Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1864-09-07
Burgh Hill Correspondence.

OEPI. =, 1OO1s
Eds. OrOniek:-The other day the re-
mains of Mrs. JeHs BURNETT, of Ravenna,
were brought to this place for interment,
and in connection with the funeral ser
mon it was said that she was the first
white child born in Hartford. That the
country was then one dense forest, the
home of the Indian. the wolf and other
wild animals; that Aaron Brockway was
the first settler in this part OF the u
ty, that in 1898 Gen. Martin Smith and
Tho's Giddings padded a canoe from the
mouth of the Beaver, On the Ohio River,
to near the center of Vernon, where they
made homes; that in 1901 0bed & Timothy
Crosby and q Mr.. Moses had come from
Connecticut, by way of Pittsburgh, in OK
Wagons, were six weeks on the way, Mrst
Moses died on the road. An OK WAS lost
and a cow hitched in to fill the vacancy.
From youngstown they cam by Way OF
Niles and Vienna, cutting their way
through the woods to this place About
the same time, Mr.. Charles Merry, the
father of the deceased, came from Con
necticut by way of Buffalo, with u pack
on his back, and spent at least one night
with an Indian IN his Wigwam. He
came TO the ~Pymaiunlng, near Orange
vile, and the stream being high he put
his fire works in his hat, and with his
pack on his back swan the creek and
made his home ON the Austin farm, where
the deceased was born IN 1901. The
difficulties of these early settlers in get
ting a living were mentioned. How they
had to pound their corn with a pestle in
a mortar to make meal for bread, and
that General Smith had taken perhaps,
the first crop of wheat raised in Trum-
bull Co., all the way to Beaver TO mill,
through the woods, making a journey of
la day. 1t was said that these men
brought their religion with them. Mr..
Obed Crosby, a Methodist local preacher,
held the first religious meeting in this
part of the County, and about the same
time the Rev. Joseph Badger, a Mission
ary from the n. E. States, came to the
W. Reserve, and was at one time made to
| climb a lee to save his life from the wild
beasts. In 1903 he organized the first
PRESBYTERIAN Church in this part of the
county. in Hartford. The zeal of these
early Christians was noticed; how they
enforced the rules of the Church. That
a man was turned out of the Presby terrain
church for not holding family worship =
That Mr.. Merry was a Methodist AID
entertained their Preachers, and that
their daughter, Harriet, the deceased
was an early convert and joined the NJ
E. Church. One day a prominent Minis
te, was at their house, and on the person
Iof Harriet saw some article of dress
which he thought contrary to the rules o
the Church, and spoke to her about il,
quoting scripture and discipline 10 show
that all needless ornaments should be dis
pensed with. The girl then took of The
rufHe or curl and asked the minister why
he had the buttons on the back of hi
coat, whereupon the man of God took of
his coat and cut the unnecessary buttons
off.
1t was suggested after the interment
that some one should give some account
of this funeral in the W. r. Chronicle
and that the early settlement of Trum
bull Co. should be in book form. Mr.. F
E. Stowe, of Braceville. had a few year
ago commenced the work, but he is nov
deceased. Among his papers might per
haps be found a good deal Of suitable ma
terial for the book. | know that | pre-
pared and sent him an recount OF thu
early settlement of Vernon. Only a YER
few of these first men in the country nov
live. | was surprised to learn that Nh
samuel Hutchins. of your place, formerl.
of Vienna, and father Of Hon. Johl
Hutchins, WAS at this funeral, and said h
? went to mill with Mr.. Smith to Beaver
the time referred to. .s
I have written this in hopes that sons
suitable person may soon be appointed b.
this county to prepare and publish it
. early history, to hand down to futur
generations. / believe its sale would pa
the expense. What is done should b
done soon, or many interesting items wi
be forever lost. DAVID KING.