Daniel Hatch, brother of Rufus, came with his family in 1822, and in the fall of 1824 bought out Stephen Webb on the opposite corner where Clement F. Eaton now lives, March 4, 1825, Mr. Hatch had a son born and because it was the day of the Inauguration of Hon. John Quincy Adams, he called his child John Quincy Hatch. These two brothers on these two corners of the roads, gave the name to the place of Hatches' Corners. He has filled the offices of assessor, Constable, and Justice of the Peace. Daniel lived here until he went west about twelve years ago.
Later Woodbury Hatch bought the farm where Lyman Brewster now lives, and sold to Mr. Brewster that he might return to the homestead of his father, Captain Rufus Hatch, the present home of O. G. Clark, and take care of his father and mother in their age. Here he remained until his removal to Yellow Springs, Ohio, near Antioch College.
Colonel Samuel Eaton of Tunbridge, Vt., moved to Meadville, Pa., where with his family he remained a few years, but in the spring of 1822 came to Monroe, and, having bought of Stephen Webb the south-west corner, 50 acres lying next to the east and west road which divides it from Daniel Hatch's, took up his residence in the block-house built by Mr. Webb near where now stands the two story house just sold by his son Samuel Jr., to Mr. Hazon. Mr. Eaton brought a family of four sons, James, David and John, Twins, and Samuel Jr., and one daughter, Eloner, and the two older daughters having married before coming. Mr. Eaton in Vt., was Justice of the Peace eight years, also in Monroe, Ohio, six.
Elisha Spaulding, Sr. of Chelsea, Vt., settled in Monroe on the present farm of Alonzo Ferguson, in 1826. He purchased lands of Mr. Peck of Conneaut.
His family consisted of wife, three sons, Elisha, Sr., Soloman, and Josiah, who became a preacher, and three daughters, Cynthia, Abigail, and Urana.
So numerous were the newcomers in these few years that nearly all the land in this part of Monroe was taken.
And if we were to atop for a moment to contemplate the ability of these early settlers we should be compelled to say that an abler class of citizens never had the fortune to fall Into rank and file with each other than those who came to reside south of Farnham�s Mill and Conneaut Creek, for about two miles of that territory. They were among the most stirring, enterprising people of New England, the land of steady habits. The Hickses, Elys, Durkees, Hatches, Colbys, Abbotts, Datons, Spauldlngs, and Kelloggs. All master men for their place and condition. They knew how to wield the ax, roll the logs, guide the plow, thrust In the sickle, put up the buildings, and meet any emergency of a new country. They had physical force to push on things to final success.
And now, lest we. In our abundance, should forget the simplicity of those early times, let us for once enter Into one of their dwellings. Here we find the kitchen, dining-hall, sitting-room, parlor, bed and dressing-rooms all in one apartment. Their chairs are three-legged stools, their sofas, tow blocks of wood with a board laid across, their cupboards, two or three boards lying on wooden pins driven into the logs which constituted the wall. Their table, a dry goods box, their set of crockery, one large pewter platter set In the middle of the table from which every member, with knife and fork helped himself. Their bread plate, a loaf passed around, from which each cut his own slice; their goblets and tea set, a gourd passed from one to the other out of which all drank. If was useless and extravagant for each guest to have his own butter plate or wooden trencher, tea cups or saucers. It was out of fashion to be served with a set of china ware. Our fathers and mothers dared to make their own fashions rather than to send to France, and to make their own furniture rather than to employ other hand. Everyone was at liberty to cut out a way of his own and do what was right In his own eyes. The things of prime Importance were studied economy, paying for the land and getting a start in the world. Instead of the ornamentals they looked for the substantial, as the essential parts of life. Always putting their first foot forward, they made things pass with a relish when otherwise they would have hung with a weight. So animated were they with every new object, so brave amid exposures and dangers, that they appeared happier in the wilderness with their scanty means, than now often, with their superabundance.
The early settlers felt ambitious to do exceedingly well for themselves and send back to their eastern friends cheering words of their prosperity. However hard might be their present fare, they were full of the expectation that in the end their removal to Ohio would prove a great blessing. The land was full of the raw material, and only the diligent hand of the artisan was needed to bring it out. Nowhere in nature has man found better. Hence, all of their letters partook largely of the future. They were living in bright anticipation. True, they had no costly dwellings, but they had all the essential for building. Their lands were not cleared but they had a goodly number of acres girdled and they soon would be.
The crops had not come in bountifully, but much seed had been sown, and the soil was productive and they should reap. Their stock did not consist of large numbers, yet they had enough for the present, and Ohio was going to be the great stock raising state. And as for swine, there was an overflowing fullness. And although in the Spring, the old and the young needed some care, yet in the Autumn whole droves could be turned loose in the woods and fattened on shack. Acorns, chestnuts, beechnuts, and other wild fruits would make their pork. There were no discouragements which were not more than overbalanced by encouragements. Living, in the future, they put on a goodly spirit, moved with a nimble step, bore a strong arm for toll, whistled lively airs, and sung the music of newborn joy. They drew largely on the imagination and sometimes told in a vein of pleasantry, fabulous stories of the new state. Expressive of the great plenty, the story would run that pork was so ample that pigs were often seen ready-cooked, with knife and fork stuck in their backs, running about, not infrequently meeting the new comer with the ever welcome words "appease you appetite."
With a view to appear very thriving in the new country, the writer has heard Mr. Ralph Wright, from time to time with a playful smile on his countenance, tell the story of his neighbor who assumed to have a very large flock of sheep, wolves being so plenty, they could not in safety be left out of the fold over night. Hence the driving of them into the
enclosure every evening became a part of the choring. A friend from the east called to make a visit and stay for the night. At the usual time of choring the neighbor sent his little boy to herd his sheep; when on his return he inquired if he had taken care of them, to which he replied that he had. The father inquired if they had gone in readily, and the
son replied "Yes, sir." But to make it appear to his friend that he had a great many head, he pressed his inquiry, saying, "Are you sure that you got all of them?" "Yes", said the little boy, "I saw them both as they Jumped over the bars." The last question disclosed too fully the fact that his flock was very small.