TWINSBURGH

     Which is Township Five, in the Tenth Range, was originally owned by several proprietors—Mills and Hoadly owned the South and South-east wardly part—Henry Champion the West and North-westwardly part, and Moses and Aaron Wilcox the North and North-eastwardly part.

     The township took its name from Moses and Aaron Wilcox, who were Twins, and gave name to the town. They came from North Killingsworth, Connecticut, on 1823; the township at their request, having been named in 1819—and for the honor of giving it a name they gave six acres,. at the center, for a public square, and $20 in money to improve it. Previous to their naming it, it was call­ed Millsville.

     They were born on the 11th of May, 1771; married sisters; Huldah and Mabel Lord, of Killingsworth, and died within a few hours of each other, at the center of this town ; and were buried in the same grave—at the age of 57.

     In early life they so resembled each other that none but their most intimate friends could distinguish between them. They married sisters—had an equal number of children—held all their property in common—wrote alike—tho't alike—looked alike —and were taken sick on the same day—with the same disease—died on the same day, and were buried in the same grave.

     The first settlement was made by Ethan Ailing, Esq., on the 24th of April, 1817. He came into the township, when a boy of 16, from New Haven, Connecticut. He brought on three hired men, and commenced keeping house, or rather Bachelor's hall, and was the only settler till the 28th of May, when Maj. Elisha Loomis, and E.W. Mather, arrived from New Haven, for the purpose of commencing a settlement on the Mills and Hoadly tract. They settled in the South-east part of the town, at what is since known as Loomis Mills.

     Major Loomis is an old salt, having sailed round the world twice in the ship Oneida. It was this ship—in one of its voyages—that brought Henry Obakiah and Thomas Happo, from the Sandwich Islands to Connecticut, where they were educated at the Cornwall Mission School.

     He is now anchored in Hudson.

     On the first of July, Ezra Osborn with his family, arrived, and settled in the West part of the town. Mrs. Osborn was the first, female settler in the township.

     On the 7th of July, Lewis Alling, the father of Ethan, arrived with his family, and soon after Samuel Vail, Luman Lane, Zeno Parmele, E. Bronson, and the twin Wilcoxes arrived.

     The first principal settlement was made on the Wilcox tract, by settlers from North Killingsworth. Most of them purchased their land and paid for it while it was encumbered by a Mortgage from the Wilcoxes to the State of Connecticut. The Wilcoxes, though men of irreproachable character, and engaged in what was sup­posed to be a lucrative business, were unfortunate, and unable to pay off the mortgage. This caused the land to revert to the State of Connecticut, and left the occupants, who had purchased in good faith, and paid for it, in an embarrassing situation.  This state of uncertainty, and embarrassment continued for a long time, and retarded the growth of the township, until the Rev. Mr. Bissell, favorably known throughout the Reserve for his philanthropy in the cause of Indian education, took the matter in hand; and by his intercession with the Commissioner of the Connecticut School fund, procured a favorable consideration of their case, and prompt and honorable relief.

     This difficulty, by driving settlers from the Wilcox tract, caused a more rapid settlement on the Mills and Homily tract, and also on the Champion tract.

     The first election was in April, 1819. Frederick Stanley and Samuel Vail, are the only voters, at that election, now remaining. At the October election, of that year, Samuel Vail and Lewis Ail­ing were elected the first Justices.

     The first death that occurred in the township was an infant child of Reuben Chamberlin's, which died in the spring of 1819. On the 23d of November, 1819, Maria Stanley was born, who was the first white child born in the township. She is now the wife of Rev. Mr. Bxrxon of Ripley, Brown County, Ohio.

     Previous to 1828 a small Congregational church had collected; and having given Rev. Samuel Bissell, then a young licentiate, a call to become their Pastor, on the 2nd Sabbath in January, 1828 he preached the first sermon in the township. He was, subse­quently, on the 28th of April, 1823, ordained, and installed Pas­tor of the Church; and entered upon his duties without any reasonable hope of any adequate compensation. He removed from Aurora to Twinsburgh, on the 18th of April, 1828, taking with him four young men as the nucleus of his intended High School. A log cabin was their residence, and a miserable log Blacksmith's shop their Academy. One of those four that formed the nucleus of the Twinsburgh Seminary, is H. B. Spelman, one of the leading merchants of Akron, and lately an able member of the State Legislature; another is William C. Bissell. the founder and superintendent of a respectable and useful Female Seminary in Ripley, Brown Co., Ohio ; another is Samuel Heacox, a respectable farmer in Aurora; and the other is S. Case, a respectable farmer in Rootstown. The Collegiate Blacksmith's shop, in which they met, was half a mile west of the center, on the site of the resi­dence of John Smith.

     To encourage, and stimulate the youth to acquire an education, Mr. Bissell requested all to attend, and if any felt unable to pay, it should be free of charge. The encouragement thus given to the cause of education, good order, and what was useful, was most happy in its results. The school which commenced in such a humble manner, has arisen to average, for the last several years over 300 scholars, annually; and the whole number educated at this Institution has been 3,430. The effect has been to give the inhabitants a decidedly intellectual character, and the good morals of the town are proverbial Intelligence, sobriety, morality and industry, have given the town an enviable rank in the County.—The staple articles are butter, cheese, cattle ; in which it ranks, if not the first, at least not the second in the county. Their wealth has materially aided the construction of a plank road from Cleve­land through Twinsburgh to Hudson. The Cleveland and Pittsburgh railroad runs through a part of the town: and another plank road is contemplated to Warren. The town has five stores; three steam saw-mills; two carriage shops, and other smaller mechanical establishments. There are also four respectable houses of religious worship— 1 for Congregationalists; 1 for the regular Baptists; 1 for Methodists, and 1 for free-will Baptists; Ethan Alling, started the first store in July, 1830.

     Extensive beds of free-stone are in the township, which are worked, and the products carried on the railroad to Cleveland and elsewhere as needed.

     The Institution under the charge of Rev. Mr. Bissell, is in a most flourishing condition. There is now, in place of the old blacksmith shop, an extensive building on the S. E. corner of the public square, sufficient to accommodate 75 boarders, and 250 schol­ars. It is divided into three departments for ladies and gentle­men Mr. Bissell is Proprietor and Principal, assisted by 6 to 7 assistants; who give instruction in all the branches of science taught in the Eastern Seminaries. A good library is attached to the Institution, and efforts are now making to supply the various apparatus adequate to the wants of the Institution.

     Among the beneficiaries of this Institution, have been forty-three Indians, of the Seneca, Ottawa, Pattawatomie and Ojibway tribes. The first Indian that was induced to abandon his forest home, and procure an education, was Peter Wilson, a Seneca.—He became a good scholar, and was " skilled in all the arts " pe­culiar to his race. He intended to take a classical course, and fit himself for the highest usefulness; but the fond hopes of him­self and friends were blasted by the consequences of his own gen­erosity, and human feelings. While at this school, a young man of the village, by the name of Thompson, in attempting to swim across the creek in a freshet, was drowned. Peter was first on the ground, and being an expert swimmer, plunged in, regardless of his own health and safety. He remained so long in the water that it destroyed his health, and he was obliged to abandon his favorite pursuit of knowledge. He returned to his tribe, and his health being somewhat improved, he became interpreter to a Missionary, among his people. He was subsequently appointed

     Chief, and took an active part in opposing the sale of the Indian lands ; and failing in this, when nothing more could be done, he procured an amended treaty, by which two of the five reservations were reserved for the remnant of his people, who refused to emigrate.

     News reached him, after a while, that that portion of his people that emigrated west were starving. Though they acted contrary to his advice, and were suffering the consequences of their own folly. Peter flew to a source from which he hoped to obtain relief for them. He applied to the New York Legislature, but they were too busy to attend to him. He then went to Washington and laid the matter before the proper authorities, but they had no appropriation out of which to aid him. He then went to New York City and laid the matter before the Historical Society in so interesting and affecting mariner, that they raised several thousand dollars, and he was made the almoner to his people, whom he relieved, and restored to their former homes.

     Two years since when the reform party of his nation wished to abolish the chiefdom, and establish a Republic, he was chosen in opposition to the conservative, or chief party, to represent them in the New York Legislature, where he appeared; and by his manly eloquence gained his point—and his nation was recog­nized as a part of the Republic,—and authorized to receive their portion of the public money for the education of their youth.

     At the celebration of the completion of the New York and Erie Railroad, Peter was present, and delivered one of the most inter­esting addresses that were made on the occasion. Mr. Lodor, Superintendent of the road, remarked that he would cheerfully exchange what skill he had in engineering for the eloquence of Peter. That was the first of the race educated at Twinsburgh.

     Mack-a-de-benessi or Blackbird, an Ottawa, who was received into this Institution about five years ago, and left it about a year since, was a direct descendant of Pontiac, the greatest chief the Indians ever had, unless we except Philip and Tecumseh. In a letter recently received from him it appears that lie, too, is labor­ing for the good of his people, in trying to introduce them to the arts of civilized life, and obtaining for them the rights of American Citizens. He says: I left Traverse Bay the last of Feb­ruary, 1851, and went on snow-shoes to Saginaw Bay, on my way to the capital of Michigan, with petitions from my people to become citizens of the State. I appeared before the Governor, and officers of the state, and obtained the passage of a joint res­olution of both Houses, in favor of the petitions."

     Just before he left the Institution he addressed a letter to a friend, from which I make the following extracts as specimens of his feelings, in view of the condition of his race:

TWINSBURGH, May 15, 1850

DEAR Sir:—It was with great pleasure and jay I received your letter within the past few days: and have been greatly in­terested, indeed, in your bewailing remarks en the character and condition of our benighted brethren, who, as a remnant of a once numerous tribe, arc now spread over the North-western part of Michigan. I feel, as' well as you, for our poor brethren, buried in sorrows and in tears, and enshrouded as to their future prospects—in gloom. It is enough to break down the stoutest spit its.

* * * I wish to know the result of the treaty made in 1836; and I ask what profit have we derived from converting our valuable soil, and beloved native home, into specie? Noth­ing and worse than nothing. Our people have been divided and subdivided. Some have fled to Canada to find shelter under the British Crown. All forms of wickedness and vice have been brought upon us, and resulted in ruin to both body and soul, as a consequence of the treaty. Our people have indulged in the excessive use of intoxicating liquors, which has caused much dis­content and discouragement, and has proved a serious obstacle in the way of improving their conditions; which did not exist previous to the treaty. This treaty was made through the ig­norance of our people. They have been cheated out of their lands by the crafty and cunning management of the pale faces. Land enough was not left to our people on which to spread a blanket. True, some of our people were pious and good, but they were not wise.

     Do not suppose I have taken this view of the subject from the knowledge I have obtained from the whites. I had thoughts, and correct knowledge of many things, before I had educational training. I have only learned to express my thoughts better, and especially in a stranger language. I have always felt for my people as I now do—and have loved my country and my brethren as far back as my memory extends.

     To remain in ignorance I could no longer endure, and be con­tented. I- was much troubled in my heart. The more I reflected the more clearly I saw the condition of my beloved country, and the doings of the whites to my countrymen. In vain I sought for amusements that I might be free from my wretched heart.— I was not in the least relieved from my trouble ; everything spoke a sad language to me, as my reasoning powers became matured and stronger. In solitude I sat on the shore of Michigan, while the glorious sun, sinking in the vast region of waters darted his radiant beams upon the sleepy expanse, as in the days of my boy-hood when I sat upon the banks of the Musking­um, with my little companions, enjoying our forest home."