Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1870-06-11
History Of Ashtabula Township.
by the Late Rev. JOHN HALL.
Written in 1S56-trom tile Times.

The first white mans habitation in
Ashtabula is said to have been small
log cabin of Thomas Hamilton, perhaps
little above the ship yard, on the west
side of the creek, raised early in June,
1901. When the logs were ready for
raising, there happened to come into the
mouth of the creek a boat with family
on board, bound up the lake. Hamilton
pursuaded one or two of the men to as
sist in raising the body of his house
Daniel Baldwin, Esq, and Capt James
Montgomery, of Conneaut, having been
previously invited, engaged to call and
hel him on certain day when return
ing from Harpersfield. They called ac-
cordingly. The raising was finished, and
the house roof covered with bark, by
their assistance. 1t is presumed that
Hamilton had no family in this house, as
the first family in this township has al
ways been said to have been that of Geo.
Beckwith.
According to Colonel Hubbard, the
first family residence was that of Geo.
Beckwith, erected in the spring of 1903,
by the assistance Of his neighbors, the
pioneers of Austinburg, among whom he
was one OF the earliest. He perished in
the snow, in January, 1904, some forty
or fifty rods north of the South Ridge.
and few rods west OF the east line of
Saybrook as he was returning home
from Austinburg with heavy load of
salt, etc, on his back. Sitting down to
rest, he may have fallen asleep, and thus
have frozen to death.
Mrs Beckwith, with two little daugL-
ters and herself to support in the wilder
ness, was thus left widow. She was
woman of great energy of character, and
deserves TO be numbered as beneiac-
tress. She endured great hardships in
her lone condition, but is said to have
found means to assist others.
Enigran,s from the east would come
with loaded wagons, and not know how
they could cross the creek for the depth
of the water Mrs. Beckwith would
know by the depth of the water IN the
stream whether it was fordablc or not at
the crossing place, some three fourths of
mile below her dwelling. She would
row down to their assistance in her ca
noe. Her method was, first, to ferry the
family across the river in her canoe; then,
direct the men to bind on their load
strongly; to tie rope to the end of the
tongue of the wagon, giving her the 9TH
er end of the rope to carry in her canoe
to the opposite shore; then, the oxen
having been loosened from the wagon,
drive them into the stream and let them
swim over; then, roll the wagon into
the creek, hitching the team to the rope,
and let them draw the wagon through
the water. The wheels will touch the
bottom so as to prevent its overseeing.
The load is easily drawn, being buoyed
up by the water, betwixt sinking and
swimming, until it comes to the shore,
when the rope must be doubled and
shortened, and strong pull by the team
brings the load upon terra firma, on the
western bank of the Ashtabula, amidst
the iejoicings OF all concerned.
They let their load stand and drain
while they pay Mrs. Beckwith the liberal
ferriage, well earned and much needed
by her. Realizing that without her SER
vices they might have been long detained
for the waters to subside, they affection
ately bade her farewell, and went on their
way light hearted and joyful
After great hardships in rearing her
children, and living to see the children,
and perhaps grandchildren of the eldest,
this first useful pioneer woman of Ashta-
bula died recently, pauper, in her help
less old age, in the county aims house, at
Kipgsville.
CONTINUED nert neek.l