Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1858-07-02
History of SoIon.

INLAND, now Solon, was first settled by Sam
uel Bull and Capt Jason Robbins in the month
of November, 1920. We started in the month
of July from Weathersield, Hartford county,
Connecticut We started with two two-horse
teams and covered wagons for the then far
West. The family of Samuel Bull consisted of
himself, wife and sir children mostly small
Capt Robbins family consisted Of himself, wife
and eight children mostly small. We had our
household goods on board of our wagons. We
came through the State of New York ard
through what was then called the Cattaraugus
Woods, which in Is2O was woods After
arriving at Buffalo, we took our children,
household goods, including horses and wagons,
putting all on board Of q schooner Commando d
by Clifford Belding and set sail for FairpOrt,
which harbOr we arrived at in safety after be-
ing out six days, eBcOuntering headwinds,
storms, DC, making nearly all on bosrd sea-
sick and discouraged; but when we touched
our feet on land We were happy set From
FairPort we took our teams and started for Au-
rora, Portage county, our place Of destination,
until We could select our lands and put up our
log cabins, which was then in the month Of NJ
vember- We came by the way Of Euclid to
Newburgh, from there to Hudson by the way
of Independence, through what was called Tin
ker's Creek Hollow, as that was then the only
passable route from Fairport TO Aurora We
arrived at the residence of Amos II. Treat, Mr.
Treat being an old neighb0r East, where we
stayed until our log cabins were erected.
We were over four weeks on the journey
from Connecticut to Ohio, which was then
thought to be quick trip. When our lands
were selected and log cabins built, we all
moved into INLAND, now SOlJn. Our lands
were located in the South East part Of the
Township known as the Williams and Els
worth Tract, and on the old mail route from
Pittsburgh to Cleveland, where the mail was
carried and supplies transported from Pitts
burgh 10 Cleveland in the last war-the war of
| lSl2-and now on the direct road from Cleve-
land TO Aurora. Our nearest neighbor for many
years in the direction of Cleveland was the
family OF David Benjamin in the Township Of
Warrensville, three miles east OF the village Of
Newburgb, it being nine miles, and no passa-
bic road al that lime, the old mail route being
grown up with bushes and obstructed with
iallen timber. Our nearest neighbor on the
west was in the very west part Of Bedford, or
on the east line Of Independence, being some
nine miles. Our nearest neighbors were IN the
North West part of Aurora, near what is called
the Seward Lake or Pond, it being only about
two miles.
The second family that came into the Town
ship was Mr. Oliver Wells who came in the
next Fall-in the year 1921. Mr. Wells came
from Hartford county, Connecticut, and from
the same neighborbood Of Boil and Robbins.
Mr.. Wells settled on the southwest corner lot
in the Township, it being now on the plank
road from Bedford TO Twinsburgh, and near the
old tavern stand Of MT. StarkWeather Mr..
Wells built the first framed house that was
built in the Township, which is nov owned
and occupied by his yOngest son, Oliver Wells
second, and where the widow Of Mr. Oliver
/ Wells is still living in the enjoyment Of good
health The first white child was born in Mr.
Wells family, and named Della after the wife
of Thomas 5. Williams who was a large land
holder in SOlon. Tue first pair of twins was
born in the family Of Mr. Wells, and further
still MIR Oliver Wells was the first Justice of
the Peace elected in the Township, he being
elected in the year of 1927. The first marriage
that took place was in the year Of 1882; the
parties were Mr. Baxter ClOugh and Mss Han
nah Gerrish from New Hampshire. The IL
cense was granted BY ii. Perry, Clerk. The
ceremonies were performed by Capt. Jason
Robbins who was the second Justice Of the
Peace elected in the Township. The Township
I
for about four years; when Bull and Robbins
| changed the name Of the Township frUm Mi
land 70 SOlon. When the Township was first
organized and at the first election, which
think was in the year ls24, there were only
seven voters, namely Capt Jason Robbins,
Samuel Bull, P. S. Bull, Oliver Wells, John G.
Carver, c. N. Leach, and Thomas Marshall.
They were all Wing in politics except Thomas
Marshall who was the only Democrat in the
Township, and as he was the only one he con-
eluded to go with the majority, therefore voted
the Wing ticket. 1t was not very easy matter
to obtain Township officer in SolOn as far
back as 1924 as P. S. Bull think at our first
election was elected TO the Office Of Clerk,
Treasurer, Constable, Supervisor, and 0yerseeI
OF the Poor. But the last office was hardly
necessary, as it was hard telling which was the
poorest, as all We had was our lands, good
health and a disposition to work, whiSh made
our Wilderness Of SolOn bloom and blossom
ike the Rose.
IL was about ten years after the first settle
nent or after the settlement Of very few fam.