HISTORY
OF THE
TOWNS AND VILLAGES OF LORAIN COUNTY,
ELYRIA.
THIS TOWNSHIP was named for its principal proprietor, the late Hon. Heman Ely. It originally embraced the territory now contained in Carlisle, number five, and Elyria, number six in range number seventeen, of the Connecticut Western Reserve. It is situated on and between both branches of Black river, in north latitude forty-one degrees and forty-five minutes It is twenty-four miles west of Cleveland, and eight miles above the mouth of the river.
TOPOGRAPHY.
Above the village it is generally level, the banks of the river being low. An excellent quality of sandstone crops out along the river banks, which forms good building material, and is used extensively for flagging the streets. There are over nine miles of stone sidewalks within the limits of the village. Several guarries are extensively worked. The largest is owned by Mr. Henry E. Mussey, situated on the west side of the west branch of the river. He has built a spur branch of the C., T. V. & W. railroad to his quarry and the work of turning grindstones, raising the stone from the quarry, loading cars, etc., is done by steam power. The stone are shipped by railroad to many parts of the country. Mr. John Weller has also a fine quarry below the town, which is worked by steam power. Stone are extensively quarried on the east branch for building and flagging purposes.
Below the village, the banks of the river are-generally high and rugged, though there are several fine farms of alluvial bottom lands, which are easy to till and very productive. The sandstone terminates and the Huron shale crops out along the river bank about two miles below the village. On the east side of the river there are several small streams running at right angles with it, and discharging themselves into the main stream. These have worn deep ravines in the soil, and extend a mile or more back from the river, but the roads are graded and the streams bridged so that they are quite passable. Running parallel with the lake are two, and in some places three or more ridges, composed of sandy loam, and in some places gravel. The first is about four miles from Lake Erie and is called the North Ridge. The second passes through Elyria, and extends east through all the northern counties of the Western Reserve. They ere formed by a subsidence of the lake at some remote period of the world's history ; but after the growth of timber, as large trees are found, in digging wells, twenty feet or more below the surface. These ridges make excellent roads, and the soil is warm and productive, well adapted to fruit growing and early gardens.
COL. JAMES SMITH.
Perhaps no more fitting preface to the history of the early settlement of the township of Elyria could be procured than a brief sketch of the above named person, who was doubtless the first white man who ever lived for any considerable time in what now constitutes the above township. We are indebted for the facts to a book called "Our Western Border," written by Charles McKnight, and published during the centennial year, which was kindly loaned us by G. 0. Washburn, Esq., and also to an article published in The Elyria Republican, in 1876. We have not space to publish the entire narrative of Col. Smith, but shall, as far as possible, give it in his own quaint and terse language:
“In May, 1755, the Province of Pennsylvania agreed to send out three hundred men in order to cut a wagon road from Fort London to join Braddock's road near the Turkey Fork, or the three forks of the Yohoguina. My brother-in-law, William Smith, was commissioner, and though but eighteen years of age, I concluded to accompany the expedition. We went on the road without interruption until near the Alleghany mountains, when I was sent back in order to hurry up some provision wa;ons that were on the way after us. I proceeded down the road as far as the crossing of the Juniata, where, finding that the wagons were coming on as fast as possible, I returned up the road toward the Alleghany mountains in company with one Arnold Vigoras. About four or five miles above Bedford three Indians had made a blind of bushes stuck in the ground as though they had grown naturally, where they concealed themselves, about fifteen yards from the road. When we came opposite to them they tired upon us at this short distance and killed my fellow traveler; yet their bullets did not touch me, but my horse making a violent start threw me, and the 1ndians immediately ran up and took me prisoner. The one that laid hold on me was a Cunasataugee, the other two were Delawares. One of them could speak English. Two of them stood by me while the other scatped my comrade. We slept on the Alleghany mountains that night without tire. The next morning they divided their remaining provisions and gave me an equal share, which consisted of two or three ounces of moldy biscuit. They continued their journey to Fort Duquesne (now Pittsburgh) and when they reached the bank of the Alleghany the 1ndians gave the scalp halloo, which was answered by the firing of guns and the shouts of the French and 1ndians who were in and about the Fort."
HE RUNS THE GAUNTLET.
"I saw numbers of 1ndians running towards me stripped naked except breech-clouts, and painted in the most hideous manner. As they approached, they formed themselves in two long ranks about two or three rods apart. I was told by an 1ndian who could speak English that I
104 - HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO.
must run between these ranks, and that they would flog me all the way as I ran, and if I ran quick it would be so much the better.
" There appeared to be general rejoicing around me, yet I could find nothing like joy in my breast; but I started to the race with all the resolution and vigor I was capable of exercising, and found it was as I had been told, for I was flogged all the way, When I had got near the end of the race I was struck by something that appeared to me to be a stick, or the handle of a tomahawk, which caused me to fall to the ground.
"On my recovering my senses I endeavored to renew my race, but as I arose some one cast sand in my eyes which blinded me so that I could not see where to run. They continued beating me most intolerably until I was at length insensible, but before I lost my senses I remembered wishing them to strike the fatal blow."
He was conveyed to the Fort and the French doctor dressed his wounds and applied remedies.
"Soon after I was visited by a Delaware Indian who could speak broken English. I asked him if I had done anything that offended the 1ndians. He said no, it was only an old custom the 1ndians had, and was like ' how do you do?' After that, he said, I would be well used.''
After this Smith was taken by his captors to an Indian town on the banks of the Muskingum river in Ohio.
HIS ADOPTION INTO. THE TRIBE.
This ceremony being somewhat interesting we take the liberty of giving it at length in his own words:
" The day after my arrival at the aforesaid town a number of Indians gathered about me, and one of them began to pull the hair out of my head. He had some ashes on a bark in which he frequently dipped his fingers in order to take a firmer hold, and so he went on as if he had been plucking a turkey, until he had all the hair clean out of my head, except a small spot, three or four inches square, on the crown. This they cut off with a pair of scissors, excepting three locks, which they dressed up in their own mode: Two of these they wrapped around with a narrow beaded garter, made by themselves for the purpose, and the other they plaited at full length and stuck it full of silver brooches. After this they bored my nose and ears, and fixed me off with nose and ear jewels. Then they ordered me to strip off my clothes and put on a breech-clout, which I did. They then painted my face, hands, and body in various colors. They put a large belt of wampum on my neck, and silver bands on my hands and right arm, and so an old chief led me out in the street and gave the alarm halloo several times repeated quick, "coo wigh !" and on this all that were in the town came running and stood round the old chief who held me by the hand in the midst."
"As at that time I knew nothing of their mode of adoption, and had seen them put to death alt they had taken, I made no doubt but they were about putting me to death in some cruel manner. The old chief, holding me by the hand, made a long speech, very loud, and, when he had done, he handed me to three young squaws, who led me by the hand down the bank into the river, until the water was up to our middle. The squaws then made signs to me to plunge mysetf into the river, but I did not understand them. I thought the result of the council was that I was to be drowned, and that these young ladies were to be the executioners, They all three laid violent hold of me, and I for some time resisted them with all my might, which occasioned loud laughter by the multitude that were on the bank. At length one of the squaws said, no hurt you; on this I gave myself up to their ladyships, who were as good as their word, foro though they plunged me under the water, and rubbed me, I coutd not say they hurt me much. They then led me up to the council house, where the tribe were ready with new clothes for me. They gave me a new ruffled shirt, which I put on; also a pair of leggins done off with ribbons and beads; also a pair of moccasitis and a tinsel-laced cappo. They again painted my head and face with various colors. When I was seated the Indians came in dressed in their grandest manner. At length one of the chiefs made a speech as follows: ' My son, you are now flesh of our flesh, and bone of our bone. By the ceremony which was performed thrs day every drop of white blood is washed out of your veins.' After this ceremony I was introduced to my new kin and invited to attend a feast that night, which I did."
We must omit many of the events that occurred at the camp on the Muskingum. The name of one of the chiefs was Tecanyaterighto, alias Pluggy. During the fall Pluggy headed a war party to the frontiers of Virginia. While they were absent, Smith and a party of Indians went south on a hunt. On this hunt they encamped at Buffalo Lick, where they killed several buffaloes. This lick must have been in the Hocking valley, between the Muskingum and Scioto rivers. While here with their small kettles they made about a half-bushel of salt.
It was here that our hero, while following buffalo, got lost in the woods, where he spent the night. The Indians found him in the morning. For this offense his gun was taken from him, and he was reduced to a bow and arrows for nearly two years.
They were on this tour for about six weeks. When they returned, Pluggy and his party had got back, bringing with them a number of scalps and prisoners. They also brought with them an English Bible, which they gave to a Dutch woman who was a prisoner, but as she could not read English, she made a present of it to Smith, which was very acceptable.
"I remained in this town until some time in October, when my adopted brother, Tontiteaugo, who had married a Wyandotte squaw, took me with him to Lake Erie. On this route we had no horses with us, and when I started from the town all the pack I carried was a pouch containing my books, a little dried venison and my blanket. I had then no gun, but Tontileaugo, who was a first-rate hunter, carried a rifte gun, and every day killed deer, raccoons or bears. We left the meat, excepting a little for present use, and carried the skins with us until we camped, when we dried them by the fire."
They struck the Canesadooharic (Black river) probably near its source, and followed it down for some distance, when they must have left it as they reached the lake shore some six miles west of its mouth. As the wind was very high the evening they reached the lake, our traveller was surprised " to hear the roaring of the water and see the high waves that dashed against the shore like the ocean." They camped on a run near the shore, and, as the wind fell that night, they pursued their journey in the morning towards the mouth of the river on the sand along the side of the water. They observed a number of large fish that had been left in the hollows by the receding waves, and numbers of gray and bald eagles were along the shore devouring them.
Some time in the afternoon they came to a large camp of Wyandottes at the mouth of the Canesadooharic, where Tontileaugo's wife was. Here they were hospitably received and entertained for some time. Smith says: "They gave us a kind of rough, brown potatoes, which grew spontaneously and were called by the Caughnewagas, ohenata. These potatoes, peeled and dipped in raccoon's fat, tasted like our sweet potatoes." (Query: what were they ?) They killed while here sbme deer and many raccoons which were remarkably large and fat. They kept moving up the river until they came to the great falls. These were, doubtless, the east falls of Black river, now within the corporate town of Elyria. They buried their canoe and erected a winter cabin. This was probably located on Evergreen Point, somewhere in the vicinity of the present residence of T. L. Nelson, Esq. The narrative proceeds:
"It was sometime in December when we finished our winter cabin but then another difficulty arose, we had nothing to eat. While the hunters were all out exerting their utmost ability, the squaws and boys (in which class I was,) were scattercd in the bottom, hunting red haws and hickory nuts. We did not succeed in getting many haws, but had tolerable success in scratching up hickory nuts from under a light snow. The hunters returned with only two small turkeys, which were but little
104A - HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO
ARTEMAS BEEBE, SR.
This day, March 17, 1879, brings to the memory an aged man March 17, 1817. Sixty-two years ago this day, Mr. A. Beebe first visited the log house, only sign of the now pleasant town of Elyria. Only living member of the little band that first settled Elyria, in his eighty-sixth year, he alone is left to tell the birth and growth of said town.
Of a family noted for longevity, his father was born at Waterbury, Conn., and removed to West Springfield, Mass., where he died at the advanced age of eighty-six, in the year 1852. His faithful wife died in 1851, seventy-nine years of age.
Mr. Beebe, of whom we write, was born at Russell Hampden Co., Mass., Oct. 7, 1793. Scanty were his educational opportunities. A clerkship in his father's store, and the district school, however, gave to him much that in after-years he used so well. Like many young men of his day in New England, he had a strong desire to " go West." Ohio then was almost the end of western civilization. A fellow-townsmen coming into possession of a large tract of land on the Western Reserve afforded a chance to gratify his wish. On the 20th of February, 1817, a company of six left West Springfield, Mass., for Ohio, composed as follows : Heman Ely, founder; Ebenezer Lane (afterwards chief justice of Ohio) ; Mr. A. Beebe ; Luther Lane (so well known in after- years as the good deacon); Ann Snow, housekeeper ; and Ned, a colored boy.
Mr. Beebe received twenty dollars for expenses, and the privilege of riding as far as Buffalo, N. Y. From that place through the forests, over unbridged streams, on foot, he arrived at the " log house" on the aforesaid date, late in the day. Using his own words : "On the morning of the 18th of March, 1817, I got up to see where the sun came from, and found it came up all right, and it has ever since." No time did he have to regret the comforts of a New England life. A new life was to commence ; that life that did so much for over half of a century in making Elyria what it is. Carpenter and joiner his calling, his first work was the erection of the first frame building in Elyria, built on the corner of what is now Broad and Cedar Streets. In this building were born many others. Used for a shop for one year, it was filled in the ensuing year, with such goods as filled the limited wants of pioneers, by Edmund West & Co.
In the latter part of the year 1817, Mr. Beebe and Mr. Douglas jointly purchased of Heman Ely the first city lot ever sold in Elyria. On this property, in 1818, they built the building so well known to this day as the " Old Beebe Tavern" (hotel being a term as yet unknown). For years was this place the home of all new-corners until their own fireside was established. Under its roof were held many social gatherings. There was held the first meetings of Elyria's original Masonic lodge. At the expiration of one year Mr. Beebe purchased of Mr. Douglas his share of said property, and in him has the title ever since remained. Constant work was Mr. Beebe's mission until February, 1819, when he, with a horse bought for the purpose, left Elyria for the old home, via Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and New York, to regain health injured by constant toil. A short visit, and the little " gray horse" and one-horse lumber-wagon landed him once more in Elyria. Now a few months are spent in various activities. The following February again witnessed his departure for New England. This trip was performed in great share on foot. Arriving at West Springfield, there and in its vicinity he remained until the following October. Of this visit came much to him,—much to Elyria. He gained the life-partner of his early hardships, of his later prosperity, and Elyria won one of its truest women. One of the first meetings of Mr. Beebe with his future wife was at West Springfield, where she was a member of the Congregational Church. She was also a member of the choir, of which Miss Celia Belden, afterwards first wife of Judge Heman Ely, was also a member. Short was the courtship, but long and pleasant the many years
104B - LORAIN COUNTY HISTORY, OHIO
that followed. Mr. Beebe was married to Miss Pamelia Morgan Oct. 4, 1820. This marriage was solemnized under peculiar circumstances, viz., by the Rev. Joseph Lathrop, who for two generations had performed the duties of a pastor in said town. To him was it left, after performing the marriage ceremony for the last time in his life (then in his eighty-ninth year, totally blind), to send out the young couple to the western wilds with all and every good wish and fond hopes for their future welfare. No Saratoga trunk or useless finery filled the wagon-box that left. Mrs. Beebe's early home. The plain and substantial comprised its contents. The brass kettle, the warming-pan, the candlesticks, the andirons, etc., yet in the family tell their own tale. A long journey full of incident, now with wagon overturned, again vexatious delay from impassable roads, or rustic bridge swept away, ended Nov. 17, 1820. With earnest hearts, a will to do, and hands trained to work, Mr. and Mrs. Beebe commenced life in the "Old Beebe Tavern." Many years were there passed. To Mrs. Beebe much of the reputation this tavern gained in early days was due. She not only made it the place of entertainment for the weary traveler, but many a one homesick, and longing for the eastern home, from her got words of healthy cheer and kind sympathy. From this time onward, until the date of her death, June, 26, 1878, Mrs. Beebe's life was one of womanly work. Noted as the housewife; earnest and active in the church ; as neighbor kind, ever ready with helping hand to aid and comfort the sick, genial in social intercourse, she was eminently the good woman. One of the original ten who formed the First Presbyterian Church of Elyria, Nov. 24, 1824, she was always its ardent supporter, in word and deed living out her profession. Her energy and economy aided the husband in acquiring the competency that in declining years made their home so pleasant, and caused them both to forget the early privations attendant upon the "first settler."
She left at her death two sons and three daughters, all in the maturity of life. An obituary notice says of her : "She died rich in all those experiences she had garnered up with the growth of Elyria. To her was given the good fortune to watch, help, or nurture a little hamlet of one or two log houses become a town of churches, schools, and a prosperous people."
In 1826, Mr. Beebe, in partnership with Ezra Adams, purchased of Silas Wolverton the contract for carrying the mail between Cleveland and Lower Sandusky, now called Fremont. Mr. Beebe performed the duties of said contract between Elyria and Cleveland ; Mr. Adams and others between Elyria and Fremont. At the end of one year Mr. Beebe purchased the entire business. Increase of population demanded greater facilities than the single horse, with mail-bag, could perform. Soon Mr. Beebe, with letters from the Hon. Elisha Whittlesey and others, visited Washington, D. C., and from the Postmaster-General obtained a general contract for the transportation of mails and passengers between the above mentioned points. The coach seating six, with its four horses, soon had to give way to the more commodious coach, which gave ample room to nine.
The coach, with its merry driver and noisy tin horn, excited as much attention, and drew as many to the "stage office" on its coming and departure, in proportion to the population, as the steam car, with more with labor was this undertaking; poor roads, poorer bridges were ever opposing him; shipwrecked coaches and drowned horses were not uncommon. But Mr. Beebe's untiring energy overcame every obstacle of nature and all opposing lines Started by others; and the year 1831 saw a daily line of four-horse coaches running over his route. .Success rewarded his efforts until 1842, when he sold this branch of his business to Neil Moore & Co., of Columbus, Ohio.
From the years 1830 to 1833, Mr. Beebe was engaged in the business of general merchandise, with H. N. Gates as partner. Shortly after disposing of his mail contracts he purchased of Deacon L. Lane the Eagle Mills, on the east branch of Black River, which he successfully operated for twenty-three years, selling them then to the late I. W. Bullock.
In 1846, remembering the " Old Beebe Tavern," and seeing Elyria in need of a first-clasS hotel, he built the Beebe House. A building an ornament to the town, an honor to the builder, long and favorably has it been known to the traveling public.
Motives outside of mere pecuniary gain must have actuated Mr. Beebe in this enterprise. The needs of Elyria for a hotel far better than any existing, it seems, must have induced him, regardless of any ultimate dividend, to have erected so substantial, so complete a structure. Erected thirty-three years ago, it yet remains in many respects a pattern for more modern structures. At the time of its building, nothing like it for its purpose stood upon the Western Reserve in towns of similar size. A similar motive must have had much to do in influencing Mr. Beebe to build the beautiful Beebe House on Put-in-Bay Island, so many years and still kept by his eldest son, Henry Beebe. In this respect he may well be called a public benefactor. In 1847, when the subject of a bank was agitated among Elyria's citizens, Mr. Beebe was one of the first to respond. An original stockholder and director from its birth, in its change to a national bank he has ever held both positions until the present day. In 1849, becoming a stockholder in the Plank-Road running from Black River, Lorain Co., to Homer, Medina Co., he was largely instrumental in bringing the advantage of said road to his fellow-citizens, and in completing it, being appointed superintendent of its construction.
The latter years of Mr. Beebe's life, although not as full of actual labor, have been none of idleness. The duties of bank director, trusts confided him by his fellows, the care of a large property, and farming interests have constantly busied him. Such is a brief outline of the life of the remaining link between Elyria's beginning and its now only surviving member of the little band of six who nearly seven decades ago laid Elyria's foundation ; lie yet remains.
As a man Mr. Beebe was ever noted for strict integrity ; ever careful to aid the cause of morality and religion, always an attendant upon religious observances, and ever contributing to the church. Upon May 6, 1866, making public profession of religion, he; became a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Elyria. Now past the allotted age of man, hardly one remaining of his early associates he lives Elyria's oldest citizen. The children, ay, even the grandchildren, of those with whom his youth and middle age were spent with reverence and respect regard him, ever seeing the sterling integrity, clear business decision, and prompt action that he used so well in the building up of the town of Elyria.
HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO - 105
among eight hunters, and thirteen squaws, boys and children. But they were divided equally. The next day, the hunters turned out again, and succeeded in kilting one deer and three bears. One of the bears was remarkably large and fat All hands turned out the next morning to bring in the meat
"During the winter, a war party of four went out to the borders of Pennsylvania, to procure horses and scalps, leaving the same number in camp, to provide meat for the women and children. They returned towards spring, with two scalps and four horses. After the departure of the warriors, we had hard times, and though not out of provisions, we were brought to short allowance. At length, Tontileaugo had fair success, and brought into camp sufficient to last ten days. Tontileaugo fair then took me with him in order to encamp some distance from the winter cabin. We steered south up the creek ten or twelve miles, and t into camp."
This was probably in La Grange. They went to bed hungry the first night, but the next day, susceeded in killing a bear, and the day after, a bear and three cubs. They remained here about two weeks, ailig an abundance of game, and then returned to the winter cabin. On their arrival, there was great epy, as all were in a starving condition.
About the first of April, they dug up their canoe, but were forced to make an additional one to carry their riches—left their winter cabin at the falls, and proceeded to the lake—Tontileaugo by water, and .Smith on horseback. On reaching the mouth of the Over, they proceeded west along the shore to Sun-yen-deauk (Sandusky), where was another Wyandotte town. Late in the fall, Smith joined a hunting :party, and proceeded to the Cuyahoga river. At the distance of about thirty miles from its mouth, they formed an encampment near a small lake, and spent the winter in catching beaver. In the spring of 1757 they returned to Sandusky, and soon proceeded by :water to Detroit, where they disposed of their peltry to the French traders.
In 1759, Smith accompanied his Indian relatives to .Montreal, where he was finally exchanged, and returned home in 1760, to find his old sweetheart married, and all supposing him dead. He afterwards became a captain in the regular British army, and was engaged, principally, in protecting the border settlers against Indian raids. During the revolutionary war, he joined the patriot army, rose to the rank of colonel, and did good service, both against the British and their Indian allies. In 1788, he migrated to Bourbon county, Kentucky, where he represented his district in the assembly down to the present century.
After this long digression, we return to the history of Elyria in later times.
ORIGINAL OWNERS.
The township of Elyria was, in April, 1807, drawn by the following individuals of the Connecticut land company, viz: Justin Ely, Roger Newberry, Jonathan Bruce, Elijah White, Enoch Perkins, John H. Buel, Jonathan Dwight, and others, whose names are not mentioned.
At the September term of the supreme court, in Portage county, in 1816, the south part of the township (about one-third of the whole,) was set off to Justin Ely; the central part to Elijah White. A tract of two thousand, one hundred and ten acres, lying immediately north of this, was assigned to Jonathan Bruce, and the remaining portion of the township to Enoch Perkins and Roger Newberry.
White conveyed his tract to Justin Ely, and he, in turn, to Heman Ely, his son, who purchased the Bruce tract, making him the owner of twelve thousand five hundred acres lying in a single body.
The following history of the settlement of the township of Elyria is prepared from reminiscences of the venerable Artemas Beebe, the Hon. Heman Ely, the address of the Hon. W. W. Boynton, and from personal interviews with N. B. Gates and such early settlers as are now remaining in the township.
SETTLEMENT.
In the spring of the year 1816, Heman Ely, of West Springfield, Massachusetts, came to Ohio to look after his estate. He came in a sulky, until he reached Buffalo, where, leaving his sulky, he completed his journey on horseback.
A NARROW ESCAPE.
"In following the trail which wound along the lake shore, through the unbroken forest, the ground gave way, his horse's hind feet were thrown over a high wash bank. The horse, however, clung with his fore feet; Mr. Ely clung to the bridle and mane, and a vigorous use of the whip probably saved the life of the founder of Elyria."
He made his home, temporarily, with Moses Eldred, father of Clark Eldred now of Elyria, who then kept a tavern some two miles east of the river, in Ridgeville township.
Mr. Ely immediately set about the work of improvement. First of all, he contracted with Jedediah Hubbell, and a. man named Shepard, of Newburgh, Cuyahoga county, to build a dam, and erect a grist and saw mill. These were located on the east branch of Black river, near the foot of the present Broad street. There was also erected a large log house, which stood near where Mr. Beebe afterwards built his tavern stand. This was occupied by John Bacon, late of Carlisle, who boarded the men who were engaged in the construction of the mills.
During his first visit, Mr. Ely, while examining his lands, in company with Clark Eldred, then a young man, came upon a spot, some two and a half miles west of the river, which pleased young Eldred, and which he selected for his future home. Though as yet unsurveyed, he made a verbal contract for it, and after its survey, secured a deed. Mr. Eldred occupied this farm for fifty-five years, and for many years kept a hotel. He now, after a long and useful life, resides in the village, retaining his full powers of mind and memory.
Mr. Ely returned to Massachusetts, in the fall of 1816, and immediately commenced making preparations for his removal to his wilderness possessions on Black river.
About the first of January, 1817, Mr. Ely sent on three men, with axes in their hands, to commence clearing land. They made the entire distance on foot
106 - HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO.
(about six hundred miles), and before Mr. Ely arrived with his party, in March, they had made quite a hole in the woods. Their names were Roderick Ashley, Edwin Bush, and James Porter.
On the 20th of February, 1817, Mr. Ely and his party commenced their weary journey, much of the way by a wood route, barely passable at any time, but especially difficult at that season of the year. We who live in this age of telegraphs and railroads, and can to-day take our breakfast in Elyria, and to-morrow morning, after a comfortable night's rest in a sleeping-car, take the same meal in New York City, have but a feeble conception of the trials and difficulties attending the same journey, from the east, sixty-one years ago. The mode of conveyance of these pioneers was, by a stout pair of horses harnessed to an equally stout wagon. This vehicle was covered with home Spun tow-cloth over the bows, in the prevailing emigrant style. The party, six in all, started from their New England homes in high spirits. It consisted of Heman Ely, the founder of the present township and village of Elyria, Ebenezer Lane, afterwards chief justice of the supreme court of Ohio, Miss Anna Snow, housekeeper, Luther Lane, who drove the team, Artemas Beebe, a house joiner and carpenter, who had been engaged to accompany the expedition; and a colored servant of Mr. Ely's, named " Ned." They proceeded as far as Seneca Falls when, the sleighing being good, they halted, and made a sled. Loading the wagon and goods on the sled, they pushed on to the vicinity of Buffalo, when the sleighing left them. From Buffalo to Cattaraugus creek, they traveled on the ice. They arrived at Cleveland, without accident or material incident, on the 16th of March, and a few days subsequent, at the Mecca of their pilgrimage, where they were duly installed in the log house, before mentioned. I quote from the interesting reminiscences of Mr. Beebe:
" Mr. Bacon and family went to their home in Carlisle, and Mr. Luther Lane went with the team for straw to fill the beds. When the river fell so that the load could be brought over, two beds were made, and a description of them will not be out of place. Mr. Ely had brought some bed-ticks from the east, ready-made, and the cover of the wagon was also converted into ticks. The bedsteads were made of poles, with bark stretched across them for bottoms, and pillows were scarce. Some coarse cloth was used for sheets."
A family named Beach made a settlement, in 1816, in the western part of the township, near the site of the present Haag's mill. This was the first white family to settle in the township. On the 10th of September, 1817, Mrs. Beach gave birth to a son, the first white child born in the township. He was named Henry, and was living, at a recent date, in Rockport, Cuyahoga county, and with him, his aged mother. Mr. Beach was taken sick soon after the birth of the child, and died on the 22d of the succeeding November. Mrs. Beach took her family, and the dead body of her husband, to the log school house, opposite Captain Eldred's. He was buried in a sandy ridge, a little east of of the center of Ridgeville. Mr. A. Beebe made the coffin. This was, doubtless, the first death of a white person in the township.
Mr. Beebe says the first improvement in the way of chopping, was made by Clark Eldred, who had about two acres chopped down when the improvements were commenced in the village. The first clearing in the village was made at the foot of Broad street, and progressed westward, as required. In this clearing, the houses of Mr. Ely and Mr. A. Beebe were built. George Douglas and Gershom Danks, carpenters, arrived from. Westfield, Massachusetts, about the first of April, 1817, and soon after the work of building was commenced. The first framed building erected was to be occupied for a store. This was located on the southwest corner of the Ely homestead lot, at the corner of Cedar and Broad streets. It was about twenty by forty feet, one story high, and without a cellar. During the year 1817 it was used for a joiner shop, but the next year it was filled with goods by Edmund West & Co. This was the pioneer store in Elyria which has since been "noted for its trade in dry goods, and for the success which has attended the enterprise of some of its early merchants." The next building was the residence of Mr. Ely, and is the same now occupied by his son, Hon. Heman Ely. This house was forty-five feet front by forty feet deep, with a kitchen and wood-house in the rear and a cellar under the main building. It has undergone various changes and improvements both externally and internally, and its present fine architectural appearance and beautiful surroundings are in striking contrast with the picture it presented in the dense forest sixty years ago. The siding of the house was all made from one whitewood tree that stood at the turn of the street near where the large willow now stands.
On the 29th day of May, 1817, Captain Festus Cooley, father of Festus Cooley late of Elyria but now of Kansas, arrived from Westfield, Mass., and took charge of both the saw and grist mills. He came the whole distance on foot. In the summer Enos Mann came to Elyria. He was from Becket, Mass. He located on the farm east of the river, since owned by Deacon Lane. Mr. Mann was a turner of wooden bowls, and, it is said, followed this vocation for a number of years after his arrival in Elyria. During the fall following their arrival Mrs. Mann gave birth to a son, the second born in the township. Mrs. Mann died on the 9th of March, 1823, and her remains were the first interred in the Elyria cemetery. A plain sandstone slabs marks the spot, and upon it the following inscription: "In memory of Mrs. Clamancy Mann, consort of Mr. Enos Mann, who died March 9, 1823, in the fortieth year of her age." A simple collection of words and figures, yet of what terrible significance to the bereaved ones, hundreds of miles from relatives, in a comparative wilderness. Friends were raised up for them, and kind, though strange hands, ministered to the wants of the motherless ones.
Neri Gulpin, from Litchfield county, Conn., settled in Elyria in November, 1822, on the farm now occu-
HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO - 107
pied by Anson Pangburn. Seven children came with him. Of these but one resides in Elyria: Marcus D., who married Amanda Ely, daughter of Lewis Ely, who came to the Reserve in 1800, locating in Deerfield, now Portage county, with his parents, Lewis and Anna (Granger) Ely.
Lewis Ely, Jr., came to Elyria in 1823, purchased two lots on West Broad street, put up a small frame house, returned, and, with his family, removed to Elyria in the spring of 1824. Mr. Ely was killed by a runaway horse, in June, 1831. He was sheriff of Lorain county at the time of his death. Mrs. Ely died in 1863.
Francis Douglas, brother of George Douglas, came from Westfield, Mass., to Elyria in 1820. He was a carpenter, and for several years a Methodist local preacher. He built several houses, one of which is the brick front west of the public square now occupied by Dr. Sherwood. In 1843, he removed to Wor̊ester, Mass., where he died in March, 1878, aged eighty years.
Calvin Smith removed with his family from Naugatuck, Conn., to Elyria in 1819. He built a log house east of the river on the lot now occupied by Mr. L. F. Ward, where he resided several years. He removed from thence to Sheffield, where, after a long sickness, he died in 1826. He was a fine singer, and led the singing in the early religious meetings in the log school house east of the river.
Heber G. Sekins, born in Stafford, Vt., came to Elyria in the fall of 1825. His family then consisted of a wife and two children. Ira B., the oldest, still resides in Elyria. He was for years connected with the military organizations. One of his daughters is the widow of the late Thomas Childs, and still resides in the village. Another daughter married Elizur Northrop. They are residents of Cleveland.
We are unable to obtain the names and history of many of the first settlers, but shall refer to some of them incidentally as we proceed.
Immediately after the first settlement of the township, Mr. Ely and others felt the importance of establishing and maintaining religious institutions. They had built a log school house on the triangular piece of ground between the railroad and the highway, just across the east branch of the river. Here the pioneers assembled every Sunday and engaged in public worship. Mr. Ely usually read a sermon; Luther Lane and William. Smith were called upon to lead in prayer; Calvin Smith, assisted by Irene Allen and others, led the singing. We again quote from Mr. Beebe's reminiscences:
"The first sermon preached in Elyria was by the Rev. Alvin Hyde, on the 5th of February, 1818. He was a son of the Rev. Dr. Hyde of Lee, Berkshire county, Mass. His text was from Jonah 2: 9, Salvation is of the Lord.' During part of the years 1817-18, he resided in Dover, where he preached half of the time, and the other half in the adjacent townships.
"Our ordinary rations consisted of pork, tlour end peas. Sometimes we got venison and fresh fish. The Indians furnished us with the first fish we had. They caught them below the falls. They shot the deer where they could find them, and would come riding in single file with squaws and pappooses on their ponies. They came from Upper Sandusky to hunt and fish, and belonged to the Wyandotte and Seneca tribes. They used to camp on the ground now occupied by Mrs. Hoyle and Col. Gates, which was then covered by a small growth of hcmlocks and pines.
"Mr. Chester Wright had established a distillery on the east side of the east branch, in the rear of the sand pits. The 1ndians, being great lovers of whisky, could obtain supplies at the distillery, whisky being considered one of the necessities of life." Mr. Beebe remarks that "distilleries were then as plenty as cheese factories are now. Some of the Indians' names were Goodhunt, Red Jacket, Betwixt-the-Logs, etc. They were civil and gave us no trouble."
WILD ANIMALS.
Bears were frequently killed by the early settlers, and were particularly destructive of the pigs that roamed in the woods in those days. In the winter of 1830, J. A. Harris, late of the Cleveland Herald, who then resided in Elyria, encountered four—an old bear and three well grown cubs—in the woods just east of E. A. Griswold's. The three cubs ascended a tree, while the old bear maintained her position on the ground. He first lodged a ball in the old bear. Instead of attacking him, she fled, leaving her young unprotected. He fired deliberately at each of the three in the tree, bringing them all down, and killing but one. He had only a squirrel rifle. With a target gun, such as are used at this time, he would probably have bagged them all. A party of hunters followed them the next day, tracking them by their blood, but did not overtake them. In the winter of 1831-2, the writer was teaching school in the yellow school house which stood west of the public square, on the ground now occupied by the town hall. One afternoon the school was thrown in great commotion by a bear passing through the town just back of the school house, pursued by dogs and hunters. It crossed the river below the falls, and was killed about three miles down the river, on the farm belonging to the late Aaron R. Taylor. This was the last bear seen in this vicinity.
Wolves were quite numerous until about 1835. Their howlings could be heard almost every night in the woods north of town. One evening during the fall of 1832, the writer was passing on foot along the road which skirted a swamp near the residence of Harlow Wells, in the northwest part of the township, a pack of wolves followed him, keeping along the boarder of the swamp, so near that he could hear the pattering of their feet. Their howlings were not musical, but very much diversified. Like the retreating soldier, though not frightened he was somewhat demoralized. The last wolf was seen in Elyria during the year 1844. He was evidently lonely, as he sought the society of dogs; but the dogs did not fraternize with him, but avoided his society. Many times he came into the village during the evenings, and our largest bull-dogs, after a brief encounter, retreated to their kennels in disgust. He created much excitement among the citizens. Those who had brief glimpses of him greatly magnified his size, and imagined him to be some huge wild animal, probably a panther of the largest class. At length during the ensuing winter a party of hunters got on his track which they followed for three days, killing him in New Haven, Huron county. While being pursued he
108 - HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO.
would stop occasionally to kill a sheep on which to refresh himself. The party returned in triumph, bringing his skin, which was stuffed and preserved in the rooms of the Natural History Society until February 10, 1852, when the block containing the rooms was consumed by fire, and this, with all other specimens, perished. He was a gray wolf of the largest size, and evidently a veteran.
Many anecdotes could be related of the encounters of our pioneer settlers with wolves; some of them being followed by a pack in the evening were forced to take refuge in trees, where they remained till morning, when their pursuers retreated. Mr. George Sexton and wife, living a mile and a half east of the village, hearing a disturbance among their sheep in the barnyard, got up and went out en dishabille, and with an axe dispatched the disturber of their repose among their sheep.
Deer were very numerous until about 1835. The writer once saw thirty in a flock on the farm of Mr. Asahel Parmely. They had entered the clearing probably to avoid the black flies which were very numerous in the woods at that time. Venison and pork, with an occasional wild turkey, furnished meat for the early settlers. There were no butchers' meat-shops in those days. When a pioneer got out of meat he took down his trusty rifle, and usually soon brought in a deer. What he could not consume in his own family he distributed to his neighbors.
The last deer seen in the township was in the winter of 1841. A party of fifteen or twenty young clerks and mechanics went out one pleasant day in February, with hounds to hunt rabbits. On entering the woods west of Gates' saw-mill they discovered fresh deer tracks. The dogs were put upon the tracks and soon gave tongue. The boys were directed to form a line across the woods. Before the line was fully formed one of the deer broke through and was killed by the writer. A second one passed by the end of the line and escaped, pursued by one of the dogs. The third and last one, a noble buck, approached the line at its east end. He was but two or three rods in advance of the dog, and instead of running at full speed he was making leaps three or four feet from the ground. He turned on seeing the boys and ran about ten rods front of them the whole length of the line. Each one had his shot, but no one was guilty of shedding one drop of his blood. This skirmish line was about as harmless as some at a later day, in the army, where immense quantities of ammunition were wasted without loss on either side. The two deer which escaped were killed the same day by other hunters, one in Amherst and the other at the stave landing on Black river.
Wild turkeys, which were very numerous at the first settlement of the country, have almost entirely disappeared. They were sold on the street at an early day for twenty-five cents each. The largest size weighed thirty pounds dressed.
MR. ELY'S JOURNEY.
In the fall of 1817, Mr. Ely started on horseback for his old home in Massachusetts, while Ebenezer Lane and Luther Lane started for the same destination on foot. They walked as far as Albany where they took the stage for Springfield. During their absence Mr. George Douglas and Mr. Beebe remained and worked on the inside of Mr. Ely's house. Mr. Ely returned in the spring of 1818.
In the fall of 1818, Mr. Ely took the steamboat " Walk-in-the-Water" for the east. The steamer first went to Detroit, as she could not stop at Cleveland on her way down, there being no harbor. He left Cleveland on the 17th of September, reaching Detroit on the 21st, and Buffalo on the 24th. The " Walk-in-the-Water" was the first steamboat on Lake Erie, and seems to have been a slow walker.
"Mr. Ely reached West Springfield on the first day of October, and on the 10th of the same month was married to Miss Celia, daughter of Col Ezekiel P. Belden, of Weathersfield, Conn. On the 18th, they started for Elyria, where they arrived October 30th, in company with Ebenezer Lane and his wife. Those who knew the first Mrs. Ely, speak of her in terms of warm enthusiasm. She was a beautiful and accomplished lady, kind and affectionate in her disposition, and generous to the poor and needy. She was especially loving to the little children of the pioneers. She always had a piece of cake and kind words for them when they called upon her, and her memory was cherished by all of them. One—a child at that time—who was the life companion of the writer, often spoke of her in glowing terms of praise."
The framed house not being completed when Mr. Ely returned with his bride, they commenced housekeeping in the log house. An incident is related by Mr. Beebe. We quote in his own words:
"As soon as it was known in the settlements that Mr. Ely had brought home with him a blooming bride, the ladies felt it a duty as well as a pleasure to call on her. Accordingly, a short time after their arrival, Mrs. George Sexton, of Ridgeville, and a lady friend started on foot through the woods to call on the bride. On arriving, they were met at the door of his cabin, as it was called by Mr. Ely, who received them cordially and introduced them to his wife, who entertained them very pleasantly during the afternoon. They accepted an invitation to tea, and their companionship was so agreeable that the day was far spent before they started on their return home. They had not gone far from the settlement before they lost their way, and wandered on until late in the night, when they came to the conclusion that they were really lost in the wilderness, and would be compelled to submit to the necessity of staying where they were till morning. They therefore crawled up on a fallen, leaning tree, and held on by other trees to keep from falling, and waited for morning to come, as it did at last with all the chills and frosts of a November night. They soon found their way home, and were quite well satisfied as they had visited the bride, and had a good time after all."
Mr. Beebe and George Douglas built a house for Ebenezer Lane (afterward Judge Lane), east of the river, on the farm afterward bought by Clement Northrop. Ebenezer Lane, on the 11th of October, 1818, married Frances Ann, daughter of Gov. Roger Griswold, of Lyme, Conn., and returned to Ohio in company with Mr. Ely and wife. His house being in readiness, he commenced housekeeping at once. He remained on his farm less than a year. Having been appointed prosecuting attorney of Huron county, he removed to Norwalk, October 10, 1819. The journey from Elyria to Norwalk was made on horseback, Mrs. Lane riding one horse and her husband another, he carrying their infant child on a pillow in his arms and being two days on the road. He rose to distinction in his profession, and was for many years a judge,
108A - NAHUM BALL GATES
Nahum Ball Gates was born in St. Alban's, Vt., Sept. 28, 1812. His father, John Gates, and his mother, Abigail Ball, emigrated from Northborough, Mass., to St. Alban's in 1800, and settled on a farm in that township. His father was of Puritan stock, and belonged to Revolutionary blood. The day he was sixteen years of age he enlisted in the army of the Revolution for three years, served until the close of the war, and was then discharged by Gen. Knox, in the vicinity of New York. His three eldest brothers, Samuel, Silas, and William, served in the same war during its continuance.
The subject of this sketch was the youngest of twelve children. His early education was the best afforded in those days in the district schools of his native town, with one term at the St. Alban's Academy, to fit him for a " country pedagogue," teaching district school for three winters in his native State.
The years of his minority were spent on his father's farm, attending and teaching school winters, and laboring on the farm the residue of the year. In this way he secured for himself an athletic frame and vigorous Vermont constitution. Being violently attacked on his father's farm, in the spring of 1834, with what was termed the " Western Fever," which prevailed at that time in Vermont to almost an alarming extent, he, on the 29th day of April, 1834, bade farewell to his native heath and started for Ohio, for the ostensible purpose of visiting his brother, Horatio N. Gates, who at that time was engaged in the mercantile business at Elyria, Ohio, under the firm-name of Gates & Greene.
After remaining in Elyria a few weeks, he went to Cleveland to learn more of the West and find something to do. Whilst standing in front of the Western Reserve Hotel, then in Ohio City, on the west side of Cuyahoga River, a man by the name of Swain came along, and inquired of young Gates if he knew of any one who would on the following day go into the woods and score timber for him, as he was about to erect a dwelling-house. Young Gates volunteered his services, and a bargain was soon struck. The next day saw a good, honest day's work done.
His next venture was painting and glazing, in the employ of William Wheat. At this time the cholera broke out in its most malignant form in the cities of Cleveland and Ohio City. Young Gates did not flee to the country or shut himself up in some secluded retreat, as so many did, but he made it his entire business for weeks to watch with the sick, to care for the dying, and to bury the dead. He spent day and night in performing these duties until the cholera subsided. At the urgent request of his brother, H. N. Gates, on the 1st day of September, 1834, he visited Elyria for rest and recreation, spending the winters of 1834 and 1835 in Elyria, clerking for Gates & Greene.
On the 17th day of May, 1835, he went to Black River and opened a general assortment store for Gates & Greene, where he resided with varying success and experience until the fall of 1838. Here his Vermont constitution underwent a fearful struggle ; a nine months' siege of regular old-fashioned typhus fever and swamp ague could not conquer it ; but, in his own words, " there was nothing left of him but his boots and spurs."
From the year 1836 until 1844 a copartnership existed between himself and brother, H. N. Gates, in the forwarding and commission business, headquarters being at Black River.
In the fall of 1838, Mr. Gates was elected sheriff of Lorain County, removing to Elyria. It has since been his residence. During his residence in Black River he filled the various offices of constable, justice of the peace, and marshal of Charlestown village. On the 12th day of November, 1838, he took the oath of office as sheriff, and entered upon its duties. The court of Common Pleas was then in session. This was the time of great excitement among the bogus or counterfeiting fraternity, who at that time seemed to have a strong foothold in many of the townships of Lorain County. Times were hard. Nearly all the banks in the country had suspended specie payment ; the paper money then in circulation was of all grades and value. Many thought they would take a hand in currency tinkering, which was the order of the day. Therefore, many resorted
108B - NAHUM BALL GATES.
to counterfeiting and the making of bogus coin. Men who had been arrested and placed in jail, charged with this offense, broke out and fled for their country's good. Mr. Israel Cash, who had turned State's evidence, was shot through the body, but not killed, by the son of an implicated counterfeiter. Lorain County was all excitement. Such was the condition of affairs when Mr. Gates entered upon the duties of his office. Thus they remained for over a year. Strict justice will ever give to Sheriff Gates, a determined judge and efficient prosecutor, the credit of breaking up this nefarious gang, whose wicked ramifications even reached into families hitherto called honest and respectable. His prompt action routed the whole gang, root and branch. Many, under the kind care of Sheriff Gates, visited Columbus, others fled their country, some reformed, and others died.
In 1840 a zealous Whig was Mr. Gates ; active was the part he took in that ever memorable campaign. Zeal and ardency actuated his every action. As marshal, on his famous black horse Bucephalus, did he lead the procession from Elyria and adjoining townships that visited that imposing and grand convention, held on the banks of the Maumee River, June 11, 1840.
In 1840 he was re-elected sheriff of Lorain County. Serving to the end of his term, he completed his four years, the constitutional limit.
On the 12th day of May, 1841, Mr. Gates married Miss Sarah S. Monteith, eldest daughter of the Rev. John Monteith, who formerly had filled the position of professor of ancient languages at Hamilton College, New York. Coming to Elyria he took charge of the first select school taught in Elyria of any note. This school, so well known as the High School, is yet remembered with the fondest memory by many a one who can never forget the kindness and the many virtues of their teacher long years since.
From this marriage numbers the issue, viz. : John Quincy, who died in early years ; Elizabeth Monteith, wife of Dr. Wheeler, of Cleveland ; Charlotte Augusta, wife of Rev. T. Y. Gardner, pastor of the Congregational Church, Hudson, Ohio ; Mary Ely, who died in early years ; Charles Alexander, graduate of Western Reserve College ; William Nahum, in business at Massillon, Ohio ; Nellie, at home ; and Frederick Hayes, the baby, but a good-sized one, now a student at Western Reserve College.
In 1843, Mr. Gates purchased of Mr. Heman Ely a mill site on the west branch of Black River, and proceeded at once to build a saw-mill, sash, door, and blind factory, to which he gave his personal supervision and much hard labor for twenty-three years, when, in 1866, he sold out. In 1843 he built an ashery on the west branch of the Black River, and has kept the same in successful operation up to the present time. Mr. Gates thinks he may be classed as the oldest, long-continued, and successful ashery-man in the State. This ashery is still smoking. On the first day of September, 1869, purchasing of Davis M. Clark the soap factory on the west side of Black River, he has since been and now is engaged in the manufacture of his celebrated chemical erasive soap.
The Lorain County Agricultural Society was organized in 1845, and lived along at a poor, dying rate until 1852, when Mr. Gates was elected president of the same. He immediately set to work to stimulate its activities and infuse new life by inclosing grounds, building stables and pens, erecting sheds, revising and enlarging the premium lists ; and since that time he has served ten years as its president, always taking the laboring oar, and perhaps to no one more than him is said society more indebted for its progress, growth, and present prosperity. Of its thirty-three annual fairs he has been present at all of them,.actively engaged in promoting its interests.
In 1844 he engaged in the general merchandise business at No. 1 Cheapside, Elyria. Not liking the cares and perplexities of the business, he made an advantageous sale of his whole stock of goods in 1845 to Messrs. Castle & King, of Medina, Ohio, saying, as he closed out his goods, " that he should never engage in the mercantile business again unless he got bard up." Mr. Gates was among the founders and active workers in the Elyria Union School. He has been a member of the Board of Education the most of the time for the last quarter of a century. 1860 saw him coroner of Lorain County, which office he filled for two years.
He was ever active and a hard worker in the various railroad projects which have been connected with the history of Elyria for the last thirty years. In 1850 he was a director in the Lorain Plank-Road Company, and for many years was superintendent of said road. The year 1860 found him an active worker for the Republican party, and an officer in the Wide-Awake Club. In 1862 he was appointed collector of internal revenue for the fourteenth district of Ohio, by Abraham Lincoln, where he remained until removed by Andrew Johnson, " my policy" being in the way. Elected as mayor of Elyria in 1843 for the first time, he has since that time filled that position for twelve years, and is now acting in that capacity.
In 1856, Caleb S. Goodwin, treasurer of Lorain County, dying, Mr. Gates was appointed to fill the vacancy, and served acceptably for one year.
Mr. Gates's life in Elyria has been one of constant action. For example: in the year 1856 he was treasurer of the county, mayor of Elyria, township trustee, member of the Board of Education of Elyria Union Schools, superintendent of the Lorain Plank-Road, foreman of 'Etna (Elyria) Fire Company, discharging the several duties appertaining to each with acceptance, to say the least, besides attending to his own personal affairs, which were neither few nor small.
He was mainly instrumental in the formation of Elyria Lodge, No. 103, of the Independent Order of Odd-Fellows, and was one of its charter members. This lodge was instituted March 1, 1848, and from that day to this it has been an honored and respected institution. Mr. Gates is the oldest member of said lodge, and the only one left of its charter members, or of those present at its inauguration.
As a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Elyria, and society of said church, he may be termed a pronounced Presbyterian in all its meanings.
During the Rebellion no one was more efficient than Mr. Gates. His quota of years required no personal enlistment to fill any quota demanded from Lorain County, yet it may be truly asserted that no one not subject to draft (and few, if any, that were) did more than Mr. Gates, by word, act, and money, for the republic.
Of strong and pronounced opinions, his ear is ever open to reason's call. Commencing life with little or nothing, prosperity has not elevated him above the cry of the poor and needy. Generous and self-sacrificing, his purse is ever open to true charity, and his hand is always found helping the downtrodden and oppressed. Of him may it truly be said no one in Elyria has spent more hours in watching with the sick, in burying the dead, in visiting the widow and orphan, than Mr. Gates.
The writer knows of no citizen of Elyria who has spent more time for the public at large, with less pay, than Mr. Gates. No one can he recall who has, according to his means, so liberally contributed with voice, action, and money to Elyria's various improvements. Now at the ripe age of sixty-six years, with commanding presence, hale and hearty, as if yet he breathed the mountain air of his old Vermont home, surrounded with the comforts of life, with home graced by the dear wife ever young, cheered by the presence of manly and womanly children, and amused by the prattle of grandchildren, Colonel Gates lives honored and respected by all.
HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO - 109
and for a portion of the time chief justice of the supreme court of Ohio. He died in Sandusky on the 12th of June, 1866. He may with much propriety be ranked among the great men of Ohio. He graduated at Harvard College in 1811, and studied law with Judge Matthew Griswold, at Lyme, Conn. He did not confine himself to his profession alone, but during his whole life he eagerly pursued the different branches of natural science, and became eminent as a naturalist. The first deed executed by Mr. Ely was made to Ebenezer Lane, dated June 1, 1818. It conveyed lot sixty-four, east of the river, containing sixty-four acres; the second to Edmund West; the third to Artemas Beebe. Mr. Beebe and George Douglas had contracted for the land in the fall of 1817. It consisted of the ground where his old tavern stood. The building still remains on the same spot, in good condition. Early in 1817, Mr. Ely had contracted with Joshua Renshaw to survey the township and village. He was assisted by Clark Eldred and others. Mr. Eldred says they were in the habit of starting out on Monday morning, with their week's provisions and blankets on their backs. They stopped wherever night overtook them. They cooked their own provisions, and the water they drank was sometimes filled with wrigglers. Part of the surveys were made in 1816, but the township was not allotted until 1817. The town plat was first surveyed in blocks in 1820. It was not divided into lots until 1823.
FIRST CELEBRATION OF THE FOURTH OF JULY.
This occurred at Elyria in 1819, with all the "pomp and circumstance" which became the sons of New England patriots. The settlers in all the adjacent townships turned out en inane. Grafton especially was represented by nearly all its inhabitants. They came generally with ox-teams, and all entered into the spirit of the occasion. A blacksmith's anvil served in place of a cannon, and was kept warm during the day. The dinner was one of the interesting features, and was for those days quite sumptuous. The dessert consisted of several popular beverages, of which whisky formed the chief ingredient. Mr. Elbridge Gerry, then residing in Ridgeville, delivered the oration, which was patriotic and of course loudly applauded. Mr. David Gibbs, of Carlisle, led the martial music. He was not only a good drummer, but proficient on the fife and clarionet. Mr. Beebe says:
"In order to approximate as near as possible the old-fashioned manner, an old fowling-piece was strapped on the back of John Gould, who placed himself on all-fours, serving as gun-carriage, when a toast would be read, and the gunner, with a grand flourish of his hot poker, would discharge the old flint-lock amidst rounds of applause."
The exercises were closed with a grand ball in the evening, in which all participated. The fiddler was John Shafer, of Ridgeville. Several remained until morning. It is said whisky was freely used, as was then the custom, but no one became intoxicated.
A post office was established in Elyria on the 23d of May, 1818, and Heman Ely was appointed post master, which office he held until the 1st of April, 1833. The revenues accruing to the government during the first four years ranged from two dollars and forty-one cents to eight dollars and twenty-eight cents.
Perhaps no more suitable place can be found to give a brief sketch of some of the lives of the first settlers of Elyria. The biography of some of them will be written by an abler pen. In reference to Mr. HEMAN ELY, it can be said that he was eminently just as a landed proprietor. He usually sold his lands on four years' time, on a written contract or article of agreement, each party retaining a copy. He was very systematic and methodical in his business transactions, living up fully to his contracts, and he expected those with whom he dealt to fulfil their obligations; but he was never known to dispossess any of the early settlers of their lands who were industri ous, temperate and frugal, and were doing the best they could to make themselves homes and to pay for their land. Those who were intemperate, lazy and shiftless, and others who took up land merely to strip it of its most valuable timber, without intending to pay for it, found no mercy at his hands.
It used to be said of him that he could tell, by looking on his map, whenever a tree was cut on any part of his domain, and that he would at once mount his horse and ride directly to the spot. He was much on horse-back, and early settlers will remember the old bay horse that stood hitched in front of his office, ready saddled and bridled, every day when he was at home. He never sought official position, though he served for six years as associate judge of the county; and he was on several occasions a member of the State board of equalization, which met at Columbus to equalize the lands of the State for taxation. In business transactions, he was a man of few words, but when free from the cares of business he was genial and sociable, and loved to hear and tell a good story. So much for Mr. Ely, the founder of the township.
A sketch of the life of ARTEMAS BEEBE will be found elsewhere.
CAPTAIN FESTUS COOLEY commanded a company of Massachusetts troops in the war of 1812. He marched his company to Boston, but as Massachusetts troops were not permitted by the governor to leave the State, it is not believed that the company of Capt. Cooley were guilty of shedding any British blood. He came to Elyria from Springfield on foot, arriving on the 29th day of May, 1817, and immediately took charge of both the saw and grist mills, that were erected in 1816. He put them in good order, and all things seemed to prosper in the way of making improvements in the wilderness. Mr. Beebe says "every man worked with a will; there were no drones in those days." In the spring of 1819, Capt. Cooley went east, and returned with his family in August of the same year. He moved into the old tavern stand, built by Mr. Beebe and George Douglas, which he occupied for about a year, until Mr. Beebe
110 - HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO.
arrived with his bride. Capt. Cooley lived in this town until the time of his death, August 9, 1872, at the advanced age of eighty-six years. Mrs. Cooley survived him several years; she died August 4, 1876. He was a kind and obliging neighbor and friend, and died without an enemy. He was the father of several daughters, who all died soon after reaching maturity. His only son Festus, late of Elyria, now of Blue Rapids, Kansas, is his only surviving child.
LUTHER LANE came to Elyria with the first party of immigrants. Being hired for only eight months, he returned at the end of that time, in company with the late Judge Lane, to Massachusetts. They made the entire distance on foot. He returned to Elyria, in 1821, and, in a year or two, built the house where he resided until his death. On the 4th of July, 1826, he married Miss Ann Cooley, in West Springfield, and brought her to his new western home. She lived to share his toils, joys and sorrows. She died only a few years before her husband, ripe in years, and lamented by all, who loved her for her many christian virtues. Mr. Lane was one of the original members of the Presbyterian church in Elyria, and was elected deacon at the time of its organization. He was, pre-eminently, a good man. No one spoke ill of him. He was honest, industrious, temperate, and kind to all with whom he associated. Children loved him, for he always had a kind word for them. He owned the farm on the east side of the river, opposite the residence of Rev. L. F. Ward. Deacon and Mrs. Lane raised no children of their own, but they brought up a number of orphan children, who were treated with parental affection. He died on the 23d of November, 1868.
JAMES PORTER was an industrious, hard working man, and accumulated considerable property. He owned the farm now belonging to I. J. Raymond, east of the river, and several houses and lots in town. He left one child, a daughter, who was six years old at the time of his death, and is now the wife of M. B. Purnly, of Dayton, Ohio. His widow married Dr. H. F. Hubbard, who died in Wisconsin. She is still living, and resides with her children in Colorado.
GEORGE DOUGLAS died young. He is remembered by the early settlers as an enterprising, kind-hearted man. He died on the 5th day of November, 1829; aged thirty-five years.
RODERICK ASHLEY went east after a year or two, and engaged in boating on the Connecticut river, between Springfield and Hartford. He accumulated a fortune, and died at an advanced age, in the spring of 1878, lamented by all who knew him.
GERSHOM DANKS bought the farm now occupied by Sheldon Paddock, in Ridgeville, which he occupied for several years. He sold out many years ago, and moved west. His subsequent history is unknown.
EDWARD BUSH returned to the east, but afterwards removed to the State of Illinois, where all trace of him is lost.
JOHN BACON, who kept the log boarding house for the pioneers, removed to his farm in Carlisle, where he resided many years. He died not long ago, at an advanced age. Uncle John, as he was familiarly called, was a generous and kind-hearted man.
Of the first settlers in Elyria, Mr. A. Beebe is believed to be the only survivor.
ELYRIA VILLAGE
as first incorporated, embraced only the territory lying between the branches of Black river. Its boundaries have been extended, so that it now embraces a good part of the township. Should its territory all be occupied as a city, it would contain about two hundred thousand inhabitants.
The east and west branches of the river approach each other at the south line of the township, to within the distance of about one mile. The west branch runs in a northerly direction, until it reaches the west falls. The east branch runs parallel to it, until it passes some distance north of Broad street, where it bends west, and for a short distance, south; turning again to the west, it reaches the east falls, a little below the bridge, which connects Washington avenue with Broad street. These falls are forty feet perpendicular, and when the river is high, present a grand appearance. The river there makes its way through a rocky gorge, about sixty rods, where it unites with the west branch. The west fall is about the same heighth as the east. After leaping the fall, it runs through a similar rocky gorge, for about forty rods, where the two branches form a junction.
SCENERY.
The scenery on both branches below the falls is grand and beautiful. Immense ledges of sandstone project over the valley, for part of the distance, while large boulders of the same material are found in the bed of the stream, which, in a measure, obstruct its passage. The banks on either hand are covered with deciduous trees, with which are intermingled evergreen trees, consisting of pines and hemlocks. At the foot of the west fall, on the south side, there is a large, wide-mouthed cave, over-arched with sand rock. It is a famous resort for both young and old. High up on the projecting rock, many names are inscribed, and among them, in large letters, is that of Q. A. Gilmore, 1844. At that date, General Gilmore was a bright lad, attending school in Elyria.
At some period in the distant past, the west falls were located some twenty rods below where they are at present, and at the place where they poured over the precipice, the rocks are water-worn, giving abundant evidence of their former location. Many interesting relics have been found in the former bed of the stream.
At the foot of the ancient junction, there is a basin or small lake, covering an acre or more of ground. Surrounding this basin, the scenery is indescribably grand; rocks are piled on rocks, in endless confusion. This is a famous resort for artists, many of whom
HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO - 111
have visited Elyria for the purpose of sketching its scenery. A little below the basin, there is an island Of several acres, covered with majestic trees of maple, beech, and sycamore, the property of Mrs. Charles Arthur Ely. This she has generously cleared of underbrush, and provided with rustic seats. She has also built a stairway, leading down from the high bank above, and thrown her beautiful grounds open to the public. Picnic parties come from a distance to enjoy this beautiful retreat. Strangers visiting Elyria are not aware that within a stone's throw of Broad street, can be found the most beautiful scenery in the State.
RELICS OF AN ANCIENT RACE.
On the west bank of the river, on the northern border of the township, there is a lot known as the Fort Lot. On this lot there are extensive works, constructed, probably, by a race of people who inhabited this country prior to the present Indian race. About forty years ago, a party of gentlemen, of whom the Writer was one, made a survey of these works. They consisted first, of a large central mound, near the river bank, and a smaller mound on each side of it. The bank of the river descended gradually for about twenty feet, where was a level plateau, some two rods in width. Out of this bank gushes a spring of pure water, of sufficient size to carry an overshot wheel, and falls into the river, the perpendicular bank of which is some seventy-five feet in height. Extending around these mounds, some ten rods or more from them, was a ditch. It commenced at the river bank, 4ome twenty rods north of the mounds, and terminated at a deep ravine, about a quarter of a mile from its place of beginning. At the distance of about ten rods from each other, were pits or caches, evidently made for the purpose of storing provisions. Very ancient oaks grew from the bottom of the ditch, in places. We excavated the largest mound rather imperfectly, and found nothing but pieces of pottery, and fragments of human bones. The sounds were undoubtedly used as places of sepulture, where, after some battle, perhaps, large numbers of the slain were entombed. It is to be regretted that, the owners of the land, in a spirit of vandalism, have ploughed over the mounds, and they are nearly on a level with the surrounding surface.
ORGANIZATION OF THE TOWNSHIP.
On the twentieth of October, 1819, the township of Elyria, comprising townships number five and six, in range seventeen, now Carlisle and Elyria, was, by the commissioners of Huron county, erected a separate township. It was named in honor of its pioneer owner and settler, Heman Ely,—Elyria. The first election occurred on the 3d of April, 1820, at which time there were twenty votes cast. The following list gives the names of the electors at that time: Sherman Minot, John M. Butler, John Baoon, James A. Sexton, Abel Farr, Dudley Starr, George Douglas,
William Sexton, Enos Mann, Calvin Rice, Burton Waite, Chester Wright, J. L. Terrell, Elias Mann, Heman Ely, Roger Cooley, Festus Cooley, James Ledoit, Henry Wolford and Edmund West. James Ledoit and Sherman Minot were judges of election, and Edmund West, clerk. Heman Ely, Sherman Minot and Jonathan A. Sexton, were elected trustees. Edmund West, clerk and treasurer. Tiernan Ely and Festus Cooley, overseers of the poor. Chester Wright and Enos Mann, fence viewers. John F. Butler and Festus Cooley, appraisers of property. George Douglas, constable, and Heman Ely and William Sexton, supervisors of highways. Sherman Minot was the first justice Of the peace; elected, doubtless, in 1820, though the only record we find is a copy of the notice for an election of justice of the peace, "in place of Sherman Minot, whose term of office expired December 23, 1822."
From a list of taxable property, prepared in May, 1820, by Roger Cooley and Phineas Johnson, we learn that there were in the township eleven horses, ninety- eight cattle, and seven houses, five of which were valued at one hundred dollars each, one at fourteen hundred (Homan Ely's), and another (Artemas Beebe's) at nine hundred dollars. The number of horses returned by the assessor in the spring of 1878 was seven hundred and seventy-seven, valued at thirty-eight thousand four hundred and seventy-five dollars; cattle, one thousand one hundred and twenty-seven, valued at twenty-two thousand two hundred and ninety-four dollars; total value of real estate and buildings, township, three hundred and twelve thousand and thirty-five dollars; village, one million and eighty-one thousand dollars; total in township and village, one million five hundred and ninety-three thousand and thirty-five dollars.
The records of the township cannot be found further back than 1842. At the spring election this year Herrick Parker, Ira Cunningham and Israel Everden were judges; Schuyler Putnam and Benjamin F. Robinson, clerks. The officers elected were Ebenezer Griffith, Daniel Nesbitt and William Gregg, trustees; Schuyler Putnam, township clerk; Abraham Burrell, treasurer; William Doolittle and John H. Faxon, constables, and nine supervisors of highways.
In 1843, Clark Eldred, Daniel Nesbitt and Artemas Beebe, trustees; Stephen B. Wolcott, township clerk; A. Burrell, treasurer; John H. Faxon, constable; Heman Burch and Edson A. Griswold, justices of the peace.
The officers for 1878 are Levi Morse, H. C. Vail and George F. Sears, trustees; W. H. Park, clerk; George D. Williams, treasurer; 0. Dole, Charles Myers and S. A. Rawson, constables; Wm. H. Tucker, justice of the peace.
ELYRIA CHOSEN AS THE COUNTY SEAT.
Mr. Ely visited Columbus in the winter of 1821-2, for the purpose of securing an act for the organization of the county of Lorain. He traveled on horse-
112 - HISTORY OP LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO.
back, and the first day out he became lost in the woods. He succeeded in finding his way back to his home at night, and the next day was more successful in finding his way, and finally reached the State capital. The new county was not formed at that session of the General Assembly, but on the 22d of December, 1822, an act was passed for its formation. It was taken from the counties of Cuyahoga, Huron and Medina, and was named Lorain. It took its name from Lorraine in France, in which province Mr. Ely spent some time while in Europe, and with which he was greatly pleased. It will be observed that the name is somewhat anglicised. It originally embraced the townships of Homer and Spencer now in Medina, and Sullivan and Troy now in Ashland county. At the same session a board of three commissioners was appointed to locate the county seat. Black River and Sheffield were competitors with Elyria, and the commissioners visited both of those townships; but, after a fair consideration of their claims, fixed upon Elyria as the seat of justice for the new county, and on the 14th of February, 1823, drove the stakes for the location of the new court house. It was located at the north east corner of Middle avenue and Broad street, and occupied the ground where J. A. Bean's grocery store now stands. Mr. Ely agreed to furnish buildings for the court house and jail, and to pay two thousand dollars towards the erection of a new court house whenever the county commissioners should see fit to build one.
After the erection of the new court house, the original building was removed to a lot fronting Broad street, and was used for a time as a school house and afterwards as a Presbyterian church. It now stands in the rear of Snearer and Waldeck's cabinet shop. The jail was erected on what is now the South public square, nearly opposite the present residence of N. L. Johnson. It was a two-story frame building, the inside of one end lined with square-hewn logs, which was used as a prison. The other end was used by the family of the jailor. It answered its purpose very well, few if any prisoners having escaped from it. It now stands on East Third street, and is owned and occupied as a dwelling by R. W. Pomeroy.
ELYRIA 1N 1825.
Some of the townships in Lorain county were quite rapidly settled after the first improvements. Such was not the case with Elyria. Its population is not remembered, but the following list shows the houses and their occupants at the above date. Commencing at the east end of Broad street the first house stood nearly opposite the old tannery, and was occupied by a Mr. Canes. The second house was occupied by Mr. Gardner Howe, a tanner. Third, Heman Ely's residence, now occupied by his son Heman. Fourth, the old tavern of Mr. Beebe, standing nearly opposite Mr. Ely's. Fifth, the residence of Mr. Edmund West, now owned and occupied by Albert Ely. Sixth, residence of Deacon Luther Lane, now owned by Mr. Budd. Seventh, the residence of Mr. Kingsbury, now owned and occupied by Mr. Coburn. Eighth, George Gilbert, a blacksmith. Ninth, residence of Dr. John F. Butler, corner of Broad street and Middle avenue. Tenth, residence of Hiram Emmons. Eleventh, residence of Thompson Miles. Twelfth, residence (name not remembered) on ground afterwards occupied by residence of Samuel Goodwin. Thirteenth, residence of Halstead Parker. Fourteenth, fifteenth, sixteenth and seventeenth, occupants not remembered. Eighteenth, occupied by Roger Cooley. Nineteenth, resident not known. Twentieth, residence of Francis Douglas. Twenty-first, residence of Ebenezer Whiton. Twenty-second, residence of James Porter. Twenty-third, now occupied by W. H. Park, built by Ransom Redington, at that time unfinished.
There were but few farmers settled in the township outside the village.
From the report of the appraiser of real estate for 1870 (the last made) we take the following:
Village. Number of houses 554; valued at $418,615 00
228 other buildings, valued at 40,625 00
In the township, 174 houses, valued at 67,005 00
155 other buildings, valued at 32,007 00
Total, village and township $558,842 00
Real estate is appraised at less than half its true value.
A number of persons whose names have not been mentioned settled in Elyria prior to 1825. William Turner, Jr., whose father came to Grafton in 1816, was apprenticed to George Douglas, to learn the house joiner and carpenter's trade, in 1822. He married Miss Olive M. Lynde, in 1824, and became a permanent resident. By a life of industry he has accumulated a competence, and is now living at the age of severity-five, respected by the community. His wife, aged seventy-three, is also living. Hiram Emmons came from Connecticut in 1821. He died in 1865 aged seventy-two. He was an honest man and a good citizen.
Stanton Sholes was one of the early merchants of Elyria. He sold out to Thompson Miles, who succeeded him both as a merchant and resident in 1824, and removed to a pleasant home in Amherst. Capt. Sholes afterwards removed to the vicinity of Columbus, where he died recently, aged over ninety years. He commanded a company in the war of 1812, and did good service for his country. Mr. Miles having secured a competence, retired from business in 1833. He died in September, 1845, aged fifty-five years, leaving a highly respectable family.
Ezra S. Adams, from Canton, Conn., settled in Elyria in 1821, and established the first harness and saddlery shop in the county. He kept the hotel built by George Douglas for a time, and was a partner of Mr. A. Beebe, in establishing the first line of stage coaches between Cleveland and Sandusky, (now Fremont.) He afterwards carried on the business of harness making for many years. He died January 22, 1847, aged forty-six years.
112A - WILLIAM H. TUCKER
A young man who, with good habits and energy, says, "This will I do," rarely fails. William H. Tucker is a living illustration of this fact. He was born in Windham, Portage ' no., Ohio, March 21, 1826, the youngest son of Jacob and Ohloe Tucker. Jacob first settled in Ohio, at Vermillion, in 1816. In 1818 he moved into Windham, as above, from which place he removed to Eaton, Lorain Co , Ohio, in 1832, purchasing a farm on Chestnut Ridge.
Here with his wife he remained until their respective deaths ; Mr. Tucker dying in 1863, in his eighty-eighth year ; his wife having died two years previous.
From the mother did W. H. Tucker get the notions which, worked out, have made the valuable citizen. Mrs. Chloe Tucker was a woman of uncommon energy ; the great motherly heart of a good woman, by precept and example, left an impress on the character of her children that to this day recalls the memory of a mother who ever watched over them with self-sacrificing devotion, and aided them to become the true man or true woman.
The father, of a different mental mould, ever kind, no matter how gloomy the outlook, was ever cheerful ; always thinking "Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof."
Mr. W. H. Tucker, well remembering the exodus from Portage to Lorain County, recalls the passage of Cuyahoga River, at Cleveland, Ohio, on a floating bridge, the all of his parents in a lumber wagon drawn by a yoke of oxen, those parents to work out of the then woods of Eaton a home for selves and little ones. Such a home, poor as it was, was even then made so pleasant that one and all of those children look back to it with fond memories.
Early life in Lorain County gave limited opportunities for education. At the age of sixteen Mr. Tucker began to think for a better education than home schools provided. In his seventeenth year his father gave him all he could, viz., his time. With this and a fixed determination he commenced the business of education, chopping cord-wood for tuition, and doing chores for board. He was a pupil at a select school at Ridgeville, Ohio. The following winter found him teacher of the common school at Lagrange, Ohio. In the following July, to acquire further funds for schooling, he commenced work with a traveling threshing-machine. A week's work left him with only one leg, and even life in danger. Good early habits and a sound constitution pulled him through so far as the physical was concerned ; but, as he looked to the future, "black care brooded o'er his mind." Fearing he should become a burden to his friends, he almost wished for death. However, will-power and kind attention of tender friends drove such thoughts away, and left him with a fixed purpose. Engaging in school teaching for the following twenty-two years, Mr. Tucker taught every winter, frequently fall and summer terms, in the common schools of Ohio; now and then a select school. All this time as teacher he was everywhere a learner.
In the year 1864, Mr. Tucker removed to Elyria, Ohio, where be now lives. He was married in his twenty-third year to Miss Clarissa Andrews, who as kind wife, with joyous and sunny disposition, cheered his life until her death, which occurred at Elyria, Jan. 20, 1870. She left three sons, the youngest but eight days old, her only daughter having died before, aged two years.
He was remarried, March 13, 1871, to Mrs. M. C. Hart, widow of Hermon Hart, of Grafton, Lorain Co., Ohio, who now with every womanly grace makes home pleasant to husband and their many friends.
Mr. Tucker was elected recorder of Lorain Co., Ohio, in 1864, filling the position, by two re-elections, for nine years. Retiring from office with health somewhat impaired by close confinement and strict attention to official duties, for a short time he engaged in sundry business occupations. Waving, during his recordership, reviewed his law studies under the instruction of Judge John C. Hale (which studies were originally made under Judge W. W. Boynton), he was admitted to the bar, at a sitting of the District Court, at Cleveland, Ohio.
In 1875, Mr. Tucker was a prominent mover in the organization of a lodge of Knights of Honor at Elyria, and was chosen past dictator of said lodge. In 1876 he represented said lodge in grand council, and has ever since been a member of that body, now being grand trustee.
In February, 1878, as charter member, he helped the formation of a council of Royal Arcanums at Elyria, of which he was elected past regent. He now fills the office of grand secretary of the grand council of said order for the State of Ohio.
Elected by his fellow-citizens as justice of the peace ; a member of the law firm of Fary & Tucker ; with an official reputation as recorder of Lorain County unequaled either by successor or predecessor ; with the trusts of a grand officer in his hands ; his ever charitable hand ; his undeviating life of integrity in all its meaning ; the universal respect of all with whom he comes in contact, Mr. Tucker can be well said to have grandly done his " This will I do."
112B - IRAL A. WEBSTER
William Webster was born in West Hartford, Conn., Oct. 20, 1778, and moved to Laporte, Lorain Co., Ohio, May 15, 1828, from the town of Spafford, Onondaga Co., N. Y. His son William was born at Florence, Oneida Co., N. Y., Feb. 20, 1809.
The occupation of both father and son was that of blacksmithing. William, the father of the subject of this sketch, worked at his trade in Elyria, in company with George G. Gilbert, from 1831 to 1834. His wife was born July 3, 1813, and was the daughter of Henry J. Phillips. They were married Oct. 27, 1831, in Eaton, Lorain Co., Ohio. Mrs. Webster died Nov. 13, 1868, leaving six children, viz. : Daniel, Edward, Cordelia, (wife of Dr. L. C. Kelsey, of Elyria, Ohio), Iral A., Fred, and Will.
Iral A. Webster was born on Butternut Ridge, Eaton township, Lorain Co., Ohio, Dec 22, 1840. In Iral's youth his parents moved to the State of Illinois. Returning from the West, for a short time Cleveland, Ohio, was their home; and in 1848, Carlisle, Lorain Co., Ohio, became his father's residence, where he still lives.
Iral A. Webster's early days were spent on the home farm, in the blacksmith-shop, or in a quarry belonging to his father, except such time as was given to the district school, until 1861. During this year he attended a select school at Elyria, Ohio. In 1862 he commenced studies at Oberlin, Ohio, where some time was spent until the spring of 1866 ; the balance was passed in teaching school at Lagrange and Amherst, Lorain Co., Ohio, and in reading law with J. D. Horton, of Ravenna, Ohio. Continuing his reading, with C. W. Johnston, Esq., of Elyria, he was, in said place, admitted to the bar Aug. 29, 1867. In December, 1867, he opened a law office at Oberlin, Ohio, where his family still resides, although Mr. Webster's time is mostly passed in Elyria, where he started a branch office, August, 1877. He formed a copartnership with Charles G. Finney, Jr., in February, 1872, which lasted but a few months, owing to the ill health of his partner. Jan. 1, 1877, saw his uncle, H. L. Webster, in the law business with him, which relation continued for one year, when Mr. Webster formed a partnership with his brother Fred, which still continues.
In December, 1877, Mr. I. A. Webster purchased one-half of the Oberlin Weekly News, and continued one of its owners and publishers until Jan. 1, 1879, his efforts having aided in a great degree in placing it upon a sound foundation.
On Nov. 25, 1868, Mr. Webster married Miss Lottie Robb, daughter of Jackson and Mary Robb. Of this marriage were born Albert M., Feb. 13, 1875 ; Angie L., April 8, 1877.
Mr. Webster is yet young, a man of high moral standing, and an ardent supporter of every movement looking towards the right. He is a prominent member of the Republican party. Sharing the confidence and good will of all, he enjoys that true respect of his fellows that only follows a life of strict integrity.
HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO - 113
Zenas Barnum built a forge on the west side of the Iriver, where Gates' saw-mill was afterwards built in '1818, and carried on the business of manufacturing wrought iron until 1832. He then removed to Rockport, where he died many years ago.
Elias Mann came to Elyria in 1819. He married a daughter of Major David Beebe, of Ridgeville and removed to Amherst, where he lived to a good old age.
John Gould and Ebenezer Perry settled on the east side of the river, on the ground now occupied by the cemetery. Both died many years ago.
ELYRIA VILLAGE.
INCORPORATED IN 1883.
Section first of an act to incorporate the town of Elyria, reads as follows:
Be it enacted by the Generil Assembly of the State of Ohio, That all that part of the township of Elyria, in the county of Lorain, which is Included within the branches of Black river, be and the same is hereby created a town corporate, and shall hereafter be known and distinguished by the name of the Town of Elyria. The above was passed February 23, 1833. Signed,
DAVID T. DISNEY, Speaker of the House of Representatives.
SAMUEL P. MILLER, President of the Senate.
We are unable to find the record of elections prior to April 6, 1842. At this date an election was held and the following gentlemen were chosen, viz: Orren Cowles, mayor; Benjamin F. Robinson, recorder; Archibald S. Park, Thompson Miles, Israel Everden, Ansel Keith, and T. Crane, trustees; and Samuel Goodwin, treasurer. 1843: Nahum B. Gates, mayor; Austin C. Penfield, recorder; Herrick Parker, T. Crane, I. Everden, Orville L. Mason and William Olcott, trustees; treasurer re-elected. 1844: Oliver R. Ryder, mayor; I. Everden, 0. L. Mason, C. S. Goodwin, and Norman Crandall, trustees; recorder re-elected; Horace C. Starr, treasurer. 1845: officers re-elected entire. 1846: Albert A. Bliss, mayor; 0. L. Mason, 0. Cowles, T. Crane, N. B. Gates and William Olcott, trustees; recorder and treasurer reelected. 1847: Heman Ely, Jr., mayor; M. R. Keith, recorder, B. F. Robinson, W. F. Lockwood, A. Wooster, A. Culver and Milo Bennett, trustees; H. C. Starr, treasurer. We pass to a recent date. 1876: John H. Boynton, mayor; John Childs, George H. Ely, E. G. Johnson and Charles Spitzenburg, trustees. 1877: N. B. Gates, mayor; council, John Childs, George H. Ely, E. G. Johnson, Charles Spitzenburg, William Allen and George R. Starr. 1878: N. B. Gates, mayor; council same as before, adding John W. Hart and D. J. Nye.
In making out the foregoing list of officers we have copied from the records as kept by the recorder, hence we are not responsible for the omission of first names.
Soon after the commencement of the settlement, Mr. Ely saw the necessity of having bridges across both branches of the river, and contracted with Maj. Calvin Hoadley to build them. They were completed in the fall of 1818. Their location was substantially on the sites of the present stone and iron bridges.
In the summer of 1819 Chester Wright erected a distillery, one of those, at that day, popular institutions. This stood on the east side of the east branch of the river, near the spring in the rear of the sand pits. Enos Mann and others afterwards carried on this distillery. Long years since it went into decay and now not a vestige of it remains.
At a very early date, a carding and fulling mill was in operation. It was located on the site of Messrs. Topliff and Ely's extensive manufactory. Gardner Howe at first carried it on, who was succeeded by John L. Butler, and he, in turn, by Herrick Parker. The spinning wheel and hand-loom having become things of the past, Mr. Parker converted it into a woolen manufactory, but does not seem to have been successful, as the work was abandoned some twenty years ago.
The grist and saw mills, built by Mr. Ely at the time of the first settlement, near the east branch bridge, have been succeeded by others, with more modern improvements, which are still in operation.
The old red mill at the east falls was built by Mr. Ely, as early as 1824. In February, 1832, there was a great freshet, caused by heavy rains, which caused the breaking up of the ice. It swept away every mill dam above Elyria, gathering force at each, and came down almost like a wall of waters, bearing along large trees, which had been torn up by the roots. Nearly half of the red mill standing over the water was swept away, and all of the running gear, including the mill stones, and made a complete wreck of the lower portion of the mill. That part of the building next the water, settled a foot or more, and the whole structure came near falling into the stream. It was soon repaired, and has, until recently, done a large business, both as a custom and merchants' mill. It is not now in operation.
The Lorain Iron Company was established in 1832, on the west side of the river, near the west falls. Heman Ely furnished the capital, and built the necessary works. It was, at one time, an extensive affair, employing one hundred, or more, men. It was not a success, financially, and was eventually abandoned. Its failure was probably due to the fact that it used bog ore, which was not very rich in iron. Had the iron mines of Lake Superior been then known, it would doubtless have been in operation at the present time.
Below the " old red mill," was a second one, which was burned down, and between the two, a gentleman named Clark, put in operation an axe manufactory. This business was carried on for a number of years, and turned out a very good class of worn. This has, long since, ceased to be. Mr. N. B. Gates, for many years, run a saw-mill, and carried on a sash and blind manufactory, on the west branch, above the falls. As timber became scarce, it was abandoned, not being profitable.
ELYRIA NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.
Sometime during the year 1844, the above society was organized. It rented a large hall in the Ely
114 - HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO.
block, furnished each side of it with glass cases, for the reception of specimens—a platform and desk occupying the front of the room. It was also supplied with seats, to accommodate about three hundred persons. The glass cases were generally filled with choice specimens, illustrating geology, mineralogy, conchology, ornithology, and botany. Many Indian relics were also collected, together with a small library. In this room, weekly public free lectures were given for about four years, except during the month of August. The lecturers were mostly residents of Elyria, among whom were Drs. N. S. Townshend, Eber W. Hubbard, and L. D. Griswold; Joel Tiffany, A. A. Bliss, P. Bliss, and Woolsey Wells, attorneys; Rev. D. A. Grosvenor; and H. A. Tenney, editor, and others, not recollected. The lecturers were all volunteers, and performed their duties without compensation. During the existence of the association, several distinguished scientists from abroad were employed, who delivered courses of lectures upon chemistry and geology. For nearly four years, the hall was filled, weekly, by the young and middle-aged citizens of Elyria, who were constant attendants upon the lectures. No one can properly estimate the influence for good, especially upon the young people of our village, resulting from these lectures. Elyria has ever been celebrated for the literary and scientific culture of its inhabitants, and it is believed that, its reputation is, to a great extent, due to the influence of this society.
After about four years of prosperity, several gentlemen, who had been prominent in conducting its affairs, removed from town, the regular lectures were discontinued, and it gradually fell into decay. In 1852, a fire consumed the block and what specimens remained in the room.
CHURCHES IN ELYRIA.
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH *
Was organized in the log school house east of the river, on Thursday, the 25th of November, 1824. There were present on the occasion, Rev. Alfred H. Betts, a minister of the Presbytery of Huron, and the Revs. Daniel W. Lathrop, Joseph Treat, and Caleb Pitkin, of the Missionary Society of Connecticut.
The following persons presented themselves for examination, viz: Luther Lane, Celia Ely and Pamelia Beebe, from the First church in West Springfield, Massachusetts; Abbe W. Lathrop, from the First Presbyterian church in Brooklyn, Long Island; William Smith, from the church in Sheffield; Samuel Brooks, Hezekiah Brooks, Lydia Brooks, Sophia Brooks, Hannah Brooks, Hannah Johnson and Irene Johnson, of the Presbyterian church in Carlisle; and Harriet Hamlin, Julia West, Pearly Douglas, Ann Palmer and Pamelia Manter, who had never before made a public profession of religion.
* Derived mostly from the church records, and from conversation with the Hon, Heman Ely.
The building, occupied exclusively as a church, stood on the northeast corner of of the public square, and is the same now occupied by Snearer & Waldeck as a cabinet shop.
In 1834, a wooden church edifice was erected on lot No. 247 East Second street. This was completed, and on February 12, of the same year, was dedicated to the service of Almighty God. On the same day, the Rev. James H. Eells was ordained pastor of the church. This building is now owned by Mrs. Sarah W., widow of the Rev. D. A. Grosvenor, and is occupied as a dwelling.
The massive and beautiful stone church on the corner of Second and Court streets was completed in the spring of 1848, and dedicated May 17, of that year, at a total cost of twelve thousand five hundred and eighty-eight dollars and sixty-five cents. The clock which occupies the tower of this church was put up some years later, and cost three hundred dollars; the bell, six hundred dollars, and the fine organ, fourteen hundred dollars. A neat stone chapel was erected just south of the church in 1853.
The following list shows the pastors who have ministered to the church, with the date they were severally installed:
June 29, 1825, Rev. Daniet W. Lathrop; February 2, 1831, Rev. John J. Shipherd; February 11, 1833, Rev. James H. Eells; September 26, 1837, Rev. Lewis H. Loss; February 9, 1813, Rev. David A. Grosvenor; November 4, 1852, Rev. F. M. Hopkins; April 4, 1855, Rev. Francis A. Wilber; July 2, 1867, Rev. Fergus L. Kenyon; March 1, 1872, Rev. C. H. Wheeler; August 21, 1872, Rev. E. E. Williams; present pastor was employed and installed December 9, 1873.
The present officers of the church, many of whom have grown grey in its service, are as follows:
Deacons—Elijah DeWitt (Emeritus), Joseph Swift, Jr., Edward W. West, 1saac S. Metcalf.
Standing Committee—Thomas L. Nelson, Heman Ely, Edward W. West, Elijah DeWitt, Joseph Swift, Jr., and Reuben M. Carter.
Clerk— 1saac S. Metcalf.
Ladies' Committee—Mrs. Heman Ely, Mrs. J. J. Monroe, Miss Eliza J. Hall.
Chorister—John W. Hulburt.
Organist—Miss Ann M. Crandall.
Superintendent of Sabbath School—Heman Ely.
Assistant Superintendent—H. M. Parker.
Secretary and Treasurer—Mrs. T. L. Nelson.
Committee on Missionary, Sunday School and Bible Society Collections —Elijah DeWitt, Heman Ely, E. W. West, Joseph Swift, Jr., and 1. S. Metcalf.
Officers of the Society—Nahum B. Gates, president; 1. S. Metcalf, secretary and treasurer. Trustees—Heman Ely, Artemas Beebe, Thomas L. Nelson, John W. Hulburt and Joseph Swift, Jr.
In the Sabbath school, the total enrollment is six hundred and twenty-five; average attendance, three hundred and seventy-five. There are also sustained by the church six mission schools, with an attendance of from thirty to sixty each.
The present membership of the church is two hundred and ninety.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The following brief sketch of this religious society is prepared from data furnished by Clark Eldred and Mrs. W. 0. Cahoon. Occasional services were held in Elyria, at the houses of the settlers, by preachers of this faith, soon after the settlement, prior to 1820.
HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO - 115
From 1820 to 1823, Elyria was included in Huron circuit and was supplied by the following ministers:
In 1820 and 1821, Dennis Goddard; 1822, Philip Green; 18S3, N. and John
Werner.
From 1824 to 1831, Elyria was included in Black river circuit, and supplied by the following ministers:
1824, Zarah Coston; 1825, James Taylor; 1826, E. H. Field; 1827, Harry O. Sheldon; 1828, Shadrack Ruark; 1829, John C. Havens; 1830, E. S. Carpenter and H. Colclazer; 1831, E. S. Carpenter and E. C. Gavitt.
From 1832 to 1842, it was known as Elyria circuit:
1832., William Runnels and George Elliot; 1833, William Runnels and J. Kinnear; 1834, A. Billings and A. A. Brewster; 1835, A. Billings and J. Witkinson; 1836, J. Wheeler and T. Barkdull; 1837, S. M. Allen and J. Hudson; 1838, John M. Goshorn; 1839, James Brewster; 1840, Joseph Jones and John Brakefleld; 1841, Cyrus Sawyer and S. B. Guyberson; 1842, E. C. Gavitt and Peter Sharp.
From 1842 to the present time, Elyria has been an independent station, and supplied as follows:
1843 and 1844, William Runnels; 1845 and 1846, Lorenzo Warner; 1847 and 1848, William B. Disbro; 1849, 1850 and 1851, Wm. C. Pierce; 1851 to 1858, Samuet L. Yourtee; 1853 to 1855, James M. Morrow; 1855 to 1856, Uri Richards; 1856 to 1858, M. K. Hard; 1858 to 1859, Thomas Barkdull; 1859 to 1860, J. A Kellum; 1860 to 1862, C. •H. Owens; 1862 to 1863, Wm. B. Disbro; 1863 to 1865, E. H. Bush; 1865 to 1867, Gaylord H. Hartupee; 1867 to 1868, J. S. Broadwell; 1868 to 1871, John A. Mudge; 1871 to 1873, J. W. Mendenhall; 1873 to 1876, A. J. Lyon; 1876 to the present time, J. H. McConnelt.
In May, 1824, a class was formed, composed of the following persons: Hiram Emmons (who was first elms leader) and wife, Clark Eldred and wife, George H. Gilbert and wife, Heber G. Sekins and wife, Sally Gilbert, and some others whose names cannot be ascertained. Soon after the year 1824, a church edifice was erected by this class and outside friends. It was a comfortable wooden structure, and stood near the site of the present Methodist Episcopal church.
The present brick church was erected in 1850, at a cost of five thousand dollars. The society is now taking measures to build a new and more commodious church edifice.
The old church building was converted into a dwelling house, and is occupied by Clayton Johnson. It has been so modernized and improved in its architecture that no person would recognize it.
A lot for a parsonage was purchased in 1831, and soon after a house was put up for the use of the imstor. The parsonage trustees, at that time, were: eLewis Ely, George G. Gilbert, Hiram Emmons, William Peters, Henry B. Tenis, Jonah Bradley, Clark Eldred, Charles Abbey and Jabez Hamlin. The first parsonage has since been sold, and a new and better one erected.
The present parsonage trustees are: Levi Morse, John C. Houghton, Jerome Manville, Waterman Morse, T. L. Taylor, C. M. Eldred, I. J. Carpenter and Joseph Biggs.
Trustees of the Church-Seymour W. Baldwin, William Snearer, Levi Morse, Wiltiam Bennington and A. C. Phipps.
Stewards-O. Bowen, Levi Morse, E. C. Griswold and Hiram Patterson.
Recording Steward-S. B. Sprague.
District Steward-Hiram Patterson.
There is a large and flourishing Sunday school in connection with the church, of which S. B. Sprague s superintendent.
ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH.
The Protestant Episcopal Church in Elyria Was organized in 1837 under the superintendence of the Rev. Anson Clark, missionary, with the aid of the missionary committee of the diocese of Ohio.
The following are the names of those who first signed the articles of association: Orrin Cowles, Jane C. Cowles, M. Augustus Cowlès, E. H. Leonard, Sarah W. Leonard, Drake Andrews, Lucy Andrews, Chauncey Prindle, Nancy Prindle, Aaron Andrews, Eunice W. Andrews, Maria Prindle, Julia Vandeberg, Caroline Leonard, L. D. Griswold, Jerusha H. Griswold, Caroline Byington, Ruth Minot, Perky Blakesley, Mary Blakesley, William Babbitt, and Mary Babbitt.
The first meeting of the parish was held at the house of Orrin Cowles, Rev. Anson Clark, presiding, and Eliphalet H. Leonard, secretary. At this meeting the name, style and title of St. Andrew's Church was adopted, and the following persons elected wardens and vestrymen: Drake Andrews, senior warden; Orrin Cowles, junior warden; vestrymen, Chauncey Prindle, E. H. Leonard, and L. D. Griswold.
In the summer of 1839, Rev. Mr. Clark resigned the charge, and during the next year the first church edifice was erected at a cost of one thousand five hundred dollars.
In 1841, Rev. Hugh Kelley was called to the charge of the parish, and resigning in 1842, was followed by the Rev. George S. Davis who remained until 1845. From this time for a series of years the church was without a settled rector. In consequence of this and the death and removal of several leading members the church gradually declined.
In May, 1851, the first rector, Rev Anson Clark, was recalled, and found but little remaining except the church edifice, but a congregation was soon collected, and among these were fifteen communicants.
In October, 1853, Mr. Clark resigned, leaving twenty-six communicants who worked faithfully and earnestly in the church for its permanent growth. After a short interval the Rev. Francis Granger became rector, and continued as such until Easter, 1857. In May following, the Rev. B. T. Noakes assumed charge and remained until May 1, 1860, when he resigned on account of failing health. During the time he was rector the church edifice was greatly enlarged; a parsonage built; sixty-four persons added to the church, and forty confirmed. In June, 1860, the Rev. Richard L. Chittenden assumed charge of the parish, remaining until December, 1862, when he left to accept a commission as chaplain of the forty-third regiment Ohio volunteer infantry, then in Tennessee. In February, 1864, he resigned his rectorship. During the interval of his absence the Rev. William C. French, of Oberlin, held afternoon services for a period of some ten months, and visiting clergymen occasionally supplied the pulpit until July, 1865. In August, 1865, Rev. Mr. Chittenden resumed charge, but in
116 - HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO.
consequence of failing health, resigned in June, 1868. In July, of that year, Rev. S. A. Bronson, professor in the Diocesan Theological Seminary took charge, temporarily, of the parish, and continued until Easter, 1869, when the Rev. R L. Chittenden assumed charge and remained until Easter, 1870. He was succeeded in June following by the Rev. B. T. Noakes, who remained until February, 1876. During his rectorate the present beautiful church edifice was erected and informally dedicated on the nineteenth Sunday after Trinity, 1872. It was afterwards consecrated by Bishop Gillespie of the Diocese of Western Michigan, in the absence from the country of the Bishop of the Diocese, in July, 1875. It cost thirteen thousand dollars. The organ was made by Hook & Hastings, of Boston, Mass., and cost one thousand six hundred dollars.
After the resignation of Rev. B. T. Noakes the Rev. John Coleman officiated during the months of March and April, 1876. The Rev. William Hyde became rector May 1, 1876, and resigned June 1, 1877. The present rector, Rev. Arthur M. Backus, entered upon his duties July 1, 1877.
The present officers are L. D. Griswold, senior warden; William Jewett, junior warden; J. D. Faxon, R. H. Hill, J. C. McDonald, H. C. Starr, and G. S. Davis, vestrymen. Present number of communi. cants, one hundred. Total enrollment of Sunday school scholars one hundred and forty.
We are indebted to the Rev. A. M. Backus for the foregoing data.
BAPTIST CHURCH.
[Compiled principally from the memorial sermon delivered by the Rev.
L. Andress, November 16, 1876.]
In the latter part of June, 1836, the Rev. Daniel C. Waite, who had but recently graduated at Hamilton, N. Y., came west in search of a field for gospel labor. Arriving at Cleveland, Ohio, he was, on consultation with the Rev. Levi Tucker, directed to Elyria, where he held the first meeting in July following. This was in the court house, and after a few meetings held there, they were transferred to the old yellow school house, then standing on the west side of the public square. On the 26th of November ensuing, the following persons united in constituting the First Baptist Church in Elyria: Daniel C. Waite, pastor; Luther Hartson, sen., Luther Hartson, jr., Mrs. Mercy Brooks, Miss Margaret Wright, Lucius and Sally Andress—seven in all. Mr. Waite continued as pastor until January, 1837. From that time until the following September there was no settled pastor, but occasional preaching. Rev. Mr. Hillis, the next pastor, assumed the pastorate in September.
The first sabbath in January, 1838, was the commencement of a series of meetings which resulted in a general awakening and an addition of twenty-six to the church. At the close of these meetings measures were put in operation for the building of a church edifice, which was completed perhaps one and a half years later. Rev. Mr. Hillis resigned from physical infirmities in June, 1838, and the Rev. Silas Tucker succeeded him. He remained until November, 1840, when he resigned. Rev. Joseph Elliot, of Pontiac, Mich.. followed him. He commenced his labors the February following, and continued for three years. These were the most prosperous of any equal period in the history of the church as far as increase of membership is concerned. In November, 1842, the Rev. Elijah Weaver, an evangelist, of Wall Lake, Mich., assisted in a series of meetings which continued four weeks.
From June, 1842, to June, 1843, one hundred and ten members were added to the church. The entire list of pastors after Mr. Elliot, who served three years, is as follows: H. Silliman, D. Bernard, D. Eldridge, N. S. Burton, L. Ramstead, A. Heath, Rev. Mr. Hayhurst, George E. Leonard, H. H. Bowden, M. L. Bickford and Rev. W. A. Depew, who has recently resigned his pastorate. He assumed charge in March, 1877. The present membership is one hundred and fifty; enrollment in Sabbath school, one hundred and twenty-five. Miss L. S. Carter is superintendent of the Sabbath school.
The officers of the church are Henry E. Mussey, T. W. Laundon, Cyrus Wheeler, Thomas Biggs and J. W. Rockwell, trustees; Thomas Biggs, and J. W. Rockwell, deacons; Amos Masted, clerk.
The entire property of the church, including the church edifice, parsonage, organ, etc., is valued at thirteen thousand five hundred dollars.
GERMAN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN.—ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.
The first members were Daniel Haag, Louis Haserodt, Edward Beese, John Duchtler, J. G. Boehm, Henry Rembacb, and Ernest Schmittgen.
Ministers of the Church.—H. Juengel, A. Heitmueller, H. W. Lothmann, C. C. Schmidt, and J. A. Schmidt, present pastor.
The church building was dedicated on the 16th of March, 1868. It cost four thousand, five hundred dollars.
The congregation was organized lefore the church was built, under the ministry of the Rev. H. W. Lothmann, and services were held in the Presbyterian chapel, court house, and other places. Present membership, eighty to ninety families. Connected with the church is a parochial school, numbering eighty pupils. This is taught by the pastor, Rev. J. A. Schmidt.
UNITED EVANGELICAL.—ST. PAUL'S CHURCH. (GERMAN.)
The trustees of this church, consisting of Henry Fowle, president; Paul Krause, secretary; and Gotlieb Mobeus, treasurer, on the 16th day of October, 1871, purchased of the vestry of St. Andrew's Church the building and lot then occupied by the latter named body, paying therefor the. sum of two thousand, two hundred and fifty dollars.
HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO - 117
Rev. Mr. Deering was the minister of this parish from October, 1871 to July, 1872; Rev. Mr. Waltberger from July, 1872, to January 1873; Rev. Mr. Veering from January, 1873, to May 26, 1873; Rev. Mr. Rein from May 26, 1873, to November, 1873; :lev. Mr. Schelloha from November, 1873, to Octobier, 1875; Rev. Mr. Seybold from October, 1875, to September, 1877; Rev. Mr. Schattle from September, 4877, to September, 1878. Rev. Mr. Sputhulf took obarge September, 1878, and is the present minister of the parish.
The following constitute the board of trustees: Paul Krause, president; George Dachtler, secretary; and Fred Dachtler, treasurer.
At the organization of the church there were twenty-five families, and the present membership embraces thirty-five families.
DISCIPLE CHURCH.
This church was formed in 1832. Among the early preachers of the denomination were Sidney Rigdon, Rev. Mr. Clapp, William Hayden, and Rev's Messrs. Green, Moody, and Jones. It, at one time, embraced 'forty members, among whom were Dr. John F. Butler, H. Redington, Asahel Parmely, Herrick Parker, and others. Many of the members removed to other localities, some died, and the church, many years ago, ceased its labors.
ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.
We are unable to obtain any authentic history of this church. It was established in 1852. Its first priest was Father Haley. It purchased a lot on which is erected a large wooden church building, which has a seating capacity of five hundred. It is -always filled when there are services. It has also, on the same lot, on Middle avenue, a fine parsonage. It also purchased a large lot on the east side of the avenue, on which is a school house, and a fine site for a new church, which will soon be erected. The school numbers one hundred pupils. Father Louis L. Molon is the present priest. He discourses both in the English and German languages.
We are indebted to Prof. H. M. Parker, superintendent of the union schools of Elyria, for the following
HISTORY OF ELYRIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The early settlers of Elyria, Mr. Heman Ely and his associates, were from the State of Massachusetts, and brought with them to this western wilderness, the idea, which was then, and ever has been held, throughout New England, that a good common school education is necessary to prepare boys and girls for citizenship in a republic. Their descendants, and others who have selected this beautiful place for a residence, have maintained the same opinion, and the present efficient system of graded schools, may be considered as the outgrowth of the sentiment of the early settlers.
First, let us spend a little time in looking up the buildings in which the schools have been taught.
Mr. Ely, and a few others, came here in 1817. As soon as there were pupils enough to organize a school, Mr. Ely built a log house on the east side of the east branch of the river, on the corner of East Bridge street and the street leading to the cemetery. This building was erected in the fall of 1819. Miss Irene Allen, afterwards wife of Roger Cooley, taught the first school in the log house. The summer of 1820, Miss Julia Johnson taught in the same place. Some others who taught there were Dr. Howe, Mrs. Clark Eldred, Mr. Bronson, and perhaps a few others. Miss Pamelia Manter, afterwards Mrs. Ranitom Redington, taught an unfinished term in the log house, in the summer of 1824. Among Miss Manter's pupils was a young man nineteen years old. The first day he was in school he committed several lawless acts, for which he was reproved by his teacher. Towards the close of the day, when standing in spelling class, he put his foot out to prevent a small pupil from going above him, on a word he had misspelled. When told that he must not do so, he said: "