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Ashtabula County, Ohio
From HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO by WILLIAMS BROTHERS, 1878, PHILADELPHIA
WAYNE TOWNSHIP
This township is designated as the eighth of the second range of the original Connecticut Western Reserve. Much of the following history of the township is extracted from an address delivered by the Hon. J, R. Giddings at the semi-centennial anniversary of the settlement of the township held on the 24th day of August. 1853. Mr. Giddings became a resident of the territory now called Wayne when but ten years of age, this fact with his retentive memory and very observant mind eminently fitting him for the position of historian.
In the month of June 1798, Titus Hayes, then a young man of unusual energy left Hartford in the State of Connecticut with the intention of joining a company of surveyors to be employed on the Reserve in that season. He came by the way of Canandaigua in the State of New York with no other companion than a faithful dog, and with his gun, a loaf of bread, and some salt in his knapsack, he left Erie Pennsylvania. At a place called Livingston, in Crawford County, he passed the last cabin and trusting his pocket compass, he bore southwesterly and entered the State of Ohio near the southeast corner of Richmond, passing through the territory now called Andover, he entered this town-ship near the northwest corner. He swam the Pymatuning creek, near the corner of lot 28. His was the first visit of civilized man to the interior of our township. It was then an unbroken wilderness. The dark umbrage of the forest protected the virgin soil from the noontide rays. The cool water flowed quietly along the beautiful rivulets. All was then quiet, and nature reigned in all her pristine loveliness. In 1799 the township was surveyed into lots of a half-mile square, each containing one hundred and sixty acres. In 1800, by deeds of partition among the proprietors of the "Connecticut Land Company" the town-ship was conveyed to Oliver Phelps, Esq. of Canandaigua, one of the original members of the company.
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FIRST DEATH
On the 8th day of January, 1808, Mrs. Thankful Fobes, grandmother of Joshua Fobes, died at his house. The place of burial was in what is now the cemetery, a little distance from the centre of the township, Mr. Hayes donating the land. There was no clergyman present, the solemn services being conducted by those present. Three days subsequently Simon Fobes, the husband of the before mentioned, was buried by her side in the forest grave-yard.
During the year 1808 there was much suffering among the early settlers of Wayne, the wet season of the previous year preventing the raising of crops. Another misfortune befell the settlers, most of the lands purchased in town were found to have been mortgaged by Oliver Phelps prior to their sale, and he dying about this time, insolvent. The purchasers were left without a remedy. During this season Messrs. Fobes erected the first sawmill in the township; this was on lot 55, the completion of which marking an era in the settlement. The first schoolhouse was erected near the centre of the township, in the autumn of 1809. It was a small log cabin, with windows of oiled paper. Keziah Jones taught the first school in the township (date not given). Miss Jones became afterwards the wife of Nathaniel Coleman. Mr. Giddings states that he was a member of this school, and that in it he obtained the only common-school education acquired after he was ten years of age. The early settlers were subjected to many privations. Their dwellings were rude and inconvenient; glass windows were not enjoyed; the light was obtained usually from the chimney; the door and window-places filled with oiled paper instead of glass. They had usually but one room, which served as kitchen, living room, parlor, and nursery. Their crockery was arranged on shelves in one corner of the house, and under these shelves their ironware and cooking-utensils were arranged. It was common in the early period of our settlement for gentlemen to appear at church on the Sabbath barefooted, in clean shirts, pants, and vests, without coats, which were not sometimes conveniently to be had. The ladies were generally in the habit of walking to church barefooted, carrying their shoes and stockings in their hands until near the place of meeting, when they would stop and clothe their pedal extremities, and then walk into the sanctuary. In connection with the difficulties experienced in these early days in getting grain ground, it is stated that most families were provided with ' samp mortars.' " These were formed by burning a cavity into the top of a stump, and then providing a large pestle six or eight feet in length, suspended over the stump by fastening the upper end to a spring pole, the lower end being suited to the cavity in the stump below it. The corn being placed in the cavity of the stump, the pestle was brought down on it with such force as to break it in pieces, and a woman or child could pound sufficient for the family-meal-in a short time. The pioneers met but seldom for social pleasures, but that circumstance added interest to their gatherings. The ladies did not call at four o'clock P.M. as at this day. They left home in the morning, taking their children with them. And occupied the day in an efficient visit, retiring before the disappearance of daylight. The friendships of that day were strong and uninterrupted. There were no feuds, no contentions, no strifes among them.
THE FIRST WEDDING
In the winter of 1807, Philemon Brockway was married to Sarah, daughter of Nathan Fobes. The marriage was solemnized at the house of her father. And the whole town were invited; for weeks the event was looked to as one of unusual interest. Fortunately, the weather was good, and the invited guests were promptly in attendance. The attendance of a clergyman could not easily be obtained and a justice of the peace was employed to officiate. All passed off merrily. The bride and bridegroom were duly congratulated, and saluted with the friendly kiss. The whiskey was passed around in earthen bowls and tin-cups. At a reasonable hour the guests departed for their homes, highly gratified with the first wedding, which was long referred to as one of the interesting incidents of the early settlement.
FIRST ELECTION
The first township election was at the home of Nathan Fobes.
ANCIENT FORTIFICATION
This township contains-but one of those works called "ancient fortifications," of which so much has been written and so little known. This work was situated on the west side of the Pvmatuning creek, on lot 89, near the mill. It had the appearance of having been designed for defense. Its parapet-walls were some three feet in height, and on them were found forest-trees of the ordinary size. It wag evidently erected by the peculiar people who for want of a better name, are denominated "Moundbuilders."
Samuel Jones came from Hartland, Connecticut, in 1811. His familv consisted of wife and five children, the eldest of whom (L. H. Jones) still occupies the original homestead on lot No. 2d.
The first cheese-factory was established by L. D. Badeer, in about the year 1870, at the centre. There are at present five factories in the township.
The first Post Office was located about one-fourth of a mile north of the centre, This was in about the year 1823, at which tune Hori Miner was commissioned first postmaster, a position which he held for many years. Present postmaster is Samuel Jones, Jr. First mails were carried on foot, arriving at Wayne the latter part of the week.
The first grist-mill was erected in about the year 1820; Messrs. Loomis & Brown were the proprietors. The location of this mill was on the Pymatuning creek, in the southeast corner of the township.
The first store began in business in about 1825, on the Hayes road, some quarter of a mile north of the east and west centre road ; Messrs, Hayes & Stevens proprietors. The present store is at the centre; Messrs. S. Jones & Co. proprietors.
The first resident physician was Luther Spelman, whose location was in the southeast comer of the township; he first began business in perhaps 1823, and continued the practice of his profession until his death, which occurred in September, 1862. J. W, Graham is at present the only physician in the township.
The population of this township in 1870, as shown by the United States census, was eight hundred and seventeen, and the political status is shown by the vote cast for President in 1876, which the secretary of state's report gives as follows:
R. B. Haves, 191 ; S. D. Tilden, 29.
The number of school-houses was 8 ; valuation. $5500 ; number of scholars, 260; amount paid to teachers, $1,006.63.
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