piece of forest, in the west part of Montville, a panther followed them for a long distance.  They could distinctly see the glare of its eyes, which appeared like two balls of fire by the side of their path.  Afterwards, about the year 1827, those liable to perform military duty, were organized into a military company, in their own township, John C. Williams chosen captain.  In 1834, Salmon Hart, was chosen captain.  In about the year 1837, a light infantry company was organized; the charter given by James H. Paine, of Painesville; Seth Whitney was chosen captain, and Allen, sergeant, who was murdered at a general military muster, at Burton, while on duty in the night season, by one Luther Britton.
     In the fall of 1835, the militia company of this town was called out to defend the disputed territory between Ohio and Michigan; when General Crary was accused by Tom Corwin, of slaying a watermelon.
     Again, in 1844 or '45, the Montville militia, together with the whole regiment, by order of General Paine, were called to Chardon, for the purpose of getting volunteers from the regiment, to form a company to go to Mexico, with which company, the general proposed to go as their captain.  And much to his chagrin, not a man would volunteer; not through want of patriotism, but the people, generally, believed that the Mexican war was designed to extend the area of slavery.  Quite different was the response made in Montville, to the call for volunteers to help put down the Rebellion of the slave states.  The records show that, in this township of five or six hundred inhabitants, at most, ninety-three came forward, voluntarily, to defend the constitution and honor of our common country.  Out of that number, gave their lives to the sacred cause, in which they enlisted.  Although no office was at first given to any soldier from Montville, yet, several of our soldiers fought their way, by merit alone, to higher positions.  Milton B. Phelps, was raised, from a private to adjutant of his regiment.  A. B. Paine, was promoted, from a private to a captaincy.  R. H. Baldwin enlisted as a private, and was promoted to the office of captain.  Daniel Robertson, to second lieutenant, and Simon Gould was promoted to captain.  Notwithstanding several young men, residents of this township, were unjustly credited to other townships, this township was, through the entire war, ahead of the calls for men.  And when the sanguinary strife closed, Montville had "furnished five more men, than all of the calls made upon her.

RELICS OF NATURAL HISTORY.

     On Monday, Aug. 1, 1871, Mr. Royal Dimmick, about one and a fourth miles east of the center, while excavating a certain low spot of ground, for the purpose of holding water, in dry weather, for his cattle, and after removing the

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black muck from the surface, came to a stratum of blue clay, and after penetrating into this clay to the depth of three feet, the workmen struck upon something which they supposed to be a round stick of wood, imbedded in the earth.  Whereupon, one of them took an axe, and struck upon the substance, breaking off a piece nearly a foot in length, when, to their surprise, instead of being wood, they found it to be bone, with a hard smooth surface, or crust, about one-fourth of an inch in thickness, the inside being filled with a pith, or porous substance, somewhat resembling chalk.  This discovery, of course, excited the curiosity of the men to know more about it, and they immediately set to work to exhume the remaining part of the substance, whatever it might be.  The result of their labor revealed to their view the tusk of some huge animal that, in some former age, had died on that spot, and, in process of time, its bones had become imbedded in the earth to the depth above mentioned.
     During that and the succeeding day, a number of the bones of the same animal were found, a brief description of which I will endeavor to give:  The tusk before mentioned had been broken off at least two feet, and perhaps more, to all appearances while the animal was living, bnt, as it is, it measures six feet two inches in length, and at its greatest circumference, which is some eighteen inches from the root end of the tooth, twelve inches, and, at its smallest circumference, at the end, which has evidently been broken off, is ten and a half inches.  The surface is smooth, of a light color, somewhat resembling soapstone.  This tusk, when it was perfect, must have been at least nine feet in length, including the part which was inserted in the upper jawbone, which is at least eighteen inches.  It gradually diminishes in size at the root to a diameter of only two inches, where the shell is thin and entirely hollow.  Nine joints of the
backbone have already been found, in a good state of preservation.  About twenty ribs were found, of different lengths and size, the largest of which measured about five feet in length, four inches wide, and of corresponding thickness; one leg bone, which, from its appearance, was from the fore-leg of the animal, below the knee.  Its circumference at the knee I found to be about nineteen inches, and the circumference below the knee, about twelve inches.  The
largest joint of the backbone was ten inches wide.  The ribs at the lower extremity have all been broken off, or decayed, so that the precise length can not be accurately ascertained.  The end of the ribs which joined onto the backbone are in perfect shape, and the joints of the backbone show plainly where the ribs were attached.  There is something very peculiar in regard to the manner in which the ribs were placed in the body of this huge animal. The ribs of most animals are placed with their flat side out, or next to the hide; but in this animal the edge of the rib is out, or next to the hide, which is different from the ribs of all other animals.  The hip-bones were of mammoth size, measuring nearly four feet from one extreme point to the other.  All the bones were not found, especially the head, some of the leg bones, and some joints of the back bone.  It is very probable that, after the demise of this mastadon, whose bones are above described, other gigantic carnivorous animals preyed upon its flesh, and dragged some of its bones several rods from the mass of bones which composed the body of this animal.  The bones of this animal were found in blue clay, imbedded some four feet deep.  Who can carry their minds back, over perhaps countless ages of the past, when this race of animals, long since extinct, roamed over the American continent, perhaps unmolested by man?  Who can fill the blank in writing its history?

PRESENT BUSINESS.

     At the present time (1878), Miller and Hendry, successors of George W. Garritt, deceased, in the mercantile business, are doing a large business in re-

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tailing dry goods and groceries.  Miller and Hendry have bought the store and goods formerly owned by George W. Garritt.  V. E. Whitney is engaged in the grocery business at the center, and is having a fair trade.  He occupies the old store formerly occupied by George W. Garritt, as a dry goods store.  Willard E. Baldwin is selling dry goods and groceries, about one mile west of the center, under the direction of the "Patrons of Husbandry.''  There are three blacksmiths at the center: L. A. Robertson, Orin Pickett and John Brown.  Physicians - H. H. Webster and L. A. Baldwin.  Carpenters - Andrew Austin, Porter Brace, Augustus Skinner, H. G. Skinner, F. W. Shaw.  Owner of cheese factory - M. L. Latham. Manufacturers of cutters and sleighs - Edward Bailey, F. W. Shaw, Luther Johnson and Willard Fales. Veits E. Whitney, postmaster.  Charles Lorriers and A. Peck, mail-carriers.  John V. Whitney and son, nursery men.
     In the year 1865, John V. Whitney who always had a taste for horticultural  pursuits, commenced a small nursery, one mile south, and half a mile east of the center, and made quite an extensive purchase of evergreens and ornamental trees and shrubs.  He enlarged his business from year to year by raising extensively, from seed, and by importing the choicest varieties of evergreens and ornamental shrubs and plants from France, England and other European countries, until his stock of trees of all kinds, in less than ten years, could be numbered by the million.  His business, so largely increased, that, in 1871, he formed a partnership with his two sons, Canfield L. and Frank A. Whitney, under the firm name of "John V. Whitney & Sons."  In the year 1873, Frank A. died, and the business has been continued by the surviving partners under the firm name of "John V. Whitney & Sons," and are now doing a fair business in raising and selling almost every variety of fruit and ornamantal trees. They are making a speciality of raising evergreen seedlings to supply other nursery men.  They are annually shipping trees of various kinds, to nearly every State and territory in the Union.  Thousands of homes, many public parks and cemeteries are made beautiful, and will remain as lasting mementos, to future generations, of the spirit and enterprise of John V. Whitney & Sons.

REMARKS BY THE WRITER.

     I have now finished writing the history of Montville.  The number of errors which it may contain, I am unable to tell.  I have done the best I could under the circumstances; and, but for the assistance of friends, I fear that I should have failed in the enterprise.  I close my labors, by tendering my sincere thanks for the aid received from others, and especially to John V. Whitney, esq., for much valuable information.             ANSON SHAW.

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[Page 791 & 792]

MILITARY ROSTER.
pg. 791

The following are the names of soldiers from Montville, who enlisted in the Rebellion, with rank, company and regiment: