Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1901-08-02

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Copley in Gen. L. V. Bierce's history
of Summit county:
This is Town 2, in Range IL, in a part
of what was originally called Wolf
Greek township. That embraced what
are now Copley and Norton, in Sum
init county, and Wadsworth, Sharon,
Gullford and Montville in Medina. In
the division Of the Western Reserve
this township fell to Gardner Green,
and others, of Boston, and was origi-
nally called Greenfield. 1t was sub
sequently called Copley, in honor Of
Green's wife, who was Copley,-a
descendant of Lord Copley of Eng
land.
1t was organized into distinct
township, with its present boundaries,
in July 1919. At the first election for
Justice of the Peace, Jonathan Starr
and Joseph Bosworth were candidates.
Bosworth received seven votes, and
Starr six. This election was set aside,
and a new one ordered, at which
Starr was elected. His commission
bears date June 10, 1920 Starr was
also the first town Clerk, and taught
the first school in the township, in
the winter of 1S19-'20. The school
house stood on the northeast corner
formed by the cross roads at the centre
of the township. After acting pro-
minent part in the public affairs Of
the county, as well as of the town
ship, he was killed by fall in Akron,
December 1S, 1851. He was a native
of Norwich, Connecticut, and came to
Copley in 1918. He was a man of
strong mind, inflexible in his opinions,
and honest in his views.
The first settler in the township was
Jonah Turner, who came from Penn
sylvania, and settled on the ridge, east
of Miller's Tavern, in 1914. He be-
longed to Major Croghan's battalion
that marched through to Fort Steven
son in 1928. They marched through
on the Smith road, and encamped on
the ground where Alfred Sweet now
lives. While encamped there Turner
selected his land on which he subse-
quently lived, and died. William Green
also moved in this year, from Canaan,
Connecticut. His son, Leander, is now
living in Bath.
In the fall of 1915 George Hawkins
moved into the township, from Yer
mont; ana on the Goth day of Decem-
ber his wife presented him with SON.
whom they named George Washington
This was the first white child born
in the township. He is still living.
In 1918 Lawrence More moved into
he had been Superintendent in quarry
ing stone for the United States Al,
senaL At that early day, More, seeing
the evils of intemperance, prohibited
the use of spirits by his workmen in
the quarries, and for five years that
he was superintendent, he strictly en-
forced the prohibition.
He was a Scotchman, from the
"Lowlands," and came to America in
1897. He was seafaring man, and
soon after he came to America was
impressed from an American ship by
the British Frigate Tartar" on board
of which he served six years, and he
finally purchased his release by pay
ing $1,225. In 1918 he was captured
by British bomb ship and carried
to England, where he was imprisoned
in the celebrated "Dartmoor Prison.
at the time the American prisoners
were fired upon by their British guard
More was Justice of the Peace be
fore Copley was organized, and served
out his time after the organization
The first law suit in the township
was before him, between David Poinl
and William Green. Points wife had
lent a large spinning wheel to Green's
wife, and after all but the rim had
been taken back, a controversy arose
between them, and Green's wife re
fused to carry the rim back. Point
went to More and demanded writ
which he refused to give, but went