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South Ridge is another small village, situated in the south part of the township. There is at this place a store, post-office, hotel, church, school-house, cheese-factory, flouring-mill, and blacksmith-shop.
The Free-Will Baptist church located here was organized December 30, 1826, by Rev. Samuel Wise. The meeting for organization was held at the house of Appollus Thompson. Their meetings were held in union with other denominations until the year 1837, when the church edifice was erected, at a cost of two thousand dollars. The pastors have been as follows: Revs. Samuel Wire, Abram Shearer, D. M. L. Rollin, Stephen Bathrick, F. W. Straight, Rufus Clark, M. R. Kenney, William M. Yates, T. P. Moulton, R. E. Anderson, A. F. Bryant, F. B. Herrick, J. R. Spencer, and L. C. Chase. The longest pastorate was that of Rev. Rufus Clark, who served thirteen years. The church is at present without a regular pastor. At one time the membership reached one hundred and fifty, but at present it numbers but fifty-four.
Conneaut township was organized in the spring of 1804. It was the first organized township in the county, and bore the name of Salem until the winter of 1832-33, when it was changed to Conneaut, which name had previously been given to the creek and to the post-office.
The territory originally embraced, in addition to the present limits of the township, a tract two miles wide off of the north part of the present township of Monroe. This was taken off of Conneaut and given to Monroe at the time of the organization of that township in the year 1818.
The first township meeting was held at the house of Nathan King, and the following officers elected: James Montgomery, clerk; James Harper, Nathan King, and William Ferguson, trustees; Hananiah Brooks and Joseph Tubbs, poor-masters; David Niles, John King, and James Montgomery, supervisors of highways; Seth Harrington and James Ferguson, fence-viewers, Levi Montgomery, constable; James Harper, town treasurer.
Since the first year the following-named citizens have served as officers:
Trustees. -- 1805, James Harper, Elisha King, Daniel Sawtelle; 1806, James Montgomery, William Ferguson, Gideon Leet; 1807, James Harper, David Niles, William Perrin; 1808, Josiah Brown, John Montgomery, David Niles; 1809, William Ferguson, James Harper, Nathan King; 1810, Nathan King, James Harper, Daniel Sawtelle; 1811, James Harper, David Miles, Zadoc Thompson; 1812, Nehemiah King, Daniel Sawtelle, Joseph Tubbs ; 1813, David Niles, Sr., Seth Thompson, Joseph Tubbs; 1814, David Niles, Seth Thompson, Josiah Brown; 1815, Diocletion Wright, Joab Green, Amos Kellogg; 1816, Eli Sanford, James Harper, Josiah Brown, Jr.; 1817, Jacob Williams, Henry Smith, Jonathan Gilbert; 1818, Lemuel Jones, Horace Dean, Eli Sanford; 1819, Elias Clark, Josiah Brown, Jr., Daniel Sawtelle; 1820, Joshua Z. Cozzens, Peck Clark, Edward Fifield; 1821, same; 1822, Edward Fifield, Joshua Z. Cozzens, Lemuel Jones; 1823, Josiah Brown, Jr., Seth Thompson, Nathaniel B. Harmon; 1824, Aaron Wright, Henry Smith, Daniel Baldwin; 1825, James Harper, Henry Smith, Israel A. Robinson; 1826, James Harper, John Bean, Nathaniel Brooks; 1827, Nathaniel B. Harmon, Nathaniel Brooks, John Bean; 1828, David Steel, Nathaniel Brooks, John Brooks; 1829, Appollus Thompson, Samuel Kennedy, William Harper; 1830, William Harper, William F. Clark, Appollus Thompson; 1831, William Harper, Chester Sanford, Theophilus Sanborn; 1832, William Harper, Theophilus Sanborn, Henry Smith; 1833, Henry Smith, Asa Jacobs, William Harper; 1834, William Brooks, Moses Smith, Jonathan Gilbert; 1835, Chester Sanford, Appollus Thompson, William Harper; 1836, same; 1837, Chester Sanford, Elisha Farnham, Jonathan Gilbert; 1838, William Harper, Chester Sanford, Elisha Farnham; 1839, William Harper, Appollus Thompson, P. W. Grant; 1840, John Reid, Chester Sanford, Thomas Gibson; 1841, Thomas Gibson, H. G. Walker, Samuel Blakeslee; 1842, Thomas Gibson, Samuel Blakeslee, Clement Gilbert; 1843, Reuben Sanborn, Clement Gilbert, William G. Sawtelle; 1844, William Harper, W. G. Sawtelle, William Brooks; 1845, Thomas Gibson, John Reid, Chester Sanford; 1846, Elisha Farnham, Hiram Wood, Erastus Hulett; 1847, Otho Laughlin, Hiram Wood, Ira White; 1848, Erastus Hulett, Alfred Buss, Nelson Burington; 1849, same; 1850, Clement Gilbert, Thomas Gibson, Davis Phillips; 1851, Alfred Buss, Nelson Burington, G. V. Eastman; 1852, Nelson Burington, John Judd, William Harper; 1853, Nelson Burington, John Judd, Thomas Gibson; 1854, Nelson Burington, Thomas Gibson, Benjamin Harper; 1855, Henry Putney, Erastus Hulett, Harvey Hubbard; 1856, Henry Putney, O. L. Huston, John H. Kilburn; 1857, Henry Putney, O. L. Huston, Charles Benton; 1858, Henry Putney, O. L. Huston, William Harper; 1859, G. V. Eastman, O. L. Huston, William Harper; 1860, same; 1861, O. L. Huston, G. V. Eastman, Benjamin Harper; 1862, G. V. Eastman, Benjamin Harper, A. C. Dibble; 1863, Benjamin Harper, A. C. Dibble, N. B. Payne; 1864, A. C. Dibble, N. B. Payne, Henry Grant; 1865, same; 1866, A. C. Dibble, Silas Greene, N. B. Payne; 1867, J. D. Ransom, G. V. Eastman, N. B. Payne; 1868 to 1876 inclusive, J. D. Ransom, O. L. Huston, and Hugh Laughlin.
Township Clerks. -- 1805, James Montgomery; 1806, Thomas Hambleton; 1807, John Reynolds; 1808-10, Nehemiah King; 1811-13, J. D. Jackson; 1814, John Rudd; 1816-17, Lemuel Jones; 1818, David Niles, Jr.; 1819-20, Henry Keyes; 1821-23, John Bean; 1824-25, Chancey Fifield; 1826, Wm. G. Sawtelle; 1827, F. H. Carter, appointed; 1828, Wm. G. Sawtelle; 1829, Zaphna Lake; 1830-33, Wm. Brooks; 1834, Benj. P. Fifield; 1835-36, Josiah Brown, Jr.; 1837, Loren Gould; 1838 to '43 inclusive, S. W. Grant; 1844, George Morton; 1845, Stephen R. Bradley; 1846, Samuel P. Fenton; 1847, George Morton; 1848-49, Niles Osborn; 1850, S. R. Bradley; 1851, Milo Osborn; 1852-54, J. Q. Farmer; 1855, Thomas Graham; 1856, E. Huntington; 1857-59, Loren Gould; 1860, Charles Hunt; 1861 to '70 inclusive, Loren Gould; 1871, E. A. Higgins; 1872 to the present time, Loren Gould.
Township Treasurers. -- 1805, James Harper; 1806, Walter Fobes; 1807, Zachariah Olmstead; 1808 to '13 inclusive, Elisha King; 1814, Joab Green; 1815, Daniel Coffin; 1816, Jonathan Gilbert; 1817, Edward Fifield; 1818, James Harper; 1819, Eli Sanford; 1820, Eliazer Peck; 1821 to '28 inclusive, Dr. John Venen; 1829, Cada Simons; 1830 to '39 inclusive, Dr. John Venen; 1840, Asa Jacobs; 1841, Oliver Barr; 1842 to '50, Thomas Swain; 1851, David Steele, Jr.; 1853, Wm. G. Sawtelle; 1853-54, A. C. Keyes; 1855, Gilbert Webster; 1856-59 inclusive, T. B. Rice; 1860, J. H. Kilburn; 1861-65, T. B. Rice; 1866-69, C. Gansevoort; 1870, E. A. Keyes; 1871 to '77 inclusive, D. P. Venen; 1878, B. E. Thayer.
Listers. -- l808, James Montgomery; 1809, John Montgomery; 1810-11, Nehemiah King; 1812-13, Zadoc Thompson; 1814, Joab Green; 1815, Lemuel Jones; 1816, John Brooks; 1817-18, Daniel Sawtelle; 1819, Joshua Z. Cozzens; 1820, David Niles, Jr.; 1822, Lemuel Jones; 1824, John Brooks; 1825, Samuel Blakeslee ; 1826, Lemuel Jones.
Assessors. -- 1841, Daniel Hatch; 1842-43, John H, Robinson; 1844, Ira White; 1845, Martin H. Collins; 1846-48, N. B. Harmon; 1819, J. H. Kilburn; 1850-53, Daniel Hatch; 1854, Harmon Kilburn; 1855-56, Calvin Crane; 1857, Andrew Bagley; 1858-59, Geo. S. Cleveland; 1860, Calvin Crane; 1861, Z. L. Wood; 1862, Elizur P. Grant; 1863-65, G. V. Eastman; 1866-67, Calvin Crane; 1868, Henry H. Hunt; 1869, Samuel Hazeltine; 1870 to '76 inclusive, A. C. Dibble; 1877-78, Edwin Hicks.
Justices of the Peace. -- It has been impossible for us to obtain a complete list of the justices of Conneaut, but among the number have been the following. Nathan King, commissioned in 1806; Josiah Brown, 1810; James Montgomery, 1811; Nehemiah King, 1811,'14 Zadoc Thompson, 1813; Aaron Wright, 1814; Amos Kellogg, 1816; John Beall, 1817, '20, '23; Eli Sanford, 1818; Elias Keyes, 1820; Joel Jones, 1821; Lemuel Jones, 1823, '26; Peleg Bowen, 1823; Lewis Thayer, 1853; Alexander R. Chase, 1824; Israel A. Robinson, 1828; Asa Jacobs, 1830, 33; George Morton, 1831, '42; Stephen P. Taylor, 1832; Wm. G. Sawtelle, 1835 ; S. F. Taylor, 1836, '39; Joseph Wilson, 1837; G. V. Eastman, 1838; Moses Smith, 1839; Elisha Farnham, 1839, '41, '45, '48; Brewster Randall, 1840; Hiram Wood, 1842, '45, '48, '51; Horace Wilder, 1845; Samuel P. Fenton, 1845, '48, '57, '60; Benj. Carpenter, 1850; John H. Kilburn, 1850; Zaphna Lake, 1851, '54; J. Q. Farmer, 1852; Thomas Graham, 1854; A.C. Dibble, 1854, '57, '61, '64, '67, 70, 73, '76; Hiram Judson, 1854; Wm. B. Chapman, 1855; Eber Sanford, 1857, '60, '63; Otis Burgess, 1857, '71; Henry G. Thurber, 1861, '64, '67, '70; C. R. Goddard, 1863; T. J. Carlin, 1863; B. B. Smith, 1870, '76; Austin Jennings, 1869, '72, '75, '78; S. B. Atwood, 1871; D. G. Waite, 1873; L. I. Baldwin, 1876.
Wheat ... 568 acres. 7,043 bushels.
Oats ... 891 acres. 26,742 bushels.
Corn ... 846 acres. 54,356 bushels.
Potatoes ... 331 acres. 19,860 bushels.
Orcharding ... 358 acres. 26,450 bushels.
Meadow ... 2327 acres. 3,390 tons.
Maple-sugar ... ... 20,831 pounds.
Butter ... ... 61,465 pounds.
Cheese ... ... 105,070 pounds.
Number of school-houses, 12; valuation, $9000; amount paid teachers, $1450.25; number of schol[ars], 492.
Vote for President in 1876, Hayes, 571, Tilden, 170.
Population in 1870 of township and village, 3010.
The act of incorporation bears date in year 1834, but at what time the first survey was made cannot be ascertained, for the reason that the village records [162] have been lost or destroyed. This fact produces a great deal of embarrassment in our efforts to obtain reliable data in regard to the early history of the village.
The first mayor of Conneaut was Dr. Samuel L. Fenton, who was elected in the spring of 1834. There was a survey made in the year 1837, Mr. Wm. W. Wallace being the surveyor. The territory at that time included in the village limits extended as far north as to the lake; and was bounded on the south and east by Conneaut creek, and on the west by a line running along the centre of the road that now passes between the farms of E. F. Grant and Frank Blood, then called the Centre road, and extending northwardly to the lake and southwardly to the creek. The present farms of Mr. Olmstead, on the Ridge road, and of Mr. E. F. Grant, on the lake-shore, were at that time within the village limits.
About the year 1842 the limits were defined anew, so as to include just the territory which the village now embraces. The creek forms the east and south boundaries of the village. On the north it extends as far as to Fifteenth street inclusive, and on the west as far as to the centre of Chestnut street. On the southwest is an irregular tract, lying to the west of Chestnut street, and between State street and the creek, embracing about twenty-five acres, which is also a part of the village plat.
Conneaut is a handsome town, beautifully located on the creek that bears its name, which flows along the south and east sides of the village, the ground rising abruptly from the stream, and then gradually sloping to the east and north, forming as pleasant a site for a town as can well be found. There is an air of comfort pervading the residence portion of the village, and of thrift pervading the business portion. Situated in one of the choicest agricultural parts of the county, it does a large and growing mercantile business, many of its business houses out-ranking in the amount of annual business done by similar houses in other and larger towns in this portion of the State. It is justly noted for its elegant church edifices, and its new town-hall is superior to any similar building in this section of Ohio. The people, as a class, are noted for their intelligence and morality, and it would be difficult to find a lovelier or more inviting place in which to make a permanent residence.
Its present population is in the neighborhood of thirteen hundred. We give below some of the prominent features of this delightful village.
The first tavern on the town site was a log building situated on the corner of Main street and Harbor street extension, where Mr. N. B. Rogers' block now stands. A Mr. Dunn was the first proprietor.
The first frame tavern was the old Conneaut House, located just east of the site of the Keyes brick store. It was built about the year 1814, but not completed until 1824. A Mr. Pierpont and his father-in-law, Mr. Davenport, were the first proprietors.
The first school-house in the village was built near the present site of Mr. Wood's hardware store, corner Main and Washington streets.
The first burial-place was located on ground now occupied by the Monroe and Union brick blocks, and ground just north of the same, between Main and State streets.
The first village physician was Dr. John Venen, who settled here in 1815. He was a very successful practitioner, and practiced his profession in Conneaut for nearly sixty years, dying March 20, 1875, at the ripe old age of ninety-two. Dr. G. Fifield was another early physician, and spent his life in Conneaut in the practice of his profession.
An act to incorporate Conneaut academy passed the legislature February 14, 1835. The incorporators were A. Dart, Henry Keyes, Lewis Thayer, Josiah Brown, James Brooks, and Aaron Wright.
The first school building was an old concern moved on to the corner of Main and Mill streets, near the present residence of Captain C. W. Appleby, and fitted up for the occasion. The first teacher was Rev. Judah L. Richmond, the school commencing in the spring of 1837. He was afterwards assisted by Miss Sarah Bonney, who became principal in 1839. W. W. Barris had charge of the school during the spring term of 1840, and A. Harwood during the school year 1840-41. J. V. Brown became principal in the fall of 1841, and taught two years.
The brick academy building was erected in 1844-45. The capital stock of the incorporation was divided into shares of ten dollars each. The principal original stockholders were P. H. Carter, Robert Lyon, Lewis Thayer, J. V. Brown, John Reid, G. Fifield, John Venen, Ezra Dibble, Z[aphna]. Lake, B. Carpenter, P. W. Grant, C. Appleby, M. H. Collins, and James Brooks.
A constitution and by-laws were adopted. The officers consisted of a president, a secretary, and five trustees, who constituted a board for the government of the corporation, and five of whom constituted a quorum.
The first school in the new building was taught by L. W. Savage, assisted by Miss Booth, who had charge of the school one year. The teachers since, as near as can be ascertained, have been as follows: Mr. Pierce, assisted by Chas. Hathaway, part of one year; J. E. Ingersoll, two or three years; Wm. Scales, one year; J. Q. and L. M. Burington, one year; J. Q. Burington, one year; Chas. Hathaway, one year; R. M. Merrill commenced in the spring of 1855, and taught till 1861, six years; C. W. Heywood commenced in the fall of 1861, and taught two years; Rev. A. Bartlett, C. R. Goddard, assisted by Miss Quigley; J. Q. Burington, and Miss A. Smith, one year; G. A. Starens commenced in the winter of 1866-67, and taught one year; H. A. Andrews commenced in the spring term of 1868, and, assisted by Miss M. A. Rea and others, taught until the fall of 1875, twenty-two terms, since which time N. L. Guthrie has had charge of the school as principal, with Miss M. A. Rea as assistant principal.
The school attained its greatest prosperity while under the management of Prof. H. A. Andrews, who held the position of principal for a longer period than any other teacher. The highest number of students enrolled at any one time was one hundred and twenty-one, and for several terms the enrollment was over one hundred.
The Amphictyon literary society was organized in connection with the school while Mr. Andrews was principal, in the spring of 1869, and has numbered among its members the best students of the school.
The school has been, since August, 1868, under the control and management of the board of education of the incorporated village of Conneaut, they having at that time leased the buildings, grounds, and fixtures of the academy board for a period of ten years at least. During the past year (1871) the board of education has made further changes, establishing a system of graded schools in the village, making the principal of the academy or high school superintendent of all the schools of the village.
Besides the departments in the high school, there are in the village a grammar school and four primary schools.
The Conneaut Christian church, the first church in this township, was organized by Rev. John Cheney, on Saturday afternoon, May 23, 1818, at the "Peter King school-house," on the Ridge road, between Conneaut and Amboy. Elder Cheney preached at one o'clock to a full house from 1 Tim. iii. 15: "The church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth;" after which an organization of fifteen members was effected. One of that number still survives, -- Mrs. Lydia King, a worthy member of the church. The first church- or fellowship-meeting was held on the Fourth of July following. Meetings were held usually at the Centre, in the school-house, until 1834, when, during the ministry of Rev. Jonas Lawrence, a house of worship was built at the Centre, one mile west of Conneaut, on the premises now owned by D. Cummins, just at the rear of his residence. Before the house was completed Elder Lawrence died, September 12, after a few days' illness, at the residence of Colonel Fifield. Mrs. Fifield wars one of the original members. Seven years after -- Rev. Oliver Barr pastor -- it was moved into Conneaut to its present location on Buffalo street next to the new town-house. Thirty years later -- 1871, Rev. O. T. Wyman pastor -- it was enlarged, thoroughly repaired, and rededicated.
The church has had twenty-three pastors in sixty years, eight of them, however, serving less than one year each, being called to fill vacancies, etc. Only four ministers have had charge of the church more than three years, via., Blodgett, Barr, Burnham, and Wyman. Rev. John Blodgett came soon after the organization, and was pastor five years. Rev. Oliver Barr, who was killed at the Norwalk (Connecticut) railroad disaster, was settled with the church three different times, in all about eighty years. The great union meeting of 1838, conducted by Rev. Mr. Day at the brick church, was held during Elder Barr's second pastorate; forty-four were added to the church. In his third engagement the house was moved. Rev. H. Burnham served four years, 1849-53. Rev. O. T. Wyman, the present pastor, came in June, 1862: and remained over twelve years; and, after an absence of two years (Dr. N. Summerbell pastor in the interim), returned in October, 1876. In 1862 the church was very low; no services had been held for a year. There were but seventy-five names on the roll, and sixteen of them were dropped. In 1871 there was a great revival, -- Rev. S. H. Morse, evangelist; ninety-eight were received during the year. The present membership is two hundred and fifty. The Sabbath-school, in: 1862, was reorganized with fifteen scholars; but for the last ten years there have been from one hundred and fifty to two hundred and fourteen -- the present membership -- enrolled. The Christian chapel at Amboy was built in 1873; services are held in this building a part of the time.