Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1876-07-21
HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF ASHTA,
BULA.
BIZ HEErx FAssErr.

HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF ASHTA'
BULA.
BY HEErY FAssETT.
One hundred years ago, when the
Fathersaf this Nation promulgated
that geTious Declaration, just read
in jsar hearing, boldly proclaiming
to<tise world the natural rights OF
nan, tbe entire State of Ohio was an
unbreken wilderness, the camping
ground of the Indian, the home OF
the. Wild beasts of the forest,
Whert now are countless happy
farm homes, thriving villages, and
magnificent cities, school houses, col
leges and churches with lofty spires
pointing us to the source from which
All our blessings come, there was
then only the rustic wigwam; where
now are beautiful streets and ave-
nues, railroads, and telegraph lines,
could then only be seen the Indian
trail.
The first settlement made in Ohio
was at Marietta, in the spring of
1888. In November following a
second settlement was made at Co
lunlhia, town on the Ohio river,
five miles from Cincinnati. Soon
after, settlements were made at Gin
cinnati and North Bend.
July 4th, 1896, just eighty years
ago to- day, the first surveying party
Of the Western Reserve landed at
The monsh of Conneaut Greek 1t
esusis5ed of 6fts perAous, They
did not fail to celebrate the TWEEN
tieth anniversary of American Inde-
pendence. Conneaut may therefore
Justly be termed "the Plymouth of
the Reserve" "
Judge Jas. Kingsbury and family
arrived at Conneaut soon after the
surveying party. He went east in
the fall, but being taken sick, was
unable TO return until in the winter.
On arriving at home he found his
wife had suffer- much for the want
of food and care. She was sick and
emaciated. Near her was the life
less form of a little daughter-the
first white child born on the West
ern Reserve which had actually
died for want of proper nourish-
ment
According to the best information
we have, the first regular settlement
made in this county was at Harpers-
field, March 7th, 1898.
We will now proceed to give, very
briefly, a history of such matters as
have been assigned for this paper,
leaving for another to present facts
and events which will be more at
Aractiye, and .hterestip5s
I'll BcHoo1s,
In giving a sketch of the schools,
we have drawn largely from the his
tory of this township, written IN
1856, by Rev. John Hall.
The first school house erected in
Ashtabula was small log building.
standing on the south side of the
South Ridge road, near the present
residence of Mr.. s. G. Smith. 1t is
supposed to have been built in 1909.
The first teacher in this house, and
of a school in Ashtabula, was Miss
Julia Hubbard, who taught five
weeks in the spring and summer of
1899 Being taken sick, she was
succeeded by Miss Achsah Nettle-
ton, during the remainder of the
summer term. Subsequent teachers
in this first school house were War
ner Mann, Miss Lucia Badger, Har-
vey Nestletou, MSS Betsey Nettlel
ton, and John Hall. Miss Sarah
Booth taught in the summer of 1915
| IN a store-room Of Dee. Fisk's barn
In the winter Of 1sle-lT, Alden
SpauIding taught in a log school
house standing on the Hubert lot
Just south of this Park.
The second school house was 8
small log building, standing on The
east bank of the river, in the woods
a few rods from the site of the brick
dwelling of the late Edwin Harmon
Israel A. Robinson, of Salem (now
Conneaut), was the first teacher il
that house. He taught in the win
ter of lsO9-1O. Subsequent teach
ers in it were Miss Esther M'Daniel:
and Ezra kellogg. In the summer
Eof 1871 efis bose was destroyed by
fire. - $sOO@
In the fall of that year a large
house was erected in that district
on tie southeast corner at the cross.
ing of the North Ridge and East
Jefferson roads. 1t was Sthe third
scheol. Rouse ID ASH Ilas and vas
used also for meeting house, town
house, and for other public purposes
for eight years, when it was burnt
These schools were supported by as
sessments on the individuals who
sent scholars, levied in proportion
to the number sent by each. Teach
ers boarded in the families sending
seholars-called boarding around.
In 1915 or 1917, the building now
known as Fireman's Hall, on Mair
street, was erected by subscription
and used as school house, meeting
house, town house and Masonic hal
until 1882, when it was given to the
Ashtabula Academy, which was in
corporated February 9Th 1885. L
was used as a1 scademy bouttWen
lty years In ls61-2, DE Academy
built new building, three stories
high, the third story being divided
and sold to the Odd Fellows ahd
Masons.
On the 22d of March, ls49, the
electors of this village, in public
meeting, adopted the union schoo
system, by vote of ll3 to So. Oh
the 5th day of April, 1865, the frs
election was held for directors undel
the new system and the following
persons were chosen: Stephen Hall
Leander Hall, fJeEn A. Prentice
ifenry T. Morrison, Frederick Car
Isle and Henry Fassett
THE METHODIST CHURCH.
The first Methodist Episcopa