Pioneer History of Clarksfield, pages 61 - 70
Daniel Minor was born in Homer, Cortland county, N.Y., and came to Ohio with has father in 1810 and settled near Rocky river, Cuyahoga county. His father soon died and he returned to Homer for school, but returned to Ohio in 1819, settling in Huron county. Where he lived and just when he came to Clarksfield, we are unable to say, but it was undoubtedly about this time that he came. His farm was in the west part of the township, south of Stilesburg. He married Lydia Bennett of Seneca county, Jan. 7, 1823. In February, 1824, he exchanged farms with Daniel Bills, as mentioned above, and settled on Hartland Ridge, where he kept a tavern for many years. He was the first postmaster in Hartland and held the office for twenty-one years. He and his wife both died in 1878.
Joseph Nickerson was born in Franklin, Putnam county, N.Y., July 4, 1793. In 1812 he married Nancy A. Ghrist, who was born in Hartford, Conn., in 1792. In 1824 they moved from Danbury, Conn., to Clarksfield, settling on a farm a half mile north of the Hollow, on the place now owned by J. N. Barnum, moving into a house which had been built by Ezra Wildman, on the east side of the river. Mr. Nickerson was a hatter by trade and used to work in Milan. At one time the family lived in Ebenezer Barnum’s log house, while Mr. Nickerson was at Milan. Mr. Barnum’s wife was a sister of Mr. Nickerson. About 1836 they sold their farm and bought another on the Medina road, near East Clarksfield, the one owned by their son, E. B. Nickerson. In his account with Captain Husted he received credit for a castor hat, $8.00; for a hat for Thomas, $4.50; for a hat for Mr. Husted, $6.00. The children were Rev. William H., who married Charlotte Hill of Wakeman and who is deceased; Joseph G., who married Emeline Barnes and who is dead; Ebenezer B., who married Mary Hand, and who lives on the old place; (their children were Hattie, Mary, Will and Charles, who lost his life while a soldier.) John S., who married Louisa Edwards and who is dead; Henry L., who is a minister in Indiana. His wife was Mary Singer. Mr. Nickerson died in 1881, and his wife in 1866.
Joseph Osyer moved from Canada to Berlin and in 1820 to Hartland Ridge, settling on the farm known as the Eno Holiday farm. In 1824 he sold out his place and moved to Clarksfield, living in a log house on the farm of Benjamin Stiles, back of Charles Fisher’s house. He used to make many shingles and had a shed near his house where he used to shave the shingles. The Stiles boys and others of the neighborhood used to like to go there and watch him at work. He received $2 per thousand for his shingles, and the price seems small when we consider that every shingle was split and shaved by hand, and made of the very best oak or whitewood timber.
Joseph Osyer’s wife was a direct descendant of the eminent divine, Russell Bigelow. Their children were Sally M., Joseph M., Consider V., and Lavilla B., also Polly G., an adopted daughter. Mr. Osyer moved to Townsend about 1827 and died there in 1833, at the age of about 63 years. His wife, Abigail, died in Michigan in 1852 at the age of 73.
Cyrus Waggoner was a son of George and Mary Waggoner and was born in Cayuga county, N.Y., in 1802. In 1824 he married Lavilla Bigelow Osyer, mentioned above. They lived in a log house near Mr. Osyer’s in Clarksfield. They probably moved away at the same time as Mr. Osyer’s family. Mr. Waggoner died from a kick of a horse in 1850 in Michigan, and his wife also died in Michigan. Their children were Marshall O., born in 1826 in Clarksfield, William T., Monroe B., Cyrus E. G., Mary A., James M., and Joel V. Marshall O., the only one living, is a well known lawyer of Toledo. He is an own cousin of Clark Waggoner of Toledo.
In 1823 Benjamin Benson sold to J. M. and J. Osyer and C. Waggoner the land afterward owned by Worlin Carlton, and in 1829 they sold it to Wm. Townsend, who sold it to Carlton.
In 1811 Elisha Smith, with his wife, three sons, Sherman, Austin and Major, with a daughter, Betsey, started from near Syracuse, N.Y., with a team and wagon and headed for Ohio. When they reached the Allegheny river, a boat was purchased and the whole outfit loaded upon it. They floated down the Allegheny and Ohio rivers to the town of Cincinnati, then a place of something over two thousand inhabitants. From there they went by team to Springfield, O. Elisha was an artificer in the war of 1812 and shod oxen and horses, while the eldest son, Sherman, also served in the army for six months. Elisha and his wife both died in 1814, only a few weeks apart. In 1815 the brothers came to New London. Sherman was the eldest and the care of the younger brothers devolved upon him. The sister was bound out to a man at Springfield. Sherman heard that she was misused, so he went there and stole her away and brought her to New London. He was sued for abducting her and gave his note for $100 in settlement, but it was never paid. The sister became the wife of Zelotus Barrett. In 1825 Sherman married Caroline Knapp and moved to Clarksfield, because he found he could not obtain a good title to the land he had bought in New London. He settled on the place now owned by James Crandall. In 1862 he bought Simeon Hoyt’s farm and lived there until his death. He operated a tannery for some years. Mr. Smith was the first township clerk in New London township. His children were Sarah, who married George Bissell; Sabra, who married Benjamin Fanning; Mina, who married Augustus Fox; and Emeline, who married Andrew Blackman. All are living. Mr. Smith was born in Connecticut and died in 1889 at the advanced age of 94 years. His wife died in 1892 at the age of 82.
Major Smith, the youngest brother, married Eliza Knapp and settled on the farm across the road from his brother’s, the farm now owned by Frank Livermore. He moved to another farm on the New London road, (where his widow and grandson, Austin Smith, and his wife, are now living), in later years. They had one daughter, Dolly, who married Wesley Smith for her first husband and William F. Barnum for her second husband. Major Smith was born in Onandaga county, N.Y., in 1809, and died in 1885.
Abraham Gray, a son of Joseph Gray, was born at Danbury, Conn., in 1781. He married Anna Starr, a sister of Smith Starr. He moved to Sullivan county, N.Y., in 1810. In 1825 he came from the town of Mammakating, in Sullivan county, N.Y., to Clarksfield, arriving here Sept. 14. He moved into the log house which Levi Barnum had built on the farm north of Captain Husted’s, the farm being now owned by William Franklin. The house stood some distance north of the corner, and back from the road and an old pear tree still marks the location of the house. This place was the home of Mr. Gray and his family for many years. Mr. Gray and his wife had a large family of children. Their names were Smith S., Pamela, Erastus, Peter S., Deborah, Lydia, Pamela, Sarah, Samuel D., Hiram H., Orlando and Harriet.
Smith Starr Gray was born in 1807. He married his cousin, Mary Starr. They lived on a farm about three-fourths of a mile east of the village of Clarksfield, where Philo Stone now lives. After the death of his wife in 1853 he married Anna Richardson and went to Iowa, where he died in 1859.
Pamela, 1st, died young. Erastus was born in 1810. He went to Norwalk about seventy years ago and engaged in business. In 1867 he married Mrs. Eliza Parker of Norwalk. He died in 1889, leaving no issue.
Peter Starr Gray was born in 1812 and married Lucy Stiles in 1834. After her death he married Alice Knapp in 1837. They moved to Iowa, where Mr. Gray died in 1884. Their children are Lucy and Abraham.
Deborah Gray was born in 1814 and married Edward Husted in 1831. She died in 1884.
Lydia Gray was born in 1817 and married Henry Sedgwick Barnes in 1835 and died in 1885.
Pamela Gray was born in 1819 and married William Squire in 1837. They lived in Wakeman township and moved to Iowa. Their children are George, Anna, Hiram, Wilbur and Emory. Sarah Gray was born in 1821 and married Hoyt Husted in 1837. She died in 1858.
Samuel D. Gray was born in 1823 and married Mary Scott in 1846. She died and in 1870 he married Anna Cornelia Stone, widow of Hoyt Husted. They are both living in Oberlin. Mr. Gray was a farmer and miller by occupation until his health failed. His wife died while they were living in the west. His children are LeGrand, Harriet and Minor.
Hiram H. Gray was born in 1827 and in 1845 married Jane Rogers of Bronson and they moved to Iowa, where they are yet living. Their children are Rollin, Cora, Frank and Kate.
Orlando and Harriet Gray died young. Abraham Gray died in 1842 at the age of 6O, and his wife in 1844 at the age of 56.
Seldon Freeman lived here as early as 1825. He owned the Major Smith place, now owned by Austin Smith, at one time. He moved west and died there. His son Richard married Rachel Porter.
Willis Case came to New London in 1818, and to Clarksfield as early as 1825, settling on the farm now owned by his grandson Orris Case. He was a tanner and carried on the business for many years. He had sons George, Charles and Lemuel. His second wife was Ruth Ann Stiles, a sister of Benjamin Stiles. He died in 1849 at the age of 72, and his wife in 1854 at the age of 74.
George Case married a daughter of William Blackman, and Lemuel married a daughter of Jacob Clawson.
John Wriker lived somewhere in the south part of the township in 1826. His wife was a sister of Hiram Harris. His daughter Rachael married Daniel Hubbell and another daughter, Wealthy, married Daniel Hubbell’s son William, and another daughter, Sarah, is the wife of James Pollock of this township. The Mrs. Hubbell both lived in this township recently. The wife of Oliver Minor of Hartland is another daughter.
Linus Palmer came from Fairfield county, Conn., in 1818 to Fitchville. He married Jemina Rowland and lived in Clarksfield in 1826. He moved to Fitchville and back to Clarksfield several times. He first lived in the house owned by Mrs. Mary Johnson, near Rowland’s Corners. He also lived in the hotel at Clarksfield. His children were Marcus, Elizabeth, (Townsend) Debbie, Henry, Sarah, (Hibbard) Edwin and Albert. Elizabeth and Sarah are the only ones living. Mr. Palmer died in 1860 and his wife in 1880.
Israel Thomson Mead lived here as early as 1826. He lived on what is known as the Bills farm on the New London road, now owned by Lydia Rogers. He was a brother to Ira Starr’s wife. He and his eldest son, Platt, died of cholera in 1832.
Essex Call was a son of Cyrus Call, who was the first settled minister between Cleveland and the "Indian lands" when he lived in Berlin. The family moved from Essex county, N.Y., to Mentor, Lake county, O., about 1815. In 1819 they moved to Berlin, Erie county. In 1823 Essex moved to Clarksfield and settled on a farm a mile and a half south of Clarksfield Hollow, the place being occupied by Elmer Shays at present, where he lived until his death. In 1827 he married Mary Town of New London. He died in 1859 at the age of 56, and his wife in 1851 at the age of 43. Their children were Manly, Sarah, Elizabeth, Abigail, Noble, William, Essex, Mary, Samuel and Harriet.
Manley married Mary Ann Croxford and lived in Clarksfield for a time, but now lives in Ashland, O. Their children are Mary Ann, Joseph, Fremont, Catherine, Charles and Robert.
Sarah Call married Horace Webb and their children are Rozela (deceased) Sydney, Adela, Dora, Edith, Ina and Manly. Sarah Call died in Clarksfield in 1877.
Elizabeth Call married Anthony Shipman in 1857 and they lived on the Butler road in Clarksfield until quit recently, but now live in New London. Their children are William and Grant, who live on their father’s farm in Clarksfield and Irene, who lives in New London.
Abigail Call married David Webb and they live in Indiana. Their children are Edgar, Luella and Ernest.
Noble Call married Margaret Merrill. She died in two years and he then married Mary Burton. They live in Norwalk. Their children are Burton and Grace.
William Call went To Washington territory and his whereabouts are unknown. Essex Call died young. Mary Call married Charles Alger and she died in 1877.
Samuel Call married Ada Bradley and they live in New London. They have a son Charles.
Harriet Call married T. R. Grinold and she died in 1877. They had three children, Myrtle, Ada and Clayton.
Allen Blackman, a brother of Simeon, owned one hundred acres of land north of the Hayes mill. He lived in a log house near where Henry Hayes now lives, and never near Mr. Fish’s. He moved from Clarksfield to Florence in 1829, came back again and about 1839 moved to a farm on the Butler road near Whitefox station purchasing it from Benajah Furlong. About 1841 he moved to Indiana. During his early years in Clarksfield he used to make potash for Captain Husted, as items in Captain Husted’s account book show. The same account shows about ninety charges for whisky between the years 1821 and 1824. His children were Alanson, Josiah, Almond, Levi, Czarina, Almira, Harriet, Aurilla and Rodney. Czarina married Eli Pixley. Aurilla married David R. Day. Rodney was killed by the falling of a tree one election day soon after the settlement of this township. Mr. Blackman died in Illinois.
Ephraim Day was a son of Dr. Samuel Day who was a brother of Stephen Day and was born at Underhill, Vermont, in 1804. His mother died when he was eight years old and the family was broken up and he had to work where he could. In 1819 he went to Chenango county, N.Y. In February, 1821, he and three brothers, John, Josiah and William, started on foot for Ohio. Josiah had come out the year before to "spy out the land." They settled in New London and the father and the rest of the children (there were eighteen originally) came the next year. Ephraim remained at home until he was of age then began work for himself by chopping timber at fifty cents per acre. With his savings he purchased a tract of land in Clarksfield, which he afterwards sold and purchased another piece of timber land. He came to Clarksfield to live in 1826, or about that time. He added to his original purchase until he became the owner of three hundred acres of land. In 1833 he married Sarah Parker, daughter of Samuel Parker, of Clarksfield. Their home was on the Fitchville road, southwest of Clarksfield. The old house was destroyed by fire only a few months ago. The most of the farm is now owned by their son Edward. Their children were George, who died young; Harriet, who died in 1865; Arriette, who married Joel Rogers and died in 1877; Edward M., who married Cynthia Waugh; Elmer P., who died in 1850, and Isabel who died in 1850. Mr. Day died in 1872 and his widow is still living with her son.
David Lee was born in England and was brought to this country when three yards old and lived in the state of New York. He married Mercy Barber, He moved to Townsend township, Huron county, Ohio, in 1817. He erected the first sawmill in that township on Rattlesnake Creek, on the farm afterwards owned by Benjamin Benson. In 1820 he was one of the township trustees. Some time between this and 1826 he moved to Clarksfield and settled on the next farm south of Andrew Blackman’s, where Alexander Twaddle since lived. There were marks of Indians on this farm. Mr. Lee’s children went to school at Barrett’s corners, traveling along a path through the woods, marked by a line of blazed trees. They used to be frightened by wolves. The children were Sally, who married Alexander Twaddle, and who is still living on the old place; David, Arvilla, Emily (who died long ago) and Reuben, who is living in Michigan. Mr. Lee was in the war of 1812. He was a tanner and shoemaker and worked at his trades for many years and his shop was an attractive place for the boys of the neighborhood, who loved to hear him tell stories. He died in 1866 at the advanced age of 99 years and 11 months.
Roswell Manchester was descended from Thomas Manchester, who was a resident of the colony of New Haven, Conn., in 1639. Roswell, who was born in Vermont, and his brother, Thomas, moved to Newberry, Geauga county, Ohio, about 1815, where Roswell built the first house in the hamlet of Fullertown in 1816. In was built of split whitewood logs. At some time previous to 1826 he came to Clarksfield and settled northwest of the Hollow, on the farm now owned by Thomas Cummings, and the house which he built some time afterward is still standing, with its huge fireplaces and chimney. Mr. Manchester’s children were Harriet, who married Cyrus Minkler; Dwight; Irena, who married Mr. White and Sereno, who married Mindwell Bills. All are dead with the possible exception of Dwight. Mr. Manchester died in 1877 at the age of 91, and his wife in 1879 at the age of 82. He served as a soldier in the war of 1812.
William Hendryx was a son of Benjamin Hendryx of New London, who accidentally shot himself, and brother of Mrs. Hiram Harris. His wife was Lucinda Day, and he lived in a log house on the farm now owned by Andrew Blackman, south of the brick house and farther back from the road. The site is marked by some fruit trees at this time. He lived here as early as 1824, but sold his farm to Isaac VanHouton in 1832 and went to Illinois, where they died.
John Day, a brother of Ephraim Day, lived in Clarksfield in 1826. He owned the Dunham farm, now owned by W. H. Winans. He married Polly Corey of New London, in 1817, and afterward Amanda Carman and had a little family of fourteen children. He and his wife separated in later years. He sold his farm to Ezra Dunham in 1838. His oldest son, John, married Alzina Day.
In 1822 Mr. Day purchased sixty acres of land north of Hayesville, and in 1823 purchased twenty acres more of the same lot of Allen Blackman. This land was a part of the Vincent place.
Richard Huyck lived in the township in 1826 and before. He is said to have kept a sort of store, but we do not know where he lived, unless it was upon the land which he sold to E. M. Barnum. Nathan Reed lived on the New London road, where Ira Starr afterward lived.
Harvey Webb was a brother of Ephraim Webb. He was a householder here in 1826, as were also Harvey Smith, John Gray and John Harmon, but we do not know where they lived.
John M. Smith was a son of John and Frances Smith of Thompkins county, N.Y. He married Emeline Rowland and they came to Clarksfield in June, 1826. They lived in a log house which stood west of the Michael Shays home on a road which used to run from the New London road near Ira Starr’s store west to the road above Willis Case’s. Mr. Smith obtained the deed of fifty acres of land here in 1828 and sold it to Benjamin Stiles in 1835. He died in Clarksfield in 1840, and his wife died in Oberlin in 1863. Their children were Elizabeth and M. Frances, who were born in New York state; J. Wesley, Henry W., and Emma, born in Clarksfield. Elizabeth married Daniel Prosser and they lived in New London and Clarksfield townships and Michigan. She died in Wakeman in 1897. Her children are Edwin S., Henry A. and Wesley A.
M. Frances Smith married Dr. A. P. Tuttle, who practiced medicine in Clarksfield with Dr. Bunce in 1845 and 1846. Dr. and Mrs. Tuttle then moved to North Amherst. The Doctor died in 1895 and his wife in 1897. They have one son living in Toledo, Henry by name.
J. Wesley Smith married Dolly Smith, a daughter of Major Smith, and they are both dead, leaving one son, H. Austin Smith of Clarksfield.
Henry W. Smith married Eveline of Ells of New London. He served in the army during the Rebellion and was killed in battle.
Emma C. Smith married Milo Trowbridge and lived in Oberlin, but now lives in Cleveland.
This properly closes the first period of the settlement of the township while it was called Bethel. In 1827 the population of the township was reported to be 287. In 1820 the village and personal property tax for the township amounted to $11.70.
On the 3d day of November, 1820, "the inhabitants of Bethel were legally warned for the purpose of building a bridge across the Vermillion river." This was, without doubt, the bridge at the "Hollow." Samuel Husted, Smith Starr and Levi Barnum were appointed by the trustees to superintend the building of it. September 3, 1821, Ephraim Webb gave bond as township treasurer. In April, 1822, we have the first record of an election of township officers. Some of the offices were different from any of the present time and have been discarded and the duties performed by other officers. The election was as follows: Levi Barnum, Clerk; Aaron Rowland, Josiah Kilburn, and Benjamin Carman, Trustees; Jason Thayer and William Howard, Overseers of the Poor; Ziba Thayer and James White, Fence Viewers; Eli Seger and Smith Starr, Appraisers and Listers; Ephraim Webb, Treasurer, Eli Barnum, Nathan Minor, Constables; Josiah Kilburn, Joseph Osyer, Levi Barnum, Eli Seger, Eli Barnum, Ira Peck, Stephen Post, Smith Starr and Allen Blackman, Supervisors of Highway. It will be remember that Clarksfield and Hartland were together at this time. Kilburn, Howard, White, Minor and Osyer lived in Hartland. Benjamin Stiles was elected Justice of the Peace, Dec. 6, 1820. In 1824 Bethel was divided into six road districts, Clarksfield having four and Hartland two. In 1825 we find the first instance of "warning out of town," John Kelcy being notified to "depart the township." In 1825 Joseph Waldron received two dollars for putting up guide boards. In April, 1825, after the separation of the townships the following officers were elected in Clarksfield: Andrew McMillan, Clerk; Asa Wheeler, Jr., Platt Sexton and Sheldon Freeman, Trustees; Samuel Husted and John Hough, Overseers of the Poor; Ira Peck and Andrew McMillan, Fence Viewers; Smith Starr, Lister and Andrew McMillan, Appraiser of Property; Aaron Rowland, Treasurer; Levi Barnum and Stiles Webb, Constables; John Wriker, John Hough, Stephen Post, Ezra Rowland and Harvey Webb, Supervisors. In May the trustees divided the township into four school districts and made a list of householders, forty-four in number.
First Events.
Samuel
Stiles, who was born November 13th, 1818, was without doubt, the
first white child born in the township and Bethiah Wheeler was the first girl.
Dorothy Benson, who was born January 9th, 1819, was probably the
third white child born here. The first death, as before stated, was that of
Ephraim Seger, which occurred on the 27th or 28th of August,
1818. He had been send on an errand by his father and when he returned, was
set to work picking up chips to put on a log heap. He was soon heard to exclaim,
"what has bit me." A large rattlesnake was found in the weeds and
was quickly put into the burning log heap. It was found that the boy had been
bitten on the wrist and he died three days afterward. In 1820 Horace Bodwell
went down into Levi Barnum’s well, a very deep one, on the Abraham Gray place,
and was overcome with the "damps" and fell to the bottom. Omri Nickerson
went down and after several attempts succeeded in fastening a rope to the body
and it was drawn out, but life was extinct. Two deaths by falling trees, those
of Henry Vanderveer and Rodney Blackman, occurred soon after the settlement
of the town.
The first wedding in the township was that of Zara C. Norton and Cynthia Post, on the 14th day of October, 1818, and the second was that of Obadiah Jenney and Hester Paul.
Captain Husted, who always had an eye to the "main chance," saw the great inconvenience of the absence of a grist mill and soon set to supply that deficiency. He began the work of building a mill in April, 1818, and it was finished in September. Samuel Townsend was evidently the foreman, judging by the wages paid, $2.37 ½ per pay. Obadiah Jenney and Elial Palmer worked at $1.50 per day. Mordecai Jenney and Jonathan Sherman worked a few weeks at $1.00 per day and were evidently not skilled workmen. The whole expense of the construction of the mill was $1503.90, and items were as follows: Labor, $710. 65; irons, $180; stones, $100; bolts, $50; lumber, $30; nails, $13.25; ditch, $120; board, $300. The most of this sum was borrowed of Benjamin Stiles. The dam had a foundation of rock and has not had as many mishaps as the most of mill dams. The mill stood near the center of the present road running west from the village of Clarksfield, in front of the Daniels house and one of the old mill stones is doing duty as a horse block in front of that house. It was made from a granite rock. The mill was an unhandy building, two stories high and all the grain had to be carried up a steep, winding stairway, It had one run of stones. The stream went dry in the summer and those settlers who did not lay up a supply of flour and meal had to go to some other mill.
Before this mill was built the settlers here went to Merry’s mill at Milan or to Richland county. This mill stood for about twenty years. The first saw mill in the township was built by Smith Starr in 1820. It stood east of the Hollow on the bank of Spring Brook, some distance south of the road and some remains of the dam are yet to be seen. The dam once broke and the flood of water cut a channel through the road at the foot of the east hill. About 1823 Levi Barnum built a saw mill on the east branch of the Vermillion river, short distance north of Rowland’s Corners. He sold out to Asa Wheeler, Jr., and Joseph Bartholamew in a few years. It thus appears that Clarksfield was well supplied with mills early in the settlement of the township.
Benjamin Benson says: "The first trading establishment, if it be worth name, was opened by Richard T. Huyck in the Hollow. He sold rum, a few articles of stone ware, a trifling amount of groceries and called it a store. Some of the inhabitants would meet there; the rum was good for the men to get drunk on, and but little else." We think that Captain Husted must have been the first and principal merchant in town, for his old account book shows that he sold all kinds of merchandise very soon after he came here. In a few years (probably after he had built his frame house at the Hollow) he built a store across the street from his house, about where the hotel now stands. About 1830 it was moved further east to make room for the hotel. It was a long, low two story frame building and fronted the east, after it was moved. In the later years of its existence the front part was used for a store and the rear for a dwelling. Mr. Husted’s account books contain the names of men of New London, Fitchville, Hartland, Wakeman, Florence and Brighton, as well as Clarksfield. Some of the articles sold were whiskey, tobacco, flour, horse and ox hides, salt, window sash, potatoes, fish, wooden dishes, cotton cloth, bear skins, kettles, young bears, pups, deer skins, cranberries, hat splints, ox yokes, bear meat, tallow, deer meat, (salt, dried and hams,) hoes, scythes, hats, apple trees and coffins.
Frequent mention of Indians is made. Benson says; "Of money there was but little in use, for the reason that there were no markets for grain, and but little to dispose of it there had been. Labor was reckoned at a dollar per day, but a bushel of wheat would pay for that day’s labor, although it was nominally worth but thirty-seven cents. Thus, the products of the soil constituted the articles of traffic, and supplied the place of bank paper, or the better currency of gold and silver coin. Speaking of barter, it would have been truly diverting if a record had been kept of the many queer exchanges that were made both by men, and the women at that early period.
And if one should now offer to swap toadstools for old socks or live skunks for ‘possum fat, it would not be more ludicrous."
There have been many other stores in the township, but their history will be considered at a later date.
The first settlers, coming as they did from New England, were people of considerable education as a rule, and they began to erect school houses very soon after they were established in their new homes. Captain Husted gave Ezra Wood credit for one day’s work at school house in December, 1818. The first school house in the township was built of logs, south of the Hollow not far from the Hough house, in 1819 and Miss Alzina Barker was the first teacher. This building was burned in 1829. It was supposed that some of the young men set fire to it in hopes of getting a better building. A frame building was soon afterward built just north of the river on the east side of the road. Soon after the first school house was built at the Hollow another was erected in the Stiles settlement some distance south of the present village of West Clarksfield. During the first years the schools were supported by those inhabitants who sent children to school, the expense being borne according to the number sent. But three months of school were taught in a year.
During the first four years of the new settlement the inhabitants had to go to Florence, or, perhaps, New London, for their mail. In 1821 a post office was established at Clarksfield with Smith Starr as postmaster and he held that office until 1853, with the exception of two short intervals. We give a list of the earlier postmasters, with date of their commissions:
Smith Starr, May 23, 1821.
Frederick A. Wildman, Feb. 9, 1840.
Smith Starr, June 3, 1841.
Frederick A. Wildman, May 28, 1846.
Smith Starr, Aug. 22, 1849.
James S. Porter, July 16, 1853.
Joshua B. Bissell, June 19, 1860.
Geo. W. Jerauld, July 13, 1861.
There was no change after this for twenty-four years. The second of these men, Mr. Wildman, has just passed away, (1899.) It is said that the first mail route which supplied this office was from Medina to Norwalk and Paul Lebo, a Frenchman, was the mail carrier. In the early history of New London we learn, also, that a mail route was established between Ashland and Florence and that Paul Lebo was the mail carrier. It is said that he carried the mail on foot, but he must have used a horse part of the time for Captain Husted charged him for horse feed at different times. The mail carriers of that period experienced many hardships, traveling through the woods and swamps, across swollen creeks and rivers.
End of Pages 61 - 70
Transcribed by Lowell Dunlap