SKETCH OF THE EARLY HISTORY OF CONNEAUT,
ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO


As related by Aaron Wright, Esq., in 1841; Reported by S. F. Taylor
[President of the Ashtabula Co. Historical Society in 1841]


The "Mannasaugas," a small tribe of Indians, possessed the country until 1796-7, and it was quite certain that their headquarters were, where Conneaut Village now stands. Five huts were standing where the "Mansion House" is erected, in 1798, and a little northeast of the present site of the Presbyterian Church, between it and the Ridge road, was an extensive Burying Ground, laid out in lots with great regularity. There was but one small tree standing on the area of more than an acre. There must have been several hundred, and perhaps some thousands of graves. To satisfy myself, I opened a number of what appeared to be graves and found human bones in every instance. Either from age or some other cause, these bones soon crumbled to dust on exposing them to the atmosphere. What is now called Harmon's Island near the mouth of the Conneaut Creek, was cleared, and had been planted to corn. There were other clearings of less extent.
The most remarkable Indian antiquity is "Fort Hill" in the form of a Delta, located a little below the center road on the southeastern side of the Creek, which now washes its Northern base.
It is of the same height as the surrounding country, but cut off on the south and east by a ravine nearly of equal depth with the bed of the Creek -- This fort is very difficult of ascent, except at its eastern point of termination, where it is easy. It contains about four acres, and was covered with brushwood about six or eight feet high. It was inclosed by an embankment of earth about six feet high, with only one opening at its southern point and one on the northeast. It must once have been a fortification of no mean importance in Indian warfare.
The Indians disappeared entirely in 1796 or 7, from the following occurrence, viz., -- A man travelling from Detroit to Erie, Pa., (then Presque-Isle) was killed by the Indians for the sake of two rifles which he possessed, and a small detachment of soldiers came up from Presque Isle to demand the murdered. "Bear's Oil" the Chief of the Mannasaugas" agreed to deliver him by a given day, but before the day arrived, the Indians all fled. The settlers never had any trouble from them.

SETTLEMENT:

The first permanent settlement was in the year 1799. Thomas Montgomery and myself visited it in 1798, and settled in the spring of 1799. Robert Montgomery and family, Levi and John Mt.Gomery, Nathan and John King, and Samuel Bemus and family, came the same season. All that now remained of these, in the township, are Samuel Bemus and myself and wife.
James Harper, Seth Herrington and James Montgomery, came in 1800, with their families. No more came for some years. Two log cabins, built by the surveyors in 1796 or 7, one at the mouth of the creek and the other about half way to the present site of the village, were standing, and were occupied by the settlers. The first house built by settlers, was one by Nathan King on the Ridge Road where John Brown now lives, and the next was built by myself on the farm on the Ridge Road, where Chester Sandord now lives. I once lived sixteen days without seeing a human face, except my own in a pail of water which I used for a looking glass, when compelled to shave; and this was the extent of my toilette for a long time.

A SOCIAL VISIT, ENTERTAINMENT:

After my sixteen days exclusion, a friend called upon me, and of course I was anxious to receive him hospitably and entertain him in good style. My larder was wanting in one very important article, viz., meat -- the of my last porcupine having been already picked.
While in this dilemma two other friends providentially called, and one of them had killed a fine turkey. I set him to stripping off the feathers, while I prepared my kettle and some dough, wherewith to make a "Pot Pie" by simply putting flour and water together.
I soon got supper in readiness, and my friend has often informed me that it was the best meal of victuals to which he ever sat down, made of my "Pot Pie," Bread, Pepper and Salt. At bed time, I spread my straw bed upon the floor, as usual, and by lying crosswise, four of us enjoyed a comfortable night's rest.

ORIGINAL NAME:

The present County of Ashtabula was then called the Township of Richfield.

PROVISIONS:

We had always an abundance of grain, and for meat we ate Bear, Elk, Raccoon and Porcupine, which were abundant.

MILLS:

The nearest mill from 1799 to 1808 was sixteen miles, at Elk Creek, Pa., where I have often carried a bushel and a half of wheat on my back, and if on my return my provisions failed, I struck a fire, sipped some water into the mouth of my bag with my hands, and mixed my bread, and then spread it on a basswood bark pulled for the purpose, and baked it before my fire. I began a mill in 1808, and finished it in 1809 -- the first in the settlement.

ROADS:

There were no roads except "Indian Trails." The travel was upon the beach of the Lake, fording the streams with difficulty.
In 1800, Nathan King, Seth Harrington and myself, marked the present Ridge Road [U.S. Rte. 20] to Ashtabula, west of the village, where we met the people from Harpersfield similarly engaged.
We then began to cut the road, I was the first Supervisor, and my District extended from the State line to the "ten mile stake" at the forks of the road at Fobe's farm in Kingsville.

COMMERCE:

There was then no boats on the lake except four and six cared boats, owned principally by the settlers for their private accommodation. The first in our settlement was built by John Montgomery, just before the war of 1812. All the goods we procured, were from settlers who brought them in to exchange for provisions.

SCHOOLS:

Our houses were "Log Cabins" cobbed off covered with clap boards split out live staves (commonly called Gourd Seed Shingle) with puncheon floors. We used no nails nor iron of any kind.

LAWS:

For some time we were "a law unto ourselves." There was no necessity for them, except of the criminal order. The Government was a pure Democracy, and the proceedings of our Judiciary will give a tolerable idea of the method of trial, passing sentence and of administering punishment.
One of the settlers sometimes misused his wife. On such occasion the Court assembled by common consent -- (Nathan King usually presiding), and the back of the offender was the only Record of their doings. The first Magistrate under the Territorial Government, was Noah Cowles of the Austinburg Settlement, and I was the first Constable in Richfield. The first Magistrate appointed in our settlement was James Harper, who declined serving, and Nathan King was appointed in his place.

MAILS:

The first mail ever brought into our settlement, was, I think in 1808, by John Metcalf, now of Ashtabula, on horseback. John Rudd was the first Postmaster.
Six weeks from New York City to Conneaut was not very slow traveling in those times.
The first carriage employed in the mail service was, I think, in 1811, by Anan Harmon. It was a rude sort of Dug Out, bearing about the same comparison to our present coaches, as our "Log Cabins" did to the best buildings of the present day.
Its appearance, however, created as great an excitement as did the first Steam Boat on the Hudson River.

Ordered for record April 9, 1841.
and recorded May 1st, 1841.

P. R. Spencer,
Recording Secretary



Back 1