Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-09-29
From the Palnesyille Telegraph
-. 49,. - -. Ysl.,-..-.
lupaE IoHN NALWoarH.

pllhuEeub OF any eHNcE pElst lAAtfttlhtll anu
power Of endurance, belonged really to all
yet in the detail Of ali those little matters
constituting character, many Of the pioneers
were peculiar; and there none more 30 in this
particular than John Walworth. In the
early part Of bis life in which trenspired bis
journeys westward, his mishaps and trials
were numerous and various IN character;
and yet disbursements never seemed 10
find confession in the lineaments Of his face
or expression from his tongue. A uniform
cheerfulnsss under all misfortunes q conf
dent feeling to overcome all Of them, never
iorsook him; and ever and under all his
trials be redoubled bis efforts TOR final tri-
umph.
Our subject was born in Stonington, Conn,
on the 10th Of June, l765 His early train
ing and preparation for the duties Of life, be
got in the Common School. BE 6rst we be-
lieve, as a vocation learned the siiversmith
trade. He was married in Connecticut to
Juliana Morgan, but at what time our au-
thority does not state and before heleft the
State one child was added to his family.
Finally, Mr.. Walworth turned his course
towards the West and moved to Aurora, N.
Y. Here be engaged IN merehandiEing-
His hrst home was log house. But mistor-
tune was on his track. One day while away
At Schenectady, On business, his house caught
fire and burned up. He learned OF the unto
ward circumstance before starting for home,
and with that forethought which will ever
enable man to overcome all ill-fortunes he
purchased some Of the most needful articles
to commence housekeeping again, such as
knives and forks, cups and saucers, SC,
packing all however, in the old style of sad
die bags, placed them on his horse and
mounted on himself to go home. One Of
the cups and sancerS, one Of bis daughters,
Mrs. Dr. Long, living in Cleveland, has in
keeping as a relic Of early times. Report
says be reached home undiscounged, and
meeting hiswiie, whose heart had yielded to
the caiamaity, and had about given up 10
dispair, he addressed her with cheer, and
drew her mind at once from the contempla-
ton of the untoward event with conversation
in reference to the articles he had brought
home with him to commence housekeeping
again.
But WalWorth built him another house, a
framed one, and it is said to have been the
first one OF the kind built in Aurora. he
continued bis business successfully for some
seven or eight years, until exciting stories
began to come from the far West, the New
Connecticut. he was appointed agent Of
the Connecticut Land Company; so starting
in the Fall of 1893 with a man in his employ,
John Miller, with two horses, yoke o, cat
de, and one COW, he made selection Of what
was afterwards Gov Huntington's farm, and
now occupied BY bis two sons, Julian G. and
Colbert Huntington; and with Miller's aid
cleared away the site, cut the logs, raised the
house, and got everything in readiness for
shiDgling it. and leaving Miller to finish it,
he started in January for Aurora, for Millers
family and his own.
To leturn with, be had two horse teams,
one for his own family-consisting Of his
wife, four children, a colored girl, and Miss
Lucy Phelps IA relation Of his Wife's, who
afterwards married Robert B. Parkman, Of
Parkmsn) )-aud one for MiIlers family, con-
sisting of his wife and two children. A hired
man drove one team, and they arrived in
Buffalo in February. Here they hired a
house, moved the two families in, unloaded
their goods, and started back to Aurora to
bring up the goods that had been left behind.
In coming back to Buffalo, just before they
reached that place, in crossing a creek, one
sleigh broke through the ice, wetting guam
tity Of coffee and some dry goods, but these
were dried in Buffalo without much damage
Here the families were slowed into the sleighs
and joining company with William and John
Reed and their mother, who were going to
Erie, they started of for that place. They
made as good drive as possible on the lake
and at night drove up on the bank of the lake
cut boughs and laid them on the snow, and
camped for the night. The company made a
common supper and breakfast, using large
chest for q table. Starting early in the morn
/ ing they made Erie late in the evening"
| Here again WalwOrth 1nloaded and left the
families and went back for the TWO loads re-
naming at Buffalo, As they were return
/ ing the weather had been thawing the ice
and just before they reached Erie another ac-
I cident occurred. The team behind broke
the ice, and speedily the report reached Mrs
/ WalWOrth that her husband was in the lake.
| She started for the scene with feelings more
easily imagined than described, but the mat
ter came out better than was at first appre-
/ hended. The team was got out and the
| lighter articles of the load but cask or two
containing chains and farming tools sank to
the bottom Of the lake.
The first matter in order now again was
drying OF the goods, and as soon as this was
done, Judge Walworth, leaving his family at
Erie, went back to Schenectady to get his
farming tools replaced and returned to Erie
in 8 wagon. Finally, all things being in
readiness, the journey was resumed They
left Erie the goth Of April, in an open boat,
for Grand Biver-the boat and two men be-
ing hired for the purpose. They landed on
the beach at Grand River on the 2sth Of
the month. Mr.. W., previous to his depar-
ture, had blazed the trees from his house te
the lake, and at once commenced the bust.
ness Of conveying the goods to the new house
which, contrary TO expectation, was not yel
finished. Miller in the meantime had bull
himself house. For three weeks, Wills
the house was being finished, Walworth'l
family lived undera tent
An idea of the social condition Of the
country may be formed from single fact
For nine months Mrs. Walworth never saw
a female outside Of her family. The frs
was Mrs. General Paine.
The house was large double log one, anC
at one time for two consecutive nights l0l
Indians stayed with them.
Many incidents occurred during those days
most of them have passed from mind. How
ever, some of them have come down 10 tn
present. Walworth's cattle were very trouble
some. They strayed away frequently, an,
this used to cause frequent long tramps t
find them. There was tamarack swamp il
Mentor TO which they often strayed, and oftel
It would cost long searches for them. Man,
nights had WalWorth been lost and oblige
70 Elm the woods. The wolves used TO max
frequent levies upon the sheep-fold. Upol
one occasion a noise was heard about the ho
sly, and upon examination it was found tina
alarge bear had attached the contents, an Oh
: SOW, and had the SOW upon its back carryin
/ her of. The bear was pursued and compelle
I to drop his prey. Walworth afterwards use
9 the dead sow for bait and arranged gun $
that whatever disturbed the SOW would FIRE
of and get its contents. During the SUE
8 ceeding night the report Of the gun wa