Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1870-03-19
History Of Ashtabula Township.
Written n is56-.trOm tile Times.
by the Late Rev. JOHN HALL.
LIBRARY,

A. d., 1913, the Rev. Joseph Badger
proposed Library Association; which
WAS formed, and called the Ashtabula
Social Library Association
The first books were choice selection,
parchaSed of the Rev. Mr.. Badger at his
book store. They were well read for
several years. The books we<v then
mostly distributed among the sharefxld.
ers, and the library, for time, suspended,
Jaly 20, 1880, it was recognized, and
was incorporated by the Legislature,
December "a, 1880.
1t contains (March 5th, 1867 73o vol
umes, which cost S17O.SS.
Other means of disseminating know
ledge to enlightcn the minds, to facilitate
the business operations, and the inter-
change OF amiable correspondence of the
people, may be mentivnea uLdcr the
b ads OF mail contractors aud carriers,
post coaches post-ut1ces and post-maslers,
an" post ROADS.
The first mail contractor and carrier
was John Metcalf HIS frs, contract
for carrli ing the U. S. mail was made, it
is supposed, in 1908; aad his route
cnteaded from Cleveland to Eric, Penn
sylvauia, He continued to carry the
mat over this route mostly, or enli,viy,
Oh is back, from the early part of 1909
to he beginning OF 1911. such was the
wud state OF the country, and tie eX-
cessive badness of the roads that Mr.
Nletcalt was subjected to dangers, priva,
tons, labors and various obstacles, which
a less vigorous, active and enterprising
man would have skunk from encounter
ing. And yet neither muddy roads, I'M
brdgcd and flooded rivers and rivulets,
cold or heat, or storms and temptsts, or
any but absolutely insurmouutabe ab.
stacleS prevented this persevering man
from delivering the mail at the stations
in due time, with wonderful punctualty.
1t is said that he sometimes wuded, and
sometimes even swan the swollen
streams with the mail bags poised upon
his head to keep it above water. doubts
less it was lighter and emplier than at
this day. In 1871 Asher Bigelow was
employed by Gideon Leet, Esq, post
master, to carry the mail on horseback,
from Ashlabula to Buffalo To accom-
plish this lie was allowed in the best sea
sons of travelling, Twelve days to go and
return, and the fourteen days when the
waters were high, and the mud was
deep. Even this long time often proved
too short. Should the mails be detained
as n.any hours, in these days of steam
propulsion, our business men would be
impatient.
In the latter part of 1911, or begin
mug of 1912, it is believed, John Me-
calf is found carrying the mail again in
IA heavy lumber wagon; with Il span ut
spirited horses the team and vehicle be-
ing furnished by Anan Harmon, and
driven by Metcalf with surprising velo-
city, over his old route from Cleveland
TO Erie, perhaps OH a renewed contract.
About A. d., 1915, the wagon was
succeeded by decent little stage coach,
th two seats for passengers, and the
drivers box, drawn by two horses. In
this carriage Metcalf conveyed the mail
and passengers back aud forth, on the
Cleveland & Erie route, perhaps until
1918. Aoont that time, VIM. Whitman,
OF Ashtabula, Calvin Cole, of Painesville,
and others, established regular line OF
stages, extending east and west far be-
yund Melcalt IS old route, and conveying
mail and passengers in an improved style
of wagons, through this place. This
company was Succeeded by Edwin
Harmon, who furnished the route from
Erie TO Cleveland with tour-horse coaches
Of the best description, drawn by excel
lent horses He commenced running
the stages on this route of 100 miles,
both ways, every tweniy-four hours
From this time. onward, daily morning
aud evening stages passed through this
place, bringing the eastern and western
mails, by two teams and coaches. Mr..
Harm thus coupled tins route for per-
haps seven years, and was succeeded by
Col. Henry j. Rus, OF Ashtabuh., for a
considerable time Then kus 81 Con-
verse, who were succeeded by Col. II.
Hubbard and Col. IL. ]. Rus, until 1888,
when they were succeeded by Neil,
Moore q Co., until stages on this route
were suspended by the more rapid rail
road cars, in 1852.