The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1856-04-03
The Early History OF MantGa.
By JOHN HARMol

lContinuea.l
In July, 1900, Mrs. Harmon had daugh.
ter, the first white person born in Mantua
She was named Euniee, after her grandma
ther Harmon. She was married TO Simeoi
Sheldon, and raised respectable family
in Mantua, where her son, Henry c.
Sheldon now resides. She died in August
IS49.
Mrs. Honey, had child born, some time
that year, while staying for short time In
Cleveland. The same year, Paschul P. Nc
Intosh, married Miss Abi Clark, of Burton
sister Of the venerable EPhraim Clurk
Esq, now OF Ravennu, and Of Isaac Clark
Esq, now Of Mesopotamia. She still lives
on her place, on lot %, 10 Mantua, o
widow, having reared respectable family
there. She is the only person remaining OIL
these early pioneers.
November 2l, 1901, Amzi Atwater, mar
ried to Huldah Sheldon, daughter of Ebene-
ger Sheldon, Esq, of Aurora, and moving
her home constituted the fourth family in the
township.
Moses Pond, married an Irish girl, neal
Georgetown, Beaver county, Pa, in the fall
of 1902, and brought her homo to Mantua,
and their eldest son, Horace, born in the
summer of 1903, was the first white male
child born in Mantua. Pond moved to Mes.
opotamia, many years ago, where he died.
In the, spring of 1902, Zachcus Harmon,
brother Of Elias, came into Mantua, and
bought the southwest part of lot 10, now
owned and occupied by Mr.. Ezra Booth
About the same time, Gersom, Samuel and
Enoch Judson, single men, and brothers,
bought, and commenced improving the east
half OF lot 80, now owned by Major Matte
son, w. c. Baker and T. Vaughn. They
commenced their improvement near the Guy.
ahoga, on the east bank, little above the
mill, now known as the mud mill.
Some time in the year 1903, Basel Wind
sor, Sen. and family, consisting besides his
wife, of two or three sons, and as many
daughters. He settled on the south part Of
lot 90, on land afterwards owned by H. Moo
ney and John Hopkins. It was about the
close Of the same year, that Rufus Edwards
was married, to Lettis Windsor, Amzi At.
water being the officiating magistrate. This
was the first marriage in Mantua.
Enoch Judson married Anna Kennedy,
daughter of Mr.. VIM. Kennedy, of Nelson,
early in 1904. lothian Atwater married to
Laura, daughter of Mr.. Bradford kellogg, Of
Hudson, about the same time.
The same, summer, I think it was, Mrs.
Atwater, the mother Of Amzi and lothian,
came in from Hamden, Connecticut, with
three daughters, the Oldest of whom, Miriam,
soon after, married to David Pond, brother
of Moses Pond. The second, Lois, married
with Samuel Judson. Gershom Judson, also
in 1904, married Miss Sally Redden, of Hi
ram, SO that at this time, the settlement OF
the township appeared in way for rapid
progress.
But now occurred the first death in the
township. Mrs. Enoch Judson, being some
what unwel applied to Mrs. Edwards for an
emetic, who gave her by mistake, arsenic, OF
which she soon died, in great distress. This
was June, 1904.
OF all thoseearly pioneers of Mantua up
to the fall of 1904, we knowof no one now
living, except Mrs. Mcintosh, before spoken
of, and Mrs. Miriam Pond, the widow of Da.
vid Pond; though of Mr.. Gershom Judson
and wife. we have had no knowledge for
many years. When last heard Of, they
were in Illinois. And OF Mr. Honey, we
have had no knowledgs for many years,
though he is supposed TO be dead. He went
with his family, from Mantua to Cleveland.
about 1903, and began on new farm, near
her brother, Rhodolphus Edwards. several
miles eastward of Cleveland city. He af-
terwards removed to the south part Of North
field, near to Wallace's mills, and from
there he deserted his family, and went to
parts unknown to them. He appeared
quiet, inoffensive and Industrious man.
Rufus Edwards, left Mantua about 1887,
and died in Illinois not many years thereof
ter. His wife died at Hiram. at the residence
of her daughter, Mrs. Benjamin Tilden, q
few years ago. Their eldest son, Erwin.
lives respectable farmer, in Hiram. Ano-
ther son, Elisha, became Mormon, and wss
about Mantua not long sine, in character o
a Missionary preacher, from Utah. Ayoung-
er son, Rufus Jr., died not long since, in So,
lon, Cuyahoga county.
Some biographical sketches Of the origin. !.
al proprietors, are solicited by Gen. Bierce,
in his circulars, and as this is in part intend.
I'd to aid him il the very laudabls object Of
obtaining materials for . history Of the Yves
tern Reserve, Twill devote .. little space Il
that subject, Ihave before given the names ofI
The original. proPrietors Of the township.
those who bought, the land Of the State Dfl
f,.s gs
OF the two Bardwells and Pratt, / know
nothing except that they sold out their
shares early, 70 other non-residents. John
Leavitts Jry is. | beliese, the only one Of The
members Of the "Eufield, Cuyahoga Big
Beaver Land Company" thateysr ssttlsd %