OHIO GENEALOGY EXPRESS

A Part of Genealogy Express
 

Medina County,
Ohio
History & Genealogy

GRANGER

     The township was organized in February, 1820.  A military company was raised and organized in 1819.  John Burt was elected Captain, John Burt, Lieutenant and N. A. Goodwin, Ensign.  At this date there were forty families in the township, amounting to about two hundred and sixty persons.  The first township election was held at the house of Seth Paul, on the first Monday in April, 1820.  The first township trustees were N. A. Goodwin, S. Paul and Festus Ganyard.  John Codding was the first township clerk, Burt Codding was the first justice of the peace.  For some time the people were without an elected constable.  In January, 1822, the trustees met and appointed Ira Ingraham constable.  The first money paid into the township treasury was twenty-five cents, being a fine imposed for swearing.  Of that money, one half was paid out for paper on which to record township proceedings; the other half of the township fund was paid to William Paul for bringing the Laws and Journals from the county seat.
     The first couple married were Stephen Woodward and Abigail Hill.
     The Congregational Church was organized by Rev. W. Hanford and Caleb Pitkins in Nov. 14, 1819, with the following church members:  Elizar Hills, Abigail Hills, James Ganyard and Phoebe Ganyard, Friend Ingraham and Lydia Ingraham, John Turner and Dolly

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Turner, Lawrence Moore and Mary Moore, Wealthy Dyer, Charity and Hannah Turner - ten members.
     The first Methodist Episcopal Class was formed in the autumn of 1820, by Elder Nunn, with the following members:  Bela Spencer and Lydia Spencer, Alexander Spencer, Deborah Goodwin, Samuel Griffin, James Griffin, Jehial Porter and Hannah M'Cloud.
     The first Baptist Church was formed in 1826, with the following members, by Elder Henry Hudson; Jesse H. Smith, Samuel Crosby and wife, David Holmes, Allen Smith and Phebe Grover.
     From those small beginnings the same churches have now grown, and each exerts a salutary and christian influence among the present increasing inhabitants in Granger.
     Could a roll be called in each church above named, how many of the first founders could answer personally?  Head stones in grave yards can tell the resting place of many of them.
     The first Presbyterian who settled in Granger was Dr. Rufus Pomroy, in the spring of 1829.
     The first cabin built in the township was put up by Ezekiel Mott in the spring of 1816, on Lot 2, being the land now owned by George M. Codding.
     The first male born in the township was Hamilton Low, son of Hiram.  The first female born was Deborah Goodwin.  The two aforesaid first births were Aug. 2, 1818.
     The first school in the township was kept by William Paul, on lot 42, in the winter of 1819 and 1820, and numbered seventeen scholars, among whom were John M. Ganyard, John M'Farlen and others.
     The first law suit was between Seymour W. Green and Anthony Low.  Mr. Seymour's cow lost, from her neck, a bell.  Some months thereafter, Mr. Low found

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a bell; Seymour said it was his, Low thought it very doubtful; suit was brought, parties appeared, statements without anger, were made.  The justice awarded the bell to Seymour, and made him pay the costs, as he gained the suit.

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JAMES GANYARD.

     James Ganyard was born Jan. 14, 1772, at Killingsworth, and Phebe, his wife, was born at Saybrook, 1768.  They left Connecticut, their native State, and came to Bristol, Ontario county, New York, in 1793.  At that date the place where they settled was considered the extreme border of civilization and was then called Phelps and Gorham's purchase.
     In the month of October, 1815, Mr. Ganyard, in company with Eleazor Hills, Anthony Low and Burt Codding, came to Ohio to view No. 3, Range 13 of the Western Reserve and to purchase, if they were satisfied with location and price.  After viewing land and advantages, they returned and purchased of Gideon Granger, who was the proprietor of three-fourths of the township, at four dollars per acre.  They sold their farms in Bristol to Mr. Granger in part payment, and for the balance yet due to him, gave mortgage upon their new purchase.  That mortgage proved a serious hinderance to the settlers in Granger township for many years thereafter.  After the agreement was made, and before the written contract was signed, Mr. Ganyard transferred his right of proprietorship to Mr. John Codding, reserving only to himself so much land as he had paid for.  This is why his name never appeared on the written record of the company.  Mr. Ganyard settled on lot 15 in Granger, in 1811, being the same

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farm on which his son J. N. Ganyard resided in 1860.  Mr. James Ganyard died of dropsy, Dec. 20, 1844.  Mrs. Phebe Ganyard died of inflammation of the brain, Mar. 2, 1840.  Their remains occupy graves in the burial ground on the same farm, one-half mile north from Grangerburg.  A humble stone bearing their names is now the only memorial that remains to tell of two who were among the first settlers in Granger.

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ANTHONY LOW.

     Anthony Low was born in Providence, Rhode Island, in 1766, and in due time of life claimed, by apprenticeship, the appellation of carpenter and joiner.  He went to Wyoming, when a young man, with the intention of carrying on his trade, and while there formed an acquaintance with Mary Baldwin, to whom he was afterwards married.  She was born in Pennsylvania, in 1772, and was when young, taken prisoner by the Indians.  Though young, she witnessed many of the bloody scenes and murders perpetrated by the Indians who then roamed wild masters on either side of the Susquehannah river.  Over her own head was brandished the bloody tomahawk of the reckless wild man.  She witnessed the taking of infants from mothers by the heels, and their brains dashed out by being thrown against a log or tree, and their bodies left upon the ground to molder and rot.  She has witnessed the wife forced to sit in mute silence while the scalp was being rudely cut from the head of the fond husband, and then witnessed the tomahawk buried in his head.  She has, when a prisoner, witnessed the burning of the dwellings of the whites, and while the flame was curling upwards, heard the sad cries of the inmates whose

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doom was then either to be burned, or to be slain by those who surrounded the burning dwellings.  Mr. Baldwin, the father of Mary, had eight sons - all of them large and strong men.  Three were colonels and acted conspicuously during the Indian wars of those days.  The house of Mr. Baldwin was set on fire twice by the Indians.  A third effort was being made, when one of the sons discovered an Indian near the dwelling upon whom he sprang quickly and fearlessly and killed him by planting a hatchet in his forehead.
     Anthony Low died in November, 1824 aged 58, and his wife, Mary Low, in August, 1838 aged 66.  They were buried on lot 2, in Granger.

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identical thieving, old "she bear."  She seemed as though she knew me, but did not tarry long.  I raised my gun and fired; the ball lodged in her hip.  As I pursued, I reloaded and fired a second time, and broke a fore leg.  When the leg was broke the bear stopped, sat up and bit the maimed limb, and then was off at full speed.  I started in pursuit, from where John Truman now lives, through the south-west part of Hinckley, then into Brunswick, then across Plumb Creek, then down the creek, then east into Hinckley, and lastly into an alder swamp near where Earl Salsbury now lives.  She secreted in the mud and water of that swamp, keeping her head up.  I went within proper distance, fired, and killed her, and thus terminated her swinish propensities.  The chase of that bear, was about the sweatiest, longest and hardest race I ever ran.  The death of that "old huzzy" gained to me the plaudits of many whose sheep, hogs and calves had been taken and devonred by that same thievish bear.

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CONTRACT FOR LAND. - In 1824, my father finding himself unable to pay for his farm, according to the stipulations of his article, proposed that I should go to Mr. Seymour's, who lived in Canandaigua, N. Y., and get the same land articled to myself and brothers.  I consented traveled to Cleveland, from thence, by schooner to Buffalo, and thence to Canandaigua.  Mr. Seymour  heard my statement and consented to release the State's claim upon the two lots which Aaron Spencer had bought, provided Spencer would buy the lot on which my father was settled and then article it to  me and my brothers, which was afterwards done.
     I have now given a few of the incidents of my Pioneer life; and when I look back where I was, what I have encountered and endured, I seem astonished to

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think that I yet live.  An over-ruling Providence watched over and graciously guided.  And in 1851, I look upon and roam over hills and valleys, once vocal with the yell of the red man, and the many wild sounds of the beasts of the forest.  I have lived to see a wilderness blossoming and budding.  I have lived to see a younger generation happily enjoying the rich boons resulting from their fathers toil, and in my years of decline I not only wish them present comfort and happiness, but a full share of all that kind Providence may in future bestow.

GRANGER STATISTICS