The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1871-05-25
HISTORY OF RAvENNA.
From the Unpublished History Of the
Western Reserve. by GEN. l.. "
Bierce. of Akron.

From the UnpablIsheS History Of the he
Bierce, of Akron.
Ravenna, originally called Town ,, eighth range,
was drawn and owned by Benjamin Tappan, OF
NORTHAMPTON, Ma assachusetts. Tappan was man
of wealth. but was more noted for his parental re-
lation than any direct act of TALENT charity or
benevoence. He was the father of Benjamin Tap
pin, Jr., of Ohio; better known by the familiar
name of Den Tappan''-of Arthur and Lewis Tap
pan of New York, and of John Tappan of Boston.
In 1899 Ben Tappan came TO Ohio as the Agent
of his Father, to dispose of his land, and get set
tiers on to it He arrived in Ravenna in June, and
buiii log house the east side of the road from
CampbeIlsport the village of Ravenna, and about
halt mile Northwest of the former plaee-being
30.
The same summer, Benjamin Bixby. from Bo-
ton, Connecticut, arrived with his wife and four
children, and settled near to Tappan, and went in
t. his employ They were the first settlers in the
township BIxby Revolutionary Soldier and
pensioner He and Tappan soon fell out, and Blk
bv left and went to Beaver Falls, Pa; from there
he went to Columbiana county, Ohio, and from
there Middlebury. then in Portaeecounty. where
he died in 1927, the age of eghty-one years. He
was in destitute circumstances in his old age and
fered in the latter years of his life.
His Oldest son and wife died in Kendall Stark
County, in 1928. His second son., Jarvis, boy of
nine years old, bitten in the face by a rattle
snake, in 1893. and died immediately. His third
resided in Shaersville about 1894, since then
have lost track of him. His daughter, Amanda,
married Philo ScovilIe of Cleveland and his young
est daughter married in Middeoury, by the
name Of Benajah A Geer, with whom the old man
lived till his death. Geer afterwards moved to
Copley, where he died in 1887.
10 the spring of 1900, William Chard came and
settled on Lot 20. little west of where Richard j
Thompson now lives-known as ''thc old Eaton
place. where the first Courts in the county were
held
In June. 1900, Conrad Boosinger left Virginia,
near Fort Cumberland, and came to Ravenna, and
purchased from Tappan 200 acres of land al SO an
acre. His purchase was in Lot 27, on the old State
Road from Campbelsport west, .and Immediately
north of what is known as 1.-THE old John Ward
place" He paid $500 down, and took a contract
for his land and then went back TO Virginia for his
family. He returned with his sons George and
John, and his daughter Polly. They commenced
clearing Off their land-ceared off five acres, and
sowed it to wheat that fall. The seed they pur-
chased and brought with them from the Ohio nv
er. They then all returned to Virginia.
While clearing off their land George heard ter
rible squealing among their hogs and going to the
place from which the sound proceeded. he found ii
bear holding hog in his arms and deliberately
eating from his shoulders. Boosinger shot the
bear, but the hog, though still alive, ruined
the bear having eaten the fl sh from his shoulders
to the bone. in March, 1901 the family returned,
and occupied log shantY they had erected the
year before, and lived in it till the next spring.
when they built hewed log house and moved into
that.
When Boosinger first came Tappan and Chard
were the only settlers in the Township. john
Boosnger, who is now living in Brimfield hale and
was then Is years old. They long
lived race, almost tenacious of life u mud-tur
tie. The old man, Conrad died in 1913, age q.
George died in 1863 aged 81. Conrad. Jr, lives in
Indiana, age 20. Matilda Sapp "a daughter of Con-
rad, Sr.,) ives in Ravenna, age 95. Polly lives in
age ~. Henry age ~; Rachel, age IL |
Another whole family OF such longevity think |
can hardly be found.
Boosinger being unsbe to make his next pay |
ment punctually, Tappan drove him off the place,
retaining the $500 PAID the so acres cleared, ana
hewed log house.
John Ward came to Ravenna in 1e02. being the |
third settler. Tappan, Chard and Boosinger were
2o, on the old State Road from Campbelsport west.
aud little west Oi where Charfes ii. BosJwick now
lives, known as the old sutIif place.: Wards
came JofIn McManus, oil Mrs. Ward by her
former husband. He married man. Soon
alter coming into Ravenna, Mrs. Ward was out
nunthIg COWS, aud discovered u small Lake, just
acruss the Town line on Lots Is ana 80, In kouls-
LUwn-slice known as ~ ards pond, sometimes
called Granny Wards pond.''
During Tue same year William Simcox, David
Jennings, DAVID Moore and Robert Eaton came
nto JUwn. Wand ana McManus CAME IRON Beaver, |
Pa Jennings from the State OF Maine; Eaton
from Famyra, and Moore from Beaver. MUUre
was a Blacksmith. nlmcox and McMdnus eacn
tiIIy of iand from Tappau, The
present FAR Grounds, east of the village, aud
and contracts To four years. built nvuees, |
lad made improvements, but not being able pune
-ualiy to make payments, 1appan drove them Off
nJo tue huuse that McMauus had built. Tue set-
lers became SO enrdged at such proceedings that
,hey shcared the maine, tail and ears, oI rappan's
avurlIe horse, and Ieit letter his door step
charge Of powder and rifle ball. Zap
Jan took tue nlIJ and lett the sowI-going Steu-
JenvIr, where he uleu.
Mr. JennIugs settled sbout two miles east of Ra
Tenna, on the Center ruad leading ClIarlesLoWn,
descendants. He aIid his wife anu five cuIdren
wed Ill tie country, north Of the village. His
Cenuants have iurnsned the county with Two
'herlns. Robert Eaton purchaseu tine farm Un
when hicbard j. Thompson now lives; built The
louise now standing on 1t; Kept the nrsJ Tavern
n town II, and III IL held irsL Court.
Ihe first SCHOOL Kept IN The township ny ,
diss Sarah nice, sister OF Tdppan's WIFE, 1t was
,ept in BoosInger's old house, IN loOg rhe chIl-
Zen oI boOsluSer, Ward, and Robert Eaton cOnsLl-
uted the school. .
In IoO4 the first wedding was celebrated the par.
les being Charles Vanhorn and PheDe HERMAN.
'ney were married Oh The place now owned by ,
,hares ii. BosLwlck.
In loU6 Tappan moved on to place south east of {
'oe'e pond, couple vi miles west oil the village | I
nd set out an orcnard-mans of the trees yet
tandlug. Inc following year he moved back, and
gam LOOK Possessions oil the Mciuanus place. 6
III 1901 Col John Campbell moved into itavenna :
-om Uecr1eld. anu started Tavern the forks l
tue roau, quarter OF u mile west of Campbehs- /
ort dis hroLner Rooert nved.wILh him, and was =
Justice of the Peace. He afterwards purchased u
art OF The CORNERS OF iour NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., c
EUlnburgh ana k0otsIown-his house Z
landing, III part, eacn of those Townships.
e Kept Tavern here for many years, and died III
81. He was ensign of military Company III 3
'O4, and un&er the Act oil Congress ol lslI for :
Using 81, OOO men, he was commissioned Cap L
IN AM raised Company of Vo .unteers known as q
Campbefs Company" de started with his COM (
iny when They were oruered to the front, but l.
chness compelled hIn TO return home before they a
let The enemy. y,
strange fatality in his family is worthy of no. +
&C. One uf Ills SONS Committed suicide III Keo- q
Tx, Iowa; another son blown up ON Miss Il
sippl STEAMER; one died of Yellow Fever ON the
one oi hls Grand-rOns killed BY q
explosion OF boiler ON a Mississippi boat, aud 5
le oil mis- daughters Is bIlud. !.
[To BE Continued