Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1868-04-29
HISTORY OF GREENE.
HISTORICAL ADDRESS,
On the Fiftieth Anniversary since
the Settlement of Greene. Trum-
bull County Ohio.
BY MAJOR CHURCHILL.
BEAR TREE.

BY MAJOR CHURCHILL.
BEAR TREE.
In Dec. 1920, Mr.. Ichabod Mirritt,
Leonard Wheeler and a Mr.. Tubbs,
while hunting, came upon the track of
a full grown Bear. This track they
followed until they found that the bear
had assembled q huge white-wood tree.
The top of the white-wood had been
broken off, and our hunters supposed
that the Bear must be secured in its
hollow at the top. 1t being near night,
and with only one axe, they could not
fall the white-wood that night, and if
left until morning the Bear might
escape. They therefore cut a beech
and lodged it against large limb of
the White:wood. This was Mr.. Tubb's
plan, who said, that if it could be done,
that he would climb il to the white
wood limb, and shoot the bear. Mr..
Tubbs slung his life and attempted to
climb-but after repeatedly trying,
could ascend but little beyond the help
of his companions. This rather vexed
Mr.. Merritt, who told Mr.. Tubbs to
come down, and let him try. Merritt
then succeeded in climbing the beech,
and in getting upon the white-wood
limb. He then charged Wheeler, that
If lie fsiIel so-Eill the Bear 10 fire at
her the instant she came out of the
top-that he should depend upon
him to kill the Bear. Merritt then
fred into the hollow and Immediately
backed into the beech top. The Bear
came out, Wheeler fred, but missed
Then he jumped about crying, ''your
gone lex, you're gone lex" had made
my calculations said Merritt, expecting
Wheeler to miss. Before firing, had
put a ball in my mouth. Ny first act
after firing was to shut pan, then back
to the beech top; and then, before
looking up, to set my powder to run
ming into my rifle. A little jar would
prime it. The Bear was but few feet
OFF, and partly above me upon the
limb which l had just left, and Whee-
Ter was below hslloing. Notwithstand-
ing all this, l determined to keep my
powder running long enough to OBJ
tain a sure charge. Then dropping my
bullet into my rifle 1 fred, and the Bear
fell. Two half grown cubs also came
out of the tree, they took TO the limbs,
and were shot at our leisure. Merritt
then got safely down.
In March, 1912, the writer assisted 1.
Merritt in saving the fifth twelve feet
cut of that White-wood tree into boards.
That log measured something over three
feet through. at its top, inside of the
har n &c Il. 4,
gerous exploit was over sixty feet from
the ground. The tree grew upon the
farm OF VIM. Shipman, about y miles
east of where we now are, in the edge
of Gustavus. The tree was long known
as the Bear tree.
LOST IN THE WOODS.
During the first years after our set
tlement began, and before our roads
were laid out, it was common thing for
hunters and Others to get lost in the
woods. The sound of a gun after dark
was a pretty sure sign that somebody
was lost. In such case, it was the Gus
tom for the nearest settler to 90 upon
his cabin with his blow horn and blow.
If he could make the lost person hear,
he would continue to blow every few
until the lost person came in.
There were frequent cases of persons
being lost, and obliged to stay out all
night. Sometimes when the moon
arose, it would lead the person in. We
believe that every person who came |
here previous TO 1922, can even now,
give thrilling accounts of his own ex-
Miss Abigail Wakefield, then l9 years
of age, which caused deep interest,
and much sympathy in this and ad-
joining townships. We ask the patience
of our aged people, while we give more
at length, the experience of this young
lady. Her parents had recently came
from the east and had stopped in Penn
sylvania, q few miles east of Kinsman.
In May, 1919, she had been working at
Esq. Browns, in Bloomfield. Her
brother, Ruben Wakefield, being at
that time at work there upon the
Abigail had obtained a horse
and had gone to visit her parents, ex-
Decting to return to Bloomfield the fol-
owing week. At this time there was
10 road upon the center line, from
Bloomfield to Green. The only passable
quite Tor horse, then was from Bloom
ield, to go south to BaGghman's creek,
n Bristol. thence up the creek by Dea- !
on Barns mlll-the Norton place, and ,
hence by the new mill road to Green. :
While going over upon this route, Abb
,ail had company with her. After ,
listing her parents, and was returning,
he staid at E. Rice's. in Greene, on 4
tuesday night. On Wednesday morn
ng, feeling confident that she could fol.
ow the track, she started alone for
Bloomfield. From herself we have the S
account: Before noon she
ad lost the trail thought that she s
ad crossed the Mosquito creek, too I
BON. 1t was cloudy and she could not q
I'll in what direction she was going
he travelled all that day in hope of t
nding some road, some creek, or some 5
ody. But after her utmost efforts, she f
ould find neither. Night was now v
oming on, the thick foliage of May, b
aused greater darkness. She was in t
ne woods, she knew not where, and {
lone. She often stopped to listen if t
she might hear the wood o
lsn's axe, s COW bell, or the barking Z