The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1875-01-28

held the office one or two terms; was
taken sick and died. David Smith
was our first Postmaster. He was
elected Justice of the Peace IN sue
cession to Jackson, but, being an old
man, did not like the office and re-
signed. Pardon Wilber, l think, was
next elected. He held the office a
term or two, and the next elected was
Charles Huxley. He also held the
office one or two terms, and think
the next in was George Wilber, son
of Pardon WILDER. He did not hold
the Office, l think, more than one
term. The mex: was Austin Richards.
He was Reelected, served many years
and gave good satisfaction. The next
was David Smith, Jr., son of David
Smith above mentioned. He also
served many years. generally well ap-
proved. s.s.sa
will now proceed to say something
about the schools in town, We have
built Ave school houses in school dis
trict number 2. on and near Auburn
Corners, three log and two frame
houses. The first was built on the
road north of the Corners, in the fall
of 1918, and school kept in it the fol-
lowing winter, by Charles Hoskins.
This was the first school kept in town.
The next was a split and hewed log
house, built on the southeast corner,
where Mayhew's store now stands
This house was burned. How it took
fire we do not know. The next was
log house by the edge of the woods
west of the Corners. These four
houses were built voluntarily and by
subscription. The school-house now
in use west of the Corners, was built
by tax, the law making il necessary.
All this time there were other districts
formed and schoolhouses built all
over town, as the people required.
l will now say something in regard
to the ministerial labors, and by whom
performed, in the early history of this
town. For the first two or three
years, we had not much preaching
Occasionally missionary passing
through would give us a discourse,
till about 20 or 81. Elder Plympton,
then a young man of great energy,
held meetings frequently at the center
of the town. There was a great stir
among the people. Some professed
to have the sins remitted and be made
happy in the Lord. He was a Meth
edist minister. About this time there
was a Baptist minister by the name of
Abbott. who preached to the people,
and think established a church of
the close communion. Baptist order.
There were also other Baptist and
Methodist ministers preaching occa-
siOnally in log school-houses and in
private houses, wherever the people
could best be convened. Soon after
this tlme Methodist minister, by the
name of William Brown, moved his
family into town. He labored faith
fully. There was a great revival, many
people became converted, and he es-
tablished a church. This Methodist
church built meeting house at the
Center. Shortly after this, there was
church organized and established in
town, called the Disciple Church.
They also built a meeting house at the
center of the town. In about the year
1885 or 1886, there was Free-wiil
Baptist Church organized and estab-
lished in town. They also built a lit
tie west of Auburn Corners. The
Methodist and Baptist churches being
diminished, they both held
in the Baptist house, each one every
other week, alternately, Thus | have
given short sketch of the rise, pro-
gress and declension of professed
Christian churches in this town, from
their early settlement to the present
time.
l will now record something of the
fatal effects of the burning of houses.
On or near the last OF November, 1917,
Zadock Reuwee's house was burned.
Mr.. Reuwee was not at home. Mrs.
Reuwee left her house, and her child
two years old asleep. all safe, as she
and went north, half or
Of a mile, to neighbors
house, of an errand stayed but few
and on her return, discovered |
her house was on fire. She made all
possible speed. reached the scene, and
some others got there about the same
time, but, alas they were TOO late.
Neither house nor child could be
saved. The bones of this child were |
buried st the Center. Elder Seward,
of Aurora, performed the funeral SER
vices, This was the first funeral in
town. A few years after, another
scene Of like kind occurred. Cor.
nelius Bowerman built house in the
north part Of town, where it was
all new; had chopped and heapee |
brush all about as was usual in those !
days. When it became dry ia the
spring of the year, he went out to
burning brush. Mrs. Bowcrman, to
be very careful, went out to watch
The house outside, that it should not
takc fire, and all her family were out /
except her youngest child, about a
year old, was i'll the house asleep. 1t |
appears the fire blew under the house |
and set it afire on the inside. They |
discovered the smoke, ran and opened
The door, and the flames burst out.
The child could not be saved, but per-
shed in the flames. to the sorrow and
grief of parents and friends. Walter
McLouth. a man of family. and some
what in years, lived on the center road
west of the center of Auburn; was in
bed on the 9th of April, 1913. His |
house took fire in the night, and he
and two children, one of his own and
another that lived with him, all per-
ished in the flames. His wife and |
Lhree children were saved. A man by
The name of johnson lived west on ,
the State road on the Atwater Tract.
About 1916 or 1S47 he had house
burned with two children in it. The
/ cannot tell. There was /
also man by the name of King, who |
lived on the State Road, on the Atwa-
ter Tract, who, about the year 80, had
4 house burned with two children in |
it. About 1910, Erastus Eggleston
had little boy who fell off the high |
og the kettles hung against into a
kettle of boiling sap, and was scalded
to death.
Now, as have finished this short
history of the first settlement of the
Town of Auburn, 1 will notice some
Of the deaths of first settlers. Bildad
Bradley and his wife died, as before
The exact time of their
deaths is not given. John Jackson
died Jan. Is, 1924. His wife died
August Sd, 1861. Zadock Reuwee died
August %, 1912. His wife is still liv-
ing. VIM. Crafts and wife and the
widow Reuwee are the only three