The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1896-05-20

| h"iJAh ni"hh anu wife; ln0maS Rlce,
wife and eight children, Anna, Ruth,
Chloe, Cynthia, Philena, Pyrez, Madison,
and Shaler; James Palmer, wife and five
children, Ira, 0ra,, Mary, Joseph and
Sarah; Jessie Chamberlain and wife;
John Parmely, ST., wife and two unmar-
ried children, John and Roxana, two
married sons, Sylvanus Parmely, wife
and four children, Manning, Lois,
Louisa, and Rosetta; Ashael Parmely,
wife and two children, Amandarm and
Hannah.
Their route was through Albany, Buf-
falo, Cleveland and Medina. At this
time Cleveland consisted of only a few
log houses. They had fairly good roads
to Harrisville, but from there on they
had to chop their way through dense
forests. The first day after leaving
Harrisville they advanced about seven
miles and camped in Homer township,
three miles from their destined home.
On the following day, in the afternoon
OF the 2Sth of August, 1917, the little
band of immigrants arrived at the CEN
fer of Sullivan township, and pitched
camp near the spot where now stands
the residence of Melvin Parmely.
Eacn family selected 1850 acres Of land
as near the center as possible, and then
decided to draw lots, this being the most
satisfactory way to settle the matter, as
all had their prefer ences. Rude huts or
shantles were Immediately put up.
These were without chimneys and only
a part of the lower part could boast of a
floor. The fire for cooking purpose was
built on the ground, the smoke making
its escape through hole in the roof.
The next day after their arrival, Henry
and Benjamin Close came from the state
of New York. They selected land north
west OF the center on what is now known
as Close street.
The early settlers found the region
already occupied by Indians, there being
a camp on Butte nut creek, on land now
owned by Joseph Chamberlain. The
Indians were for the most part peaceable.
only having occasional disturbances
among themselvee.
Thus located in the midst of q dense
forest, far from any settlement and en-
tirely dependent upon their own re-
sources, these sturdy settlers saw no dark
side to the picture, but hopefully gazed
on the bright sunlight that strearned
in upon them as the forest trees fell be-
fore the strong arm Of the pioneer, and
saw, or thought they saw, in the future
many blessings in store for them and
their posterity.
Their nearest neighbors on the east
were at narrisville, ten miles distant:
south, eight miles; north, Elyria, twen-
ty-eight miles; west, New London,
twelve miles. The nearest store was at
Wooster, Wayne Co.
The next year Thomas Rice, who staid
in Medina through the winter, came
with his family; also Henry and Rhisa
Close with their families Whitney
Chamberlain, wife and three children;
Richard Chamberlain and his widowed
mother. The GOulds; John, EnOs, Rufus
and Amos came soon after.
The first settlers were mostly Bap-
lists, and they held meetings in the old
log school house. These were conducted
by John Parmely, ST;
The morals of these people were very
good. A man of unQuestiOnable veracity
states that he has never known any of
that number, or their descendants to be
convicted of crime, nor any to use pro-
fame language.
This little incident will show with
what strictness the children were trained
up to follow the path Of moral rectitude.
A child on going to the home of Widow
Chamberlain found her away from home
and seeing some hickory nuts lying on
the lOor, picked up three or four and
carried them home, but no sooner had he
reached home thanhe was told to take the
nuts back, which he did without delay.
On the eve of WashingtOn's birthday
1918, Ashley Parmely was born. Heisliy-
ing today on his home one-haIf mile north
OF Sullivan, and despite his rs years,
bids fair to live many years more to en-
Joy the distinction of being the first
white child born in Sullivan.
The first death was that of John
Parmley. About this time child
Of Mr Durfee was lost in the woods,
although diligent search was made for
several days he was not found and early
the next spring his bones were found
near the spot where he was first missed.
Thus we see with what price; with
what self denial and hardships the
blessings we enjoy today, and think SO
little Of, were purchased. Let us, follow
| ing the example Of these sturdy pioneers.
endeavor to hew down the forest Of ig-
norance and prejudice which retard our
onward progress and leave to our chill
dren even greater blessing than these
self-denying pioneers have given us.
[To BE CONTINUED