SPRINGFIELD

      This is Town one, in range Ten, and was an equalizing Town­ship. It was surveyed out by Simon Perkins, in the summer of 1806. He first ran a North and South line through the center of the Township, the East half of which was set to Town 4, Range 8, [Shalersville] to make that equal with the average. A strip off the West side of the Township was also attached to Shalersville. Shalersville was drawn, and belonged to Shaler of Middletown, Connecticut, father of Judge Charles Shaler of Pittsburgh, and father-in-law of Commodore McDonough, of Lake Champlain.­Shaler sold the East half to Olds, Collar, and More, of what is now Mahoning County, and the strip off the West side to Henry, and Charles Chittendon.

     The first settler in the Township was Ariel Bradley, who settled on lot 12, Shaler Tract, where he yet resides. His first house, and the first in the Township, stood about twelve feet North of the one he now lives in, in the village of Mogadore; which has been laid out on the lot on which Bradley settled.

     Bradley was born in Salisbury, Connecticut, in 1707. Natu­rally of a strong discriminating mind, he vas employed, with suc­cess, when a boy, in scenes, and business which would have appalled older, and more experienced heads. Just before the battle of White Plains in 1776, young Bradley being then only nine years old, was employed by Gen. Washington to enter the British camp as a spy. He took an old horse, and putting a load of grain on his back, got astride of it himself. and boldly passed within the British lines under pretence of going to mill. He was arrested, as he expected to be, and taken to the British camp for examination. Here, without exhibiting any unusual curiosity, he observed all that wan going on. A long consultation was held by the officers, as to what should be done with him, but young Brad­ley acted the "fanny Raw," so completely that they finally dis­missed him  thinking him more fool than spy. As he was leaving one of the officers remarked:—" I believe the little devil will betray us." The mill boy made his way back to the American camp with the desired information. In 1801, in company with Belden, and Simeon Crane, (since then of Shalersville) he remov­ed to Canfield, Mahoning county. They left Salisbury on the 14th of June 1801, and arrived in Canfield in August of that year. —He remained in Canfield till 180.5, when he removed to Suffield, Portage county, and settled on what is known as the old Kent farm. Having remained in Suffield a little over a year, he removed to Springfield, and settled on lot 12, in what is now Mogadore, where he has ever since resided.

     When he came into Canfield but little could be obtained, North West of the Ohio River, to alleviate hunger, except by the chase. Wheat and flour were brought, on pack horses, from Georgetown, on the Ohio; and salt was an unknown article. In 1802 Bradley went to Georgetown for breadstuff, but was unable to get a pound of flour, or meal. A man there had raised a little wheat, and Bradley got the privilege of pounding out some, with which he started home through the woods. On his way back, and when a­bout thirteen miles south of Canfield, his horse was taken sick, and he was compelled to camp out in the woods. He hitched his horse, and for his own security climbed a tree. Soon after dark the wolves surrounded him, determined to have him, or his horse. Bradley was not disposed to surrender either, and descending from the tree he procured a good club with which he stood sentry over his horse, and cargo of wheat. As the wolves would come near him he would strike at them and they would retreat. Near morn­ing, one, more brave than the rest, came so near that he hit him over the head. The fellow sounded a retreat, and the rest follow­ed with tremendous yells.

     In 1807, soon after Bradley moved into Springfield, he was fol­lowed by Benjamin Baldwin, Nathan More, and Ruben Tupper, all of whom were originally from Salisbury, from which they removed to Canfield. Baldwin settled just across the Town line West from the Kent farm, where he died in 1847.

     John Hall 2d, and his brother, came into Springfield in 1807, and purchased the farm on which he now lives. He was then about eighteen years old, his brother was still younger. He built the log cabin, near the spring, in front of his present house, which is still standing. At that time there was not a road, to or from his house. As Indians were plenty be and his brother dare not sleep in the house, hut, at night, would make up a fire, in the house, and then take their guns, and go into cornfield, to sleep; stationing themselves so that they could see any one entering the door. In this manner they passed the first summer and fall.

     Robert Hall, from Westmoreland county, Pa., moved into Springfield the same year, and settled on the farm lately owned by Henry G. Weaver, between Middlebury and Mogadore. He died in the summer of 1808, by the bursting of a blood vessel, and was the first person that died in the Township, He was buried in the grave yard North East of Middlebury.

     The first white child born in the Township was Jane Hall, a daughter of Robert Hall, who married, and is now living, a widow, in Indiana. She was born in 1809.

     The first marriage in the township was in 1810. John Hall, a son of Robert, to Margaret Blair. They both died in Huron' county.

     In 1812 Randolph, Suffield, Springfield, Tallmadge, formed one Township, and furnished one military company, of which Bala Hubbard was Captain, Ariel Bradley Lieutenant, and Aaron West-ton, Ensign. Weston was also Ensign of the Company of volun­teers under Captain John Campbell, who were surrendered by General Hull.

     After Hull's surrender a draft was made, and eight were taken from Springfield :—Joseph D. Baird, John Hall, Timothy Hol­comb, Alaxander Hall, James Baird, Lee More, Nathaniel De-haven, and Martin Willis, who went as a substitute. They belonged to the company commanded by Captain Lusk, of Hudson Lieutenant Holcomb, of Hudson, resigned to John Cairis, of Roots­town, who was second Lieutenant. Hiram King, formerly of' Mid­dlebury, was Ensign. They belonged to the Regiment commanded by Col. Rayen, of Youngstown, in the Brigade of Gen. Simon Per­kins.

     Joseph D. Baird, Timothy Holcomb, Nathaniel Dehaven, and Lee More are yet living. John Hall died in Huron county: Alex­ander Hall died at camp Huron. James Baird died at La Grange, Indiana, and Martin Willis died on his way home, at Tinker's Creek.

     On the return of the wreck of Hull's army, after his surrender at Detroit, the "Ohio volunteers," under Col's. Cass, and Mc Arthur passed through Springfield, and encamped on the bank of the river near the south end of the bridge at "Clinton's mill." Samuel Elliott, the father of John, and Jehu Elliott, who then lived where Jehu Elliott now does, measured off half an acre of green corn, and turned it out to the Soldiers, who picked and roasted it for their suppers. The following year Major Croghan, when going on to the lines with his command, encamped on the same ground.

     At that time Doctor Joseph DeWolf, of Ravenna, was the only practising Physician, except Dr. Ashmun of Hudson between Cleveland and Canfield. DeWolf being a Democrat, and a strong supporter of the war, could do no less then attend on the sick, and wounded Soldiers, as they were returning from what, to them was worse then sickness: Hulls disgraceful surrender. He rode night and day, in performing that unpaid office of humanity.—The poor soldiers owe him a debt of gratitude, and his country ought to compensate him. Many a political brawler has received thousands of Dollars for far less meritorious service than that per­formed by Dr. DeWolf in relieving the sick of the "Ohio Volunteers." Whatever may become of the pecuniary obligation of this Government to him, let not the debt of gratitude be cancelled by the Statue of limitation.

The last of June 1812 a report came into Springfield that the Greentown Indians had unburied the hatchet, and were approach­ing the settlement. The inhabitants made arrangements for pro­tecting themselves and the more exposed left the Township for a more secure location.

     Mrs. Henry Chittendon, who then living on the Brittan farm, was forgotten in the excitement, and remained, with her little children, alone, and unprotected, till the rumor was ascertained to be groundless.

     After the surrender of Hail, a "press" was made on the inhab­tants, for horses, for the use of the Government.

     David Preston, of Tallmadge, and others, were in the employ of the United States, collecting horses, in Springfield. The Rev. Mr. Beers of Springfield had five horses when the " press gang" called on him. He agreed if they would not take any of his that he would pilot them to the shanty of Hall, where they could get a first rate one. They accordingly let the Priest off, and he pilot­ed them through the woods to Hall's. Just as the "press" got into the clearing of Hall, to catch his horse, he happened to come home, and thinking he had a better right to the horse than the United States, he let down the bars, and started his horse into the woods, and thus saved his property.

     Springfield was organized on the first Monday of April, 1808.—It was then a part of Trumbull county, the first entry in the rec­ords of the Township being:

     "At a meeting held in the Township of Springfield, County of Trumbull, and State of Ohio." Springfield then embraced not only what is now Springfield, but also Randolph and Suffield in Portage county, and Tallmadge, Portage, and Coventry in Summit.

     At the election, on the day of the organization, Josiah Ward, of what is now Raudolph, was one of the Judges; Jonathan Foster of what is now Mantua, Clerk ; John Goss, of Randolph, and Ben­jamin Baldwin, of Springfield, and Stephen Upson of Tallmadge, Trustees.

     On the 13th of March, 1809, Benjamin Baldwin was sworn in as Justice of the Peace, being the first Justice elected in the Town­ship. Joseph Harris, now of Harrisville, Medina county, held over by virtue of an election prior to the organization of the Township.

     As a specimen of the mode of doing business in those days, I offer the following extract from the Town Record:

     "At a meeting of the Trustees on the first Monday in March, in the year of our Lord 1810, they settled with all and balanced accounts; supervisor James McCormic, excepted. Found due from him two dollars forty cents, for which said James gave his note, payable in labor on some county road in Springfield on, or before the first of April next, at the rate of sixty-two and a half cents per day."

     The first school in the township was taught by Reuben Upson it the winter of 1812. The school house stood near Cass' camping ground.

     In mineral and agricultural wealth, Springfield stands one of the first Townships in the county. Stone coal is abundant, but the beds have not been worked sufficiently to afford a complete test of their yield. But the great mineral wealth of the Township consists in the Potter's clay from which stone ware is manufac­tured.

     Immense amounts of the clay are carried to other States, and even to Canada. In fixing a tariff of duties, for Canada, John Bull laid a heavy duty on Stone ware manufactured in the States, but not on clay. The enterprising Yankees came it over him by carrying the clay to Canada, and manufacturing it there.

     There are twelve potteries in operation in Springfield, which average, annually, 500,000 gallons of manufactured Stone ware, which is worth five cents a gallon. As the clay is inexhaustible other potteries will spring up as the call for the manufactured article increases.

     The Little Cuyahoga River, which runs through this Township, affords some fine mill sites. One branch of it having its rise in Suffield Lake, and the other in Springfield Lake, the flood of water is generally very uniform. To secure a full supply of water, at all times, a company in Middlebury, a few years ago, got a special Act of the Legislature authorizing them to raise Springfield Lake six feet, and lower it four, from its natural level. As the surface of this Lake is about a mile in diameter this rise and fall affords a sufficient supply on which to draw when other sources fail. The right is now owned by the mill owners in Akron.

     In the spring of the year, just before the breaking up of the ice on the Springfield Lake, there is often heard a peculiar moaning sound, that is audible, at times for miles. The first time it was noticed was in 1813, by James McKnight, while out hunting.—He, supposing it to be some huge animal, started with his gun, and little boy, now Francis McKnight of Springfield, in pursuit. The sound appeared to be near the outlet, at the North East part of the Lake. In crossing the Lake, on the ice, when near the deepest part, it being very dark he stepped into an "air hole" and went entirely under, but holding on to his rifle, which reach.. ed across the hole, he drew himself out by it, and thus saved him­self. The longest cords that have been tried, or that can be procured, cannot sound the Lake in its deepest parts. A. few years ago a Steamboat was placed on it for pleasure, but it did not pay expenses.

     As a wheat growing Township Springfield " can't be beat"— The soil is generally a rich, black, sandy loam, and an industri­ous, hardy population have given much of it the appearance of a garden.