The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1856-05-01
The Early history Of Mantua.
III JOHN HARMON.

In my last chapter, 40 printed, ind some
errors Of the type. the most conspicuous Of
which, 10 the name William Moore, as one
Of the first boy.ssttlers in Msntua. There
was no such person.
In my article Of the previous week, April
3D., which will call chapter Sd, the name OF
John HOlkins is made to read John Hopkins !;
and portion Of that weeks emission were un
luckily sent out without correction, aud have
some errors. The first following paragraph
would have been more appropriately insert
ed in that number than In this.
Ebenezer M'Intosh, "an old revolutionary
veteran" the father of P. P. Mcintosh, came
to Mantua from Hsverhill, New Hampshire,
in 1902, and with him three young sons, Mo.
ses, John and David; two of whom, Moses
and David now reside in Shalersville. John
died few years ago, at his residence on the
south. east quarter Of lot "a, in Mantua-
leaving family. Gen. David Mcintosh, the
youngest of the brothers, is now promin-
CH' ohu uuSu lSSPeCteu SitIIcu VI WIS SOuu'
ty. The father appeared sprightly and in
telligeht old gentleman-lived few years
in Msntua, working, believe at shoes, and
returped TO New Hampshire in 1907, where
he soon after died, at very advanced age.
He was said to have been one of the cele-
b.ated Boston tea party, Of revolutionary
times, which he was willing to init.
In my last Chapter, omitted to mention
the family of Mr.. Jacob Blair, who emigra-
ted from Blanford, M massachusetts,, to Mcntun,
about the fall of 1906. Mr.. Blair had bot
the north part of lot 80, including the pIe-
sent residence Of Mr.. Peter Carlton, and
commenced improving it. Mrs. B. was a
ster of Oliver Snow, and their son, Benja-
min Blair, now resident Of Mantua, was
then lad of but few years. Mr.. D. first
built cheap log house, for temporary res.
idence; and III the spring of 1906, commen.
ced to build a good log house, OIL the new
road, then just laid out. We raised the
house-I observe by my Diary; on the 9th oil
April. After the body of the house was up
most of the men left, as we had severa
miles to go to our homes. Mr.. Blair, with
u few hands, was raising the ratters, wher
one fell, struck his head and laid him sense.
less. Dr.. Moses Thompson, Of Hudson, the
nearest Surgeon, was called, who trepannec
him. but it was no use. He breathed but one
or two days. This was the second acciden.
tai death in Mantua, and no death by ord
nary sickness occurred until 1912.
In 1907, Mr.. John Blair, brother of jacob
from Bunford, Mass, bought the home farm
Of Mr.. NJ. Pond-north part Of lot 35, now
the homestead Of Chauncey Blair-and with
his family occupied t-Mr. Pond removing
to the south part of his lot franklin Snow
also--brother Of Oliver Snow, settled on the
center part of lot "a, now or lately the res.
idence of Mr.. Vanwagnen. Enoch Judson
had in 1906, married to Miss Rachel Coch.
ran Of Aurora, and built and settled on 6. W
quarter of lot l8, near the road crossing o
the Clinton line railroad, now on the farm
of H. C. She don.
At this time, 1907 there was no settle
ment in the townships directly north O.
Man'ua, short Of Painesvile, near thirty
miles. North west, the nearest settlement
was Warrensville, sume % miles. The re
sidence of Seth Harmon was then the nor
thern frontier Of Mantua. Bears and Wolve.
were pleDtys and the former were bold, no
being much hunted by white or red men, fo
the red men were growing scarce, and tht
whites were too much occupied with farming
to spend much time hunting.
On bright sunny day, about the middle
Of March, 1903, as three brothers. Harmons
Zacheus, Seth and John, were employed a
bout lhe house of Seth Harmon, in the ear
ly part of the day, the shril squeal of hog
admonished US that Bear had caught him
when we all saHed out, without much pre-
paration for offence or defence, not doubtin
but the black rascal would run, on our frs
approach. II was just back west of the field
and not twenty rods from the house, in
chopping among the logs. We shouted t
frighten him off the hogj but he did no
deign to even notice US, til we got out of tn
field, and when within two or three rods O
him we halted, and one of us, in the absenc
Of better missiles, threw chips at him. H
then left the hog, that he had been biting d
though his object was to dig out mouthlull
of meat, to assague hunger, and made d
rectly for his assailants, apparently in ar
ger. Not being well armed, we retreate
over the high rail fence,but not without brc
' ther Seth feeling the weight of Bruins hug
paw as his own last leg came over tn
fence top.
Having gained the open field, with tn
fence for a breast.N ork, we hailed, presuu
ing that Bruin would not dare parsue US fa
: ther; but nothing daunted, and with pro-
p pect of better picking than on lean no,
y the hungry fellow run fer lower place
: the fence, and we, observing his intention
i to pursue, made for the house, with GOO
n speed, passing orcund the south end and inl
n door on the east side Of the house just
|, time to shut the door before him, impolitel
avoiuI;rp him nhsarv;nD bo Joor N,