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Wickham, Gertrude V.
(1844-1929?) Memorial to the Pioneer Women of the Western Reserve (Cleveland: Centennial Commission, 1896) |
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1942 Capt. Henry of Geauga | 1945 "Did Sidney Rigdon Write the Book of Mormon?
Auburn & Bainbridge: 1820 Census 1830 Census | Pioneer & Gen. History, 1880
S. W. Geauga Pioneers | Rigdon at Bainbridge | Incidents of Pioneer Life (1881)
History of Lake and Geauga Counties (1878) | Wm. Crafts' Early History of Auburn (1868)
more Wickham history: Ashtabula townships | Cuyahoga townships | Portage townships
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MEMORIAL TO THE Pioneer Women of the Western Reserve PUBLISHED BI-MONTHLY UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE WOMEN'S DEPARTMENT OF THE CLEVELAND CENTENNIAL COMMISSION. EDITED BY MRS. GERTRUDE VAN RENSSELAER WICKHAM, 242 HARKNESS AVE. P A R T O N E. P R I C E 40 C E N T S E A C H. JULY, 1896. |
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INDEX TO HISTORICAL SKETCHES _______
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BAINBRIDGE.
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PIONEER WOMEN OF BAINBRIDGE.
O time, in thy flight," And make this a year Filled with memories bright. Her youngest child was the first born in the township. This son, Rev. A. N. McConoughey, studied four years at Oberlin College, graduated in theology, and was active in the ministry for over forty years. The eldest daughter, Mary E., married Zebnia Kennedy, of Aurora, in 1813. This was the first marriage in Bainbridge, Esquire Blackman, of Aurora, officiating. Mr. Kennedy did not live long, and the widow afterward married Julius Riley, of Aurora. She was familiarly known as "Aunt Polly," and noted for her many deeds of kindness. The second daughter of Mrs. McConoughey married Horace Crosby, of Bainbridge, but resided in Oberlin most of her long life. She was a woman of taste and refinement, prominent in society during the early days of Oberlin College.
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Portia Ann, born in Blanford in 1801, married Asahel North, her brother, P. D. McConoughey, officiating at the nuptials. She was a valued member of society for many years. The son already mentioned married Margaret Nettleton. After the passage of the fugitive slave law, their home was a place where those unfortunates found rest, where they were furnished with clothing and helped on their way to freedom. As well may be presumed, the mother of this interesting family, Mary Carter McConoughey, was a woman of superior intellect, and retained her faculties unimpaired to the last hours of her life. She died aged ninety-three years. Jasper Lacy and family came in soon after the McConougheys. They remained here a few years, then removed to Aurora. Many of Mrs. Lacy's descendants were teachers. The third family that settled in the township was that of Gamaliel Kent, 1811. They were from Suffield, Conn. Mrs. Kent (Deborah Huntington) was a woman of intelligence, of culture, and good executive ability; ever ready to bear her full share of the burden of pioneer life. In 1818, while neighbors were few, and they widely scattered, Mrs. Kent conceived the idea of having the then almost impassable roads improved. She appointed a day and place of meeting, and asked every man, woman, and child, who was able to work on the road. Nearly all complied with the request, and by her direction the men felled the trees, the boys cut off the branches, and the women and children carried and piled the brush. Before night they had cleared a road a half-mile in length and broad enough for a wagon to pass. Mrs. Kent provided supper for the company. While the country was still new Mrs. Kent made the entire journey to Suffield, her childhood home, on horseback to visit her daughter, Delia Kent McCartey. The second daughter, Laura, was twice married. These two daughters, with their brothers' wives, Mrs. Clarissa Blish Kent, and Mrs. Lucy Bull Kent, were mothers of intelligent, refined, and cultured families, the members of which held many responsible positions in society. In their homes the best literature was provided. Five girls from each of the first two families became teachers. The McConougheys and Kents were the only families in town until 1814, when George Smith, with his wife, Susannah, and five children, moved in. They had buried a little son at LeRoy, N. Y., while en route from the East. Mr. Smith settled on the farm from which Jasper Lacy, Sr., had removed. He purchased additional land, amounting to four hundred acres, for which he paid $3 per acre. There was some clearing done and a log house built, although it was without doors or windows when the family moved in. This was the house where the first religious services were held, and was a place of worship for several years. Susannah Smith's daughter, Maria, was the first girl born in Bainbridge. She became Mrs. Gorham, and still lives, with her husband, at an advanced age, on the home farm. To be a little longer grown." Robert Smith and family came in the fall of 1814 from Washington, Mass., and bought a farm of five hundred acres, for which he paid $1.50 per acre. In 1822 they built a commodious frame house, the first in the town. This stood until a few years ago, and was known as "Smith Castle." The eldest daughter of this family married Dr. David Shipherd, the first physician in Bainbridge. He was very skillful, and proved a benefactor to the people, among whom he and his estimable wife continued to live during their long and useful lives. The second daughter, Rachel, in relating her experience in the new country, said: "Our mother taught her children economy, prudence, and frugality, which served us well when making homes for ourselves." She also said they were obliged to be very careful of their shoes, and to make them last a long time; often went barefooted to church, or put them on just before entering the church. On one occasion when Rachel and her mother were on their way to church, and while stopping to put on their shoes, they were surprised by the presence of a young man of fine appearance, who asked if he could accompany them "to meeting." The request was granted, and the acquaintance so singularly begun resulted in marriage, and Rachel Smith became Mrs. George Wilber. A son of this couple was a graduate of Williams College and one of the first teachers in Hiram Institute. The daughters are all women of culture. The spring of 1816 Enos Kingsley,
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from Becket, Mass., with his fair bride (Sally Harris) arrived and commenced life in earnest in a log house in the wilderness. The following winter Mrs. Kingsley died, leaving an infant daughter to the care of strangers. This was the first death in the settlement, and all the circumstances connected with it were very sad indeed. She was a very intelligent, refined amiable woman, much believed by all who knew her. Mr. Kingsley afterward married Miss Mary Mann, a teacher, and an excellent lady, who proved a true mother to the little Sally. Mary Kingsley proved a heroine after her marriage. Her husband was an invalid for many years, and they met with financial losses, but by her perseverance and industry and the help of neighbors, the family was made comfortable. She spun and wove for her neighbors, shopped, piled brush, and helped prepare a piece of land for cultivation. Sally Harris Kingsley, who was so fortunate in having such a kind step-mother, became Mrs. John Fitch, and reflected in her long life of usefulness the same motherly love she had received in childhood. Mrs. Kingsley's own daughter, Jane, married Warren Fairbanks. She still lives, a well preserved old lady, who works for the good of others. During the years 1817, '18, and '19 Bainbridge witnessed the arrival of several large families, principally from Massachusetts. Among them were the Elys, Howards, Fowlers, and Osbornes. Simon Henry's family consisted of himself, wife Rhoda, and ten children. There were the families of Deacon Childs and Justice Bissell. The latter kept the first post office. The McFarlands were numerous and consisted of the families the families of Haskings, Vincents, Benjamins, and Phillips. Mrs. Celestia Ely married Albert Haskings, and is the only surviving child of Mrs. Joseph Ely. She moves about with a grace acquired while young, though past four score years, and her mind is seemingly as clear as ever. When asked to relate the experiences of her pioneer life, she said: "We moved into a log house without door or windows, only a puncheon floor over part of the room, just enough to put up the beds. Blankets were hung where the window and door ought to be, while green logs were piled a few feet high for a chimney. We children were obliged to go to bed to keep warm and avoid suffocation from smoke. We lived in this way all winter, for father took cold and had the rheumatism, rendering him unable to finish the house until spring. "This was about the first season maple sugar was made in the township, and father sold a quantity, for which he received twenty-five cents per pound. Wheat could not be sold for more than fifty cents per bushel, and seldom for cash. Sugar brought money, and much of this was used for taxes. Girls don't know anything about spinning and weaving nowadays. I am quite sure some do not know the meaning of distaff. Mother never had a tablecloth or towel that she did not make at home, and for many years father and the boys did not have a cotton shirt but what we made." The "mother," Mrs. Ruby Ely, here referred to, was mother of Rev. L. W. Ely, an efficient member of the Northern Ohio conference for forty years. Celestia can show many fine specimens of artistic needlework, bits of lace nicely finished, showing ingenuity and skill. Also a very fine table spread embroidered in colors, which is nearly two hundred years old. The Henrys came from Berkshire, Mass. This family have done much for the cause of education as ministers and teachers. Aunt Polly Henry and Aunt Mary French will always be remembered as faithful attendants at church and true church workers in every sense of the word. "Aunt Mary" was the milliner of the town long before she became Mrs. French. Rhoda married Robert Root and lived for many years a life of usefulness. Calvin married Loretta Jackson, who lived on the old farm many years. She is remembered as a devout Christian lady of an unusually lovely character. She is living in Cleveland with her daughter, Mrs. Brown. Mrs. Lydia Kingsley Childs, wife of Deacon Childs, was an earnest worker in the Congregational Church for more than fifty years. "Aunt Patty" Howard Howard is well remembered for her earnest work and for her kindness to children. The McFarland families came from Berkshire, Mass. Daniel McFarland purchased two thousand acres of land here which was divided among his children. Their first night in the wilderness was an event long remembered. The wife and daughters in their rudely constructed log house were kept in a state of alarm at the howling of wolves outside. The mother was so frightened as to cause hemorrhage of the nose, which nearly cost her life, and from the effects of which she never fully recovered. While conversing with an old gentleman, a few days since, he said: "I have
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been acquainted with this large family from boyhood. The women were a power in their families. Intelligent, prudent, economical -- qualities which served them well in securing homes for themselves, their children, and grandchildren. Aunt "Visa" Haskins, daughter of Daniel McFarland, was the first to make cheese in Bainbridge, a business which afterward became the leading industry of the town. She was excellent in the sickroom and her wise counsel and advice were ever sought for. Her sisters, Polly and Clara, married brothers by the name of Jenks. They moved to Rockford, Ill., and the following is from a Rockport [sic] paper: "Mrs. Clara Jenks, aged eighty-six years, has just finished the Chautauqua course of study. She commenced the course six years ago and has been a diligent student since that time. In that period she has read all the lectures and familiarized herself with all the many branches of study embraced in the course. Notwithstanding her advanced years she still retains her ability to see and hear as well as ever. Much of her spare time is spent in making fancy work. She is an intelligent old lady and a bright conversationalist. The diploma, of which she is justly proud, was received from Bishop Vincent, with whom she has long enjoyed a personal acquaintance." Joseph Chamberlain, who came from East Haddam, Conn., in 1825, married Miss Louisa Brown, who by her many virtues gained the esteem of the entire community, where she resided for fifty years. Mrs. Josiah Nettleton (Sally Fuller), better known as "Aunt Sally," was a weaver of beautiful coverlets and fine linen. She was regarded as one of the most amiable and intelligent women in the community, a skillful nurse, ever ready to visit the sick. She was the wife of the man who killed the last bear, seer, and wolf in Bainbridge. But many names worthy of extensive mention can only be noted here. "Aunt Mary" Chamberlain was a fine lady of "ye olden time," and one of the first school teachers. Between 1833 and 1840 many Eastern people came to Bainbridge. The names of some of the families were Bliss, Burgess, Bonny, Ellis, Brown, Goodsell, Giles, and Milo. The first school house was built of round logs in 1825, not a model of comfort by any means, but these things were not thought of at that time. "Aunt Betsy" says: "If we could have enough to satisfy hunger and shoes to wear we could withstand the hard benches and a cold now and then, for mother's pepper tea or a little piera was sure to bring us all right again. I shouldn't wonder if we enjoyed ourselves as well as the children of to-day." Not so with Cousin Rhoda, who distinctly remembers not having a good time. The teacher would often tell her if she was not a good girl "the bears would come out of the woods and eat her up." This so frightened her that when alone and in the darkness she momentarily expected to see the ugly creature before her. To this she attributed her nervousness and poor health. Grandman Brown recalls many times when, mischievously disposed, she was call out to stand for an hour on one foot, with a split goose quill on her nose, while tall "rods of correction" stood in one corner of the room. The Niece family, consisting of nine sons and one daughter, were all teaching at one time sufficiently near home to meet there once a week. Sally Niece is remembered as giving many rewards of merit. The Misses Abigail and Nathalie Lacy, Miss Arvilla Root, and Miss Sheldon, are also kindly remembered as teachers. The latter taught twenty-nine terms and was the first teacher to allow sewing and drawing in the schools after the lessons were committed. Mrs. Ira Foot (Eliza Benjamin) remembered on returning from a visit to a cousin's of seeing a young fawn start from a thicket in her path. She gave chase, caught it, and carried it home in her apron for a pet. Too much praise cannot be given to the mothers of the first half of the nineteenth century, for their courage, untiring energy, and influence which is still felt in the community. "High on the roll of honor will stand the names of our sisters, daughters, wives, and mothers, who perform the duties of the home with unfaltering courage, lofty faith, and holy love."
SARAH S. CADWELL,
Historian, Chagrin Falls. Bainbridge Committee -- Mrs. Hattie Harmon, Mrs. Henry Brewster. Bissellville: Mrs. Amelia R. Coleman, Miss. Libbie Kent. |
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Transcriber's Comments  Making maple sugar in Geauga Co., Ohio (late 19th century photo) (under construction) |
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