Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1858-11-09
CHAPTER V.

We have now given you brIet history of the
first settlement of Roekport up to 1921, accor-
ding TO the best of our recollection and what
few memoranda we have on hand; but We don't
claim TO be perfect As we have only brought
our history up IL 1921. we leave the last thirty
seven years OF ROckp5rt fof those who have
more time to write and are better acquainted
with the affairs of the township
We wish to make few comparisons between
what the township was then, in 1921, and what
it is now, in 1883 Then there was one bridge
across the river in the township, now there is
four; then it was an. almost unbroken wilder
ness and timber was of but little value, and now
it is a cash article and frewood is worth from
fifty to seventy-five cents per cDrd standing
then there was perhaps thirty families in the
township, oil told, now there are three or four
hundred then they all lived in log cabins, with
two nr three exceptions, now they live in good
houses and some have splendid mansions then
they had forest trees and mud around their
cabins, DOW many of them have beautiful
grounds, graveled walks, splendid eyergreens,
with shrubs, flowers, and vines, and all that
taste could wish then. think, we had no
schoolhouse IN the township, now we have good
school houses, built at a cost of from four to
twelve hundred dollars each then we had no
regular preaching or religious society in the
township, the first Methodist society being or
ganized in 1922, the first Baptist church in 1892,
the first Congregational Church in 1885, and
the first Freewill Baptist Church in 1910; then
there was no Westinghouse in the township,
now there is six-two Methodist Gone has a
steeple and bel), one Baptist, one Freewill
Baptist, one Sweedenborg and one Roman
Catholic; then there was but few roads in the
township, and some of them so bad that an
IL 8
there are good roads running IN every di-
rcction, and two plankroads and two railroads
running through the township then letters
and newspapers were carried through the town.
ship on horseback at slow pace, now the iron
horse takes them along at the rate Of forty
miles an hour. and as several telegraph wires
run through the town, if you wish to hold con-
verse with your friends east or west, the light
ming is at your command to carry your words.
Then there was not buggy in the township,
and l believe there was not even q one horse
wagon, now take the buggys of all descriptions
and they are to be counted by hundreds then
our wives and daughters thought it no hardship
to walk two and even three OF four miles on an
afternoons visit, and home again at night, now
if they have mile to 90 they need convey
ance; then our young men thought it no hard
ship to take knapsaek on their back and.start
off on a journey of four or five hundred miles
on foot, now if they have few miles to go they
must have horse and buggy or go on the rail-
road then our wives and daughters could spin
and weave, milk COWS, make butter and cheese,
cook our dinners, wash the dishes, work in the
garden, and rAked hay if occasion required now
th~s- O., e them at leastl can play on the
piano or melOdeon, do fine needle WORK, an0 all
of them can read novels, dress fine, wear hoops,
ride out for pleasure, and make calls. But per.
haps am drawing too close comparison, il go,
Is rnrdon and will forbear