PIONEER WOMEN OF RAVENNA

Before the necessities of today were known, even as luxuries, life's comedies and tragedies were as real as now, and the woman of the first half of the nineteenth century filled their spheres as completely and acceptably as do those of the end of the century. The seeming monotony may have been caused by the difficult distances separating the few settlers, for, when we learn of individual lives, we find them anything but dull.

In January, 1800, Benjamin TAPPAN, Jr., whose father had purchased that portion of New Connecticut which comprises our township, came to Ravenna as agent for his father. At the same time Benjamin BIGSBY came with his wife and family, and assisted Mr. TAPPAN in the work of clearing his place and building his cabin. In that bleak first month of the new century, the history of Ravenna commenced.

To Mrs. BIGSBY belongs the distinction of being the first white woman to live in this township, and she was also the first mother in Ravenna to go with a loved one down to the "valley of the shadow." Not long after the BIGSBYs came to Ravenna a son about fourteen years old died from the effects of the bite of a rattlesnake. Kind hands made a rude coffin by sawing through the center of a section of the trunk of a tree and hollowing each half. In this the sorrowing mother laid her son to rest, and in its rough secureness she left the loved form, the family soon after leaving this portion of the wilderness.

In August of 1800 Mrs. Conrad BOOSINGER, with her husband and family, moved into the township and settled on the Mahoning about a mile and a half southeast of Ravenna center. Miss Polly BOOSINGER soon became Mrs. BOSZOR, and her little daughter Elizabeth was the first white girl born in the township.

Little Elizabeth's cradle was a hollow log, but the hardships of pioneer life only seemed to strengthen and sweeten her naturally lovable disposition. The BOSZORs lived in Ravenna only a short time, when they moved to Brimfield. There Elizabeth married Joseph CHAPMAN and except two years which were spent in Perry, Lake county, Brimfield has been their home.

In 1796 Miss Matilda BOOSINGER, a sister of Miss Polly, was married at Hagerstown, Md., to Henry SAPP, and in the spring of 1803 they emigrated to Ravenna with their three children. They made the journey by wagon until they reached the Ohio River.

From that point the only roads were Indian paths, and the travelers completed their journey on horseback. Mrs. SAPP saw George WASHINGTON at the time of the whisky insurrection, and heard him speak the much-quoted words, "Only a man, my son," in reply to the disappointment expressed by a boy in the crowd at finding Washington to be only a man.

At the dinner party given Mrs. SAPP March 10, 1875, to celebrate her one hundredth birthday, this honored centenarian said grace in the German tongue, using the form and words used by her father from her earliest remembrance.

In her ninetieth year she spun, with wheel and distaff, flax for over thirty yards of linen cloth. Soon after the loss of her sight put an end to her industry. At the age of one hundred years she retained great vigor and was a happy, contented, interesting old lady.

In the year 1803 Miss Sarah WRIGHT, with the children of three families for pupils, opened the first school, the school house a log cabin. About this time the CARTER, PRICE, SMITH, JUDD, JENNINGS, and FULLER families came to the township.

Mrs. William PRICE, Barbara BOOSINGER, was a shrewd German woman. Her name was originally VAN BUESSINGER, and so it is given on her quaint baptismal record. This record is dated at Wirtemburg, Germany and is a valued relic in the family.

At one time a neighbor, wishing to purchase a yoke of steers in Mr. PRICE's possession, went to interview him on the subject. Mrs. PRICE, knowing her husband's slight acquaintance with the language, cam out to assist him if need be. The younger steer was especially large and fine, larger, indeed, than the older one.

Mr. PRICE, in explaining the situation to the prospective purchaser, said: "It vas dis vay, der biggest vas der schmallest." Whereupon Mrs. PRICE corrected him with fine contempt, saying, "He not speck Englesh ver well. He mean der oldest vas der yoongest."

In 1807 the court house square was cleared. From "Ravenna Forty Years Ago" we copy a paragraph in reference to it. It may be of interest to some to learn what prompted that particular clearing at that time. Mrs. TAPPAN, who was the better business man of the two, said to her husband, "This is the place for the county seat; now clear off the ground as fast as you can, and have something to show the commissioners when they come. Franklin (Kent) is ahead of us in settlement, and they will try to get it." Because of the energy displayed by Mrs. TAPPAN, Ravenna became the county seat for "Old Portage."

Once during the war of 1812, orders were sent for every man able to bear arms to repair to Cleveland. The company marched away, and their wives, being pioneer women, were not even allowed the luxury of grief, but must make preparations for instant flight to Pittsburgh in the event of Perry's victory, and soon the waiting hearts were gladdened by the return of their loved ones.

Many instances of children being lost in the woods can be recalled by the older inhabitants. Mrs. William FRENCH (Amantha PRICE) tells with graphic clearness the story of an adventure which she and her sister Nancy experienced when very small.

After telling how they left home in the morning to drive the cows to the drinking hole, and describing the surface of the country around, and the first of their wanderings, she says: "Then we knew we were lost. We wandered all day, calling out often, trying to make some one hear us." Bears and wolves abounded in the neighborhood, and Indians were often seen skulking about. Search parties were sent in all directions, but it was not until evening that the blast on the ram's horn was given as a signal of their safe discovery.

As the village grew, there arose a demand for public religious services. There was neither church nor school house in which to hold them, and the court house was not available. Three of the women, Mrs. David GREER, Mrs. Salmon CARTER, and Mrs. Almon BABCOCK, whose husbands kept the three "taverns," met the emergency with the offer of their dining rooms for preaching service Sabbath mornings.

In this connection we copy from an old record: "Charity CAMPBELL, wife of Richard BRUSH, Polly CAMPBELL, wife of Isaac THOMPSON, and Clara BOSTWICK, wife of Deacon Ashbel BOSTWICK, were prominent in the organization of the Congregational Church in 1822. The influence of their combined efforts is still felt in the community.

"Clarissa WETMORE, wife of Cyrus PRENTISS, Eliza BROWN, wife of Samuel FOLJAMBE, and Abigail KING, wife of Dennis STULIFF, were prominent laborers in the early organization of the Methodist Church of Ravenna. Such was the moral influence of this band of faithful workers that for a period card parties and dances were unknown in the community."

Miss Eliza THOMPSON, who on her eighteenth birthday (1818) became the wife of Dr. Isaac SWIFT, was one of the active, useful women of her time. Her daughter says: "I think she was very brave and did so much good. I look back upon her married life as the happiest one I ever knew."

Of Mrs. Frederick WILLIAMS, who came to Ravenna in 1828, her daughter, Miss Mary WILLIAMS, of Hiram, writes: "She was not a demonstrative woman, but to us who knew and loved her, 'Her price was far above rubies,' and with Solomon we can say, 'Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.' I do not know that she did anything that can pass into history, but this we do know, that when the books are opened her name will be found written in the 'Lamb's Book of Life.'"

In connection with Mrs. WILLIAMS should be mentioned Mrs. John BRIGHAM (Francis BARKER) who was a neighbor and life long friend of Mrs. WILLIAMS. Almost from the time Mrs. BRIGHAM could toddle around she had a penchant for doing little kindnesses to people who were sick or in trouble. Not long before Mrs. WILLIAMS' death she gold with great pleasure how, years before, little five-year-old Francis BARKER had come when she was sick, bringing to her a dish of chicken pie to tempt her appetite.

Mrs. BRIGHAM has lived in Ravenna since 1830, and being observing and possessed of a wonderful memory, has a most interesting fund of reminiscences.

In 1836, Mrs. Daniel MERRITT came to Ravenna from Hunter, N.Y. Upon her arrival, she immediately set out to visit her sister, Mrs. Elijah SKILTON, of Beech Woods. When nearly there she stopped to inquire the way to her sister's home, and was met with the sad news that Mrs. SKILTON had been dead two months. Such was the slowness with which news from the remote districts traveled as late as 1836.

Mrs. R.G. BEATTY, of this place, has in her possession a letter from her grandmother, Mrs. Israel FORKER, from which she has kindly allowed extracts to be taken. "II was about twelve years old," writes Mrs. FORKER, "when we moved to the village of Harrisville, Pa. There were no schools near the farm, and father was anxious to live where we could go to school regularly.

"Some few years later we moved to Centerville, where we lived when I married Israel FORKER, July 11, 1833, and we moved west to Ravenna a few days later. It seemed a great way to me at that time. Our household goods were moved in a two-horse wagon, and we were two days and a half on the road.

"There was never any place looked so lovely to me as Ravenna did when we arrived in sight. Mr. FORKER had already gone there two years previous to our marriage, and was started in business. There all my children were born."

One of the few of the very early settlers whom we have been privileged to know personally was dear old "Aunt Judd." Her father, Moses SMITH, moved from Shalersville to Ravenna in 1804, when Lucina was four years old, and the remainder of her life was spent in this town. Mrs. JUDD was an ardent Christian, and when one came from her presence he felt the thrill of noble aspirations, even if only the most ordinary matters had been mentioned.

Mrs. JUDD and her husband were in perfect accord, and through their generosity many an aspiring youth with more brains than money has been helped to a thorough education, and because of it has been able to fill distinguished positions.

Mrs. JUDD was one of the first women to be baptized into the Disciple Church of Ravenna, and she never wavered in her allegiance to it. After the passage of the fugitive slave law their farm northwest of Ravenna village was one of the stations of the underground railway. This quiet little woman, with the resolute black eyes, was ever ready with food or clothing, with medicines or words of kindly cheer, to help the fugitives on their way to freedom. But life was not all work, nor all sacrifice, however sweet the toil may have been or how blessed the sacrifice.

"We didn't live then as we do now," said one plump little woman with silver hair, "but we had just as good times."

Mrs. BEAZELL's father, Julius SKIFF, came in 1825 with his wife and eight children from Kent, Conn. They came from Buffalo to Cleveland in a boat, and were fourteen days on the lake. Mr. SKIFF cleared a little place just north of town, and built a house with two rooms and a loft. In the living room was the fireplace with its great brick oven that occupied the entire side of the room. There the great dye-pot stood in the corner; the bench where the shoemaker worked when he made his semi-annual visit, had its place; the mother's woolen and flax wheels were in that room and the father's materials for making brooms.

During the day the work kept them occupied, but at night, after the "chores" were done and the work put back, some of the neighbors would come in, as neighbors will where a cordial welcome awaits them. A chair was put up on the kitchen table; there the "fiddler" took his place, and the gayest of dances followed.

The treasures of the garrets - the real old-fashioned garrets, not the hot little coops of modern houses - show forth the industry of our pioneer women. A quaint gown, in the possession of Miss Lucy FRENCH, was made by her mother from flax raised on their own farm. The gown has a tiny short waist reaching just below the bust, leg-o'-mutton sleeves, and the skirt has just two medium width breadths in its fullness.

Mrs. Nelson WARD's wedding dress, made in 1849 or '50, is a dainty picture, every stitch from the neck to the hem being set by hand. Another piece of beautifully intricate needlework in Mrs. WARD's possession is a canopy of a bed. This piece of linen came from Germany, and has been in Mrs. WARD's family for about 210 years. The fabric is beautiful, and the embroidery, done in very fine worsteds, has apparently lost little of its brightness, although it is used as a lambrequin in the family sitting room, and has been laundered many times.

Mrs. William CARNAHAN, although past her three score years and ten, has made all Mr. CARNAHAN's shirts since she made the one with tiny frills, which was one of his wedding garments. They are sewed with such marvelous stitches that any machine would hum with satisfaction if it could produce such as they are.

About 1839 there was a large number of Nantucket people who came to Ravenna, and some of the beautifully carved bedsteads, bureaus, and tables, and the quaintly ugly and grotesquely beautiful chairs are even more dear to the hearts of their present owners than to their original possessors.

Among these Nantucket people was Isaac BRAYTON, with his wife, Love MITCHELL, and their family. Ravenna is proud of having been the home of Mary Ann BRAYTON (Mrs. F.W. WOODBRIDGE) who is known and loved in many lands. Not only do we honor Mrs. WOODBRIDGE, the temperance evangel, but her friends love Mrs. WOODBRIDGE, the woman who, though great matters claimed her attention, could still remember the pet schemes of her humblest friends; who could place her fine library at the disposal of the poor girl starving for books; who could lavish her flowers with unsparing hand; whose ready sympathy and wise counsel lightened many a burden and lifted up many despairing ones.

Sarah ELY - belonging to a well-known Massachusetts family by that name - came to Deerfield, Portage county, with her parents in 1799, and the following year married John CAMPBELL. It was perhaps the first marriage on the Western Reserve. Four years later the young couple removed to Ravenna.

"During the war of 1812 Captain, afterward, General CAMPBELL, raised a company of soldiers and led it to the front of hostilities near Detroit. There he either was wounded or fell ill, and returning as far as Sandusky, was unable to reach home. His intrepid wife, upon learning of his condition, mounted her horse and set out alone through the wilderness to succor her husband. Finding that he could not be cared for comfortably in Sandusky, she had him placed upon her horse and then led the animal all the way back to Ravenna. Eleven children called her "mother," the older of whom, Anna A. FRASER, was born and died in Ravenna after a continuous residence of seventy-four years.

Honor RILEY ROBBINS was born in Weathersfield, Conn., and while yet in her teens accompanied her parents to Solon, Cuyahoga county. Their objective point at first had been Cleveland, but upon his arrival at that place, Mr. ROBBINS was disappointed in the size of the town, and the serious prevalence of malaria. He continued on to Solon and purchased a farm, upon which his grandchildren yet reside.

Anna was a girl of education and culture, and soon after her arrival in the Western Reserve found herself in demand at Ravenna as a teacher. Here Robert Ely CAMPBELL, son of General CAMPBELL, met and won her and they were married in 1829.

Mrs. CAMPBELL survived her husband many years, and today, at the age of ninety-three, resides with her daughter, Mrs. Orville SKINNER, at No. 91 Dorchester avenue, Cleveland.

Mrs. Horace SKINNER (Olive LANGDON) was one of the early settlers of Ravenna. She was born in Salisbury, Conn., and about the year 1820, with her husband and eight children, began pioneer life on a small farm adjoining that of Richard THOMPSON, midway between Ravenna and Campbellsport. Her eldest daughter, Olive, married Harris CURTISS, of Charlestown, O., and Fanny, the youngest daughter, married Gustavus LANE, of Ravenna.

Mrs. SKINNER's six sons were all a credit to their mother's training and counsel. Only one remained here - John N. The youngest boy became a judge in Oregon.

But many names worthy of extensive mention can only be noted. During the war of 1812, Aunt Polly ROUNDY showed her patriotism and her goodness of heart by preparing bountiful meals for the soldiers as they passed through the village.

Among the scholars which Achsah EGGLESTON had in her school in 1809 were Ruthallia and Lois Carter, who married Howard and Lester JUDD, and Samantha SMITH, who married Richard McBRIDE."

Eunice GOODRICH (Mrs. DE WOLF) came from Rootstown in 1803. Her daughter, Adaline (Mrs. R.S. ELKINS), has spent the greater portion of her life in Ravenna, and still occupies the old homestead west of town. Although very dignified and reserved, there could be no more perfect a friend than Mrs. ELKINS.

Many a person has had cause to thank "Mother KELLEY" for speedy restoration to health on account of her nursing and counsel. Mrs. KELLEY was the life of the social circle, although no one ventured the second time to measure swords with her in repartee. Her two daughters, Martha and Lucinda, who died in 1838, are remembered as young women of unusually lovely character.

Mrs. John SKINNER (Mary ROUSE) combined a superior intellectual ability with tender charity and unbounded hospitality. It is said that at her home have been entertained more people who have gained a national reputation than at any other home in Ravenna. This home is now occupied by Mrs. Whiting CARTER with her husband and family.

Mrs. John FLETCHER and her mother, Mrs. Alexander LOWREY, came from Aberdeen, Scotland, in 1837. They both remembered seeing Walter Scott throw pennies into the crowd of children who followed him.

Mrs. Andrew HERRIFF has many pleasant recollections of her home near Paris before she came to America in 1835.

Mrs. Lyman W. HALL, who at one time kept a select school in Ravenna, was a most efficient church worker, and attained an enviable reputation as a poet.

Mrs. Sylvester PARMELEE also, who before the was principal of a young ladies' seminary in the South, wrote charming newspaper letters of travel.

Mrs. Spaulding BEACH, of Tallmadge, writes: "I remember that while on my way to Deacon FULLER's a drove of wild deer came out of the woods and ran across the road directly in front of us, I think quite near where the Erie Depot is located."

Mrs. H.S. BEEMAN also distinctly remembers seeing deer in this vicinity as late as 1833.

Mrs. Mary SWIFT WAITE and Mrs. Emily SWIFT MORRISON still occupy the beautiful SWIFT home. From their childhood they have both possessed that charming grace of manner which made a flower given by them or a kindly word from their lips a thing to be cherished.

Another beautifully rounded character was that of Mrs. A.B. GRIFFIN. Their home was always the "preachers' home," her hands were never idle, her piety never wavered, and her charity never waned.

Others among the church workers were Mrs. George SOMERVILLE, Mrs. H.P. BRADFORD, Mrs. Lois HOTCHKISS POE, Mrs. WHITTLESEY and her daughter, Clarice WHITTLESSEY MEHARG, who belong to those successful Sunday school teachers who make the world brighter and better.

The lively sallies and interesting stories of Mrs. Carrie JENNINGS made her a welcome addition to any circle of her friends.

Mrs. Daniel DAY was long noted for her fine greenhouse, and as she petted and nursed her plants, her sweet face framed with silver hair, she seemed like one of her own sweet flowers.

Mrs. Eliza FRAZER EVANS was the first and only woman who has occupied the position of postmistress in Ravenna. Her sister, Mrs. Ezra B. TAYLOR, formerly of Ravenna, is the mother of the talented Harriet TAYLOR UPTON.

      Emily DOTY M'BRIDE
      Chairman and Historian
Ravenna committee - Mrs. Emily D. McBRIDE, Mrs. Carrie E. ESTY, Mrs. Elmira
D. DOTY, Mrs. Eliza KING, Mrs. Whiting CARTER, Mrs. A.J. JENNINGS
   

RAVENNA (additional)

In 1801 John WARD, with his wife, Agnes (DUFFIELD) WARD, moved to Ohio from West Moreland County, Penn., they located first on the ELY farm in Rootstown, near the Ravenna line, and afterward in the village of Ravenna. An incident in the life of Mrs. WARD, which is familiar to many Ravenna people, may bear repeating.

Mrs. WARD wandered a long time through the unbroken forest searching for her cows before she heard the tinkle of their bells. Following this lead she discovered, not only the lost cows, but also a beautiful sheet of water. She reported the discovery and the lake was named in her honor Mother Ward's Pond. It retained this name until a few years ago, when on account of the purity of its water it was selected as the reservoir of Ravenna's water supply and re-christened "Crystal Lake."

In 1802 David JENNINGS, with his wife Hannah (WELLMAN) JENNINGS, and their three sons, aged six, four and two years, emigrated to Ohio and settled in Ravenna Township.

Mrs. JENNINGS, making her home in the then unbroken wilderness, endured the many hardships of pioneer life.

Surrounded as she was by the dense forests, with plenty of wild animals and Indians near, she had to exercise great courage for herself and her children. Especially would this be necessary when her husband was absent from home as he was sometimes obliged to be, since many household supplies must be brought from Pennsylvania.

The Indians liked to take advantage of her when they came to buy corn. If she took up a short ear, they would place another on the end of it, and she dare not object, they, knowing her fear, would laugh among themselves and say, "that squaw is shy, shy."

Mrs. JENNINGS had six children whom she took great pride in training to be useful, respected citizens. She died in 1840.

Hannah H., daughter of Mrs. David JENNINGS was born in Ravenna in 1804 and was married to Schuyler CUTLER in 1822.

Mrs. CUTLER lived with her husband on a farm on the west line of the township where she died in 1835. She was the mother of six children. One of her daughters, Mrs. John DODGE, and a granddaughter, Mrs. J.H. FURRY, are residing in our little city.

In 1815 Elliot RAWSON came from Franklin County, Mass. And located on a tract of land one mile west of the court house.

His family consisted of a daughter and a son, with a second wife (Hannah WILLIAMS, sister of his first wife) whom he had married but a short time before.

The daughter, Hannah, a girl of seven, was bright and active, and although deprived of the many advantages she had in her eastern home, yet as she grew to womanhood, she made the most of what knowledge she could obtain from the limited means within her reach.

Her father died when she was but a little over sixteen, which threw a great deal of responsibility upon her since her step-mother's health was far from good.

In the year of 1825, one month before she was seventeen she became Mrs. David JENNINGS, Jr.

She was a bright woman with great energy of character, never shirking any hardships which duty placed in her way. Her heart and home were always open, strangers and friends finding a welcome at all times, while a call from the sick or suffering was never unheeded.

In 1832 Elizabeth KNOWLTON came to Ravenna from Kennebec, Me., where she was born in 1813.

In 1833 she and Lewis JENNINGS were married and resided on the homestead with his parents. Although she did not have to endure the privations of the very early pioneer life, yet she has seen many changes in both city and country. Seven of her twelve children lived to maturity. Four of her daughters reside in Ravenna, three at the old home, and one, Mrs. M. GLEDHILL, in the village. Mrs. JENNINGS died in 1895, on the farm where she and her husband first lived, where his father reclaimed the land from an unbroken forest.

Miss Nancy A. SAPP was born in Maryland in 1810, and was married to Squire L. JENNINGS in 1833. At the time of her marriage she was living with her parents in Rootstown. The delightful air of hospitality which pervaded her home and her many, many kindly deeds are held in grateful memory by her friends. She had two children, a son, and a daughter, Ann Janette, who married Lorenzo BOSWORTH.

Betsey TROWBRIDGE was born in Franklin County, Mass. In January 1785. In 1807 she was united in marriage with Joseph TORRY. In 1816 they with their young family left their native hills and came to Ravenna. She endeavored, in spite of difficulties to give her children all possible advantages of education and refinement that could be obtained. She was well informed on current events, and having a fine memory, could have given a good history of Ravenna during nearly seventy years of its growth.

To show how well her mind was preserved, we will by permission, give an extract from a letter to a friend written soon after the death of his wife. Mrs. TORRY was then ninety-eight years old. After expressing deep sympathy for him in the loss of so dear a friend, she says, "After severe suffering she has left her frail casket; her mortal has put on immortality, she has bade her friends and all the glittering toys of earth adieu, and has ascended up through the ethereal blue to mansions of the blest."

The winter before Mrs. TORRY's death, which occurred in Cleveland at the age of ninety-nine years, she cut and sewed rags enough to make a carpet, which shows that she was physically as well as mentally vigorous.

Hannah TAYLOR was born in Franklin County, Mass. In 1788. Her parents moved to Phelps, N.Y., where in 1810 she was married to James T. TROWBRIDGE. In 1833 they came to Ravenna with their family. She was a domestic woman, seldom leaving home, but her friends were warmly welcomed to her own fireside. Her three daughters lie in Maple Grove cemetery, Adaline, unmarried, Mrs. Wm. BOND and Mrs. Samuel BLOOMER.

Sally BLAKELY was born in Genoa, N.Y. in January, 1797. She was married to Daniel TROWBRIDGE in Phelps, N.Y. in 1818, and they in 1833 removed with their family of eight children to Ravenna. To them were born in Ohio three more children and only one of the eight daughters and three sons is now living in Ravenna. This daughter, Mrs. A.J. JENNINGS is residing on the farm where she and her husband first went to housekeeping, the farm on which Mr. JENNINGS was born. Mrs. JENNINGS wields a very facile pen and has kindly furnished the items for the JENNINGS, TROWBRIDGE and RAWSON families.

Four daughters of Mrs. TROWBRIDGE live in Cleveland, and one in Michigan. One of the daughters, Percy, is a successful teacher in the Cleveland Central High School

Mrs. TROWBRIDGE retained the vigor of her mind until the time of her death, which occurred in Hudson at the age of ninety years.

Sally RAWSON was born in Ravenna in 1816, and was married to N.D. CLARK in 1834. Her entire life was spent in this place where her death occurred in 1889. Mrs. CLARK had two daughters, both of whom preceded her to the world beyond. She was a genial, pleasant woman with a warm heart for all, especially the sick and needy. Mrs. CLARK loved society and so long as she was able, her home was open for the entertainment of friends.

Czarina RAWSON was born in Ravenna in 1820 and married Geo. HARPER in 1844. Mrs. HARPER still lives in Ravenna where the most of her life has been spent. Her memory being good, she has many entertaining reminiscences of the early days of our town.

Mary ABEL was born in 1770, and about the year 1803 came from Kent, Conn. With her husband, Moses SMITH, and their two daughters, to make their home in Ohio.

Mrs. Joel THOMPSON of Waterloo, Ind. says: "My grandmother, Mary SMITH was prompt and methodical in all things. In common with nearly everyone she worked up wool and flax to clothe her family. She would commence the work as soon as the sheep were sheared in the spring, and before winter the wool would be made into blankets and clothing for her family, with extra for possible needy ones. Her life was filled with a continuous round of home duties, and can only be of interest from a historical standpoint since it is representative of the lives of hundreds and thousands of noble women who laid the firm foundation for the beautiful superstructure which the women of today are raising

"My mother, Samantha SMITH" (Mrs. Richard McBRIDE), continues Mrs. THOMPSON, "had for a pet a young deer which she kept for some time, but it became so mischievous that grandfather was obliged to kill it.

"The school mother attended was, I think, the second one opened in the village and was taught by Miss Achsah EGGLESTON of Aurora. The building was a tiny log cabin with oiled paper for windows. Turkey quills supplied the pens, and puncheon boards laid on pegs in the wall were used for desks.

"Within a few years after her marriage to Richard McBRIDE they moved to Indiana where they spent the remainder of their lives."

In the year 1812 Mrs. (Gen.) Samuel D. HARRIS, Sr. (Lucy S. KENT) came on horseback from her home in Middletown, Conn., carrying her baby Lucia in her arms. Mrs. HARRIS was not only intellectual and cultured, but was also an expert needle woman. One triumph of her skill was the making for her husband of one dozen ruffled cambric shirts with one needle. A specimen of her work which is still in the family is a table cloth of fine, beautiful linen.

Her daughter Lucia grew to womanhood in Ravenna, and was married to John GILLIS of the firm of Gillis & Prentiss. Those who knew Mrs. GILLIS remember her as a beautiful woman. She was especially fond of music and art, poetry and flowers. During her life she made a valuable collection of gems of poetry. Only one of her seven children is now living in Ravenna, Mrs. (Judge) Geo. F. ROBINSON.

Mrs. S.D. HARRIS, Jr. (Joanna DOTY) came from Sharon, Conn. In 1837 and is still living in this place, a beautiful example of loving, cheerful devotion to husband, family and friends. Her love of flowers and her success in their culture is only one of her many charming traits of character.

In 1811 Miss Pamelia LEWIS, a native of Farmington, Conn. Was married to Zenas KENT. The father of Miss LEWIS was a Revolutionary veteran and also a carpenter and joiner, as were also both her husband and his father.

Mrs. KENT was a charming woman and one who possessed rare tact in the management of household and family affairs. She was mother of thirteen children, ten of whom lived to maturity and are known as men and women of spotless integrity.

The eldest daughter, Harriet KENT, married Charles CLAPP, then a merchant of Ravenna. Some years after their marriage, Mr. CLAPP becoming convinced that the Shaker faith was the only right one, made suitable provision for his wife and family, and joining that peculiar sect, became their Shaker Elder, while his wife subsequently settled in New York city. Of her he said to a friend but a short time before his death in 1891 or 1892, "I would not have you think it was for any fault of her who was my wife, that I did as I did. She was without a fault."

Mrs. KENT's son, Marion KENT, is well known in business circles throughout the country, his chief enterprise being the inauguration and completion of the A. & G.W.R.R. (now the Erie) through the state of Ohio.

Her four younger daughters who lived to maturity were Eliza A., who became the wife of John POAG, a merchant of New York city. Emily was married to R.B. DENNIS, Esq. Of Cleveland; Francis became Mrs. Geo. W. WELLS and Amelia, Mrs. J.W. SHIVELY who was a surgeon in the U.S. army during the war of the Rebellion, now residing in Washington, D.C.

Maria L. JOHNSON was born in Mifflin, Penn. 1810. Her parents removed to Lancaster, O., where in 1831 she was married to Geo. E. ROBINSON. In 1835 Mr. and Mrs. ROBINSON, with their baby boy, Alfred, moved to Ravenna. Mrs. ROBINSON was domestic in her tastes and very benevolent, eminently a keeper at home. But she was a typical pioneer woman, in the sense of being always ready to undertake any duty which came to her. Mr. ROBINSON's business took him often from home, but his wife was entirely capable of carrying on the home both outdoors and in the house. She was a fearless house woman, and beside her many beautiful womanly traits possessed a talent for business which served her well, when as circumstances sometimes made it desirable, she bought or sold stock in her husband's absence. Mrs. ROBINSON had eight children. Her son Henry was the first soldier from Ravenna to lay down his life in the late war. Another son, Judge Geo. F. ROBINSON was captain in the army and was confined for months in Libby prison.

Three of the four daughters are living in this place, Emily, Mrs. H.W. RIDDLE; Elizabeth, Mrs. (General) T.F. WILDE, and Miss Franc ROBINSON. The youngest daughter, Mrs. A.E. HERMANN, resides in Terre Haute, Ind.

Huldah OVIATT, who came to Ravenna from Goshen, Conn. Was first married to a son of David HUDSON, the founder of Hudson, O. After the death of Mr. HUDSON, she was married to Darius LYMAN, who was at one time candidate for governor of Ohio.

Mrs. LYMAN had one daughter, Laura, married to W.S.C. OTIS. Mr. OTIS was at the time of his marriage a lawyer in Ravenna. They removed from here to Akron and finally to Cleveland, where Mrs. OTIS still lives.

The marriage of Miss LYMAN to Mr. OTIS was the first ceremony of the kind performed by the Rev. E.E. ATWATER. During his pastorate here, Rev. ATWATER was himself married to Miss Rebecca DANNA of New Haven, Conn.

Mrs. LYMAN died in 1832 and Mr. LYMAN's second marriage was to Mrs. Hiram WALBRIDGE (whose maiden name was Lucy Ann ROSE) of Canaan, Conn. Two more daughters came to the home, Mary LYMAN (HOOD) and Anna LYMAN (WOODWORTH), both of whom reside in California.

Polly BURROUGHS came from Vermont to Ohio about the year 1825. She was married to Mr. Wm. COOLMAN, proprietor of the Globe Tavern, which stood on the site of the present Etna House. Mr. COOLMAN was occupied much of his time at the courthouse, and in consequence the management of the hotel fell largely to Mrs. COOLMAN. She is remembered as a woman with a marvelous capacity for work and a model housekeeper. Some of the beautiful cut glass decanters and glasses which were used in their hotel are still in possession of the family.

Nor did Mrs. COOLMAN allow her household duties to entirely engross her mind, for she was a leader in social and intellectual circles. There were three sons and two daughters in the family. Her daughter Amelia was first married to Thomas BURGESS, and after his death to John G. McBRIDE.

Augusta COOLMAN was born in 1820. From her mother she inherited a talent for work and unlimited energy. She was married to H.Y. BEEBE, and with her husband went to keeping house in the residence which is still standing on the northeast corner of Cleveland Ave. and Main St. The building had been erected for a store and was not yet completed when they first occupied it, but with their push and perseverance it was converted into a beautiful home.

Mrs. BEEBE had a very fine voice, and for many years sang in the Universalist choir of this place. She was also an invaluable member of the aid society, and was the one upon whom they depended to cut all the garments which they made.

Mrs. Camilla (KING) HARMON, wife of Orrin HARMON was the eldest of eleven children of Dr. Robert KING, who settled in Charleston, Portage County in 1826. She was born in Sandisfield, Mass. 1802, came to Portage County with her father and was married to Orrin HARMON at Ravenna, September, 1832. One time in welcoming a new neighbor, Mrs. HARMON said, "I'm very glad you are to be near us, but I don't go out very much and I probably won't come to see you unless you are sick, then I'll come." That was the keynote of her life; devotion to home and untiring ministrations to the sick and needy were her dearest joys. The memory of this quiet, unassuming, little woman is fragrant in the hearts of all who knew her.

Mrs. Perry Hazard BABCOCK (Cynthia HICKOCKS) came to Ravenna in 1818 from Granville, Mass. Mrs. BABCOCK was an intrepid horseback rider, and with her husband was accustomed to ride fifty miles over the hills from Granville to visit their relative, Oliver Hazard PERRY, afterward Commodore PERRY. She was a tireless knitter, one of her best pieces of work being a beautiful white quilt. Another kind of handiwork in which she excelled was embroidery and her bed curtains were wrought with her own swift flying needle.

Mrs. BABCOCK had four sons and two daughters, all of whom settled in Ravenna.

Mary COLLINS came to this place as a teacher in 1811 from Hartford, Conn. She became acquainted with Almon BABCOCK who came to Portage County in 1810, the eldest son of Mrs. Perry H. BABCOCK, and they were married at her father's home in Rootstown, Christmas day, 1814. During the following year they erected the first brick house in this place (which was the second in the county) for a hotel, on the ground now occupied by the Opera House.

Her wedding gown was of white cambric, beautifully embroidered by her own hands. Among her many lovely traits of character she possessed the qualifications of an excellent nurse, and was sent for from far and wide to help neighbors and friends in distress.

There were six children born to them, Perry H., who is a well known business man in Cleveland, being the eldest, Miss Mary Ann BABCOCK lives with her brother Albert, south of Ravenna. She is a charming conversationalist and has a great fund of reminiscence. From her was obtained much of the information concerning the family.

Mrs. Edmond BABCOCK (Laura BATES) came to this place in 1820 from Granville, Mass. They were six weeks coming from their home to Buffalo. Here they left their teams and boarded a scow which was to take them across the lake to Cleveland. Five times they were driven back by storms. When Cleveland was finally reached they were unable to bring their clumsy craft to the shore with safety. It was anchored some distance out in the lake, and Mr. BABCOCK swam back and forth between the boat and the shore and thus landed wife and babies and provisions.

Three of her daughters, Corinthia, Mrs. Julius HOTCHKISS (afterward Mrs. McCLUNN); Betsey, Mrs. Nelson WARD, and Eliza, Mrs. Lawrence COOLMAN, settled in Ravenna.

Harriet, Mrs. CARRINGTON went to Alliance, and Sarah, Mrs. WILLIAMSON, removed to Wisconsin.

Mrs. Ethan BABCOCK (Harriet ROBINSON) is still living at her home north of town, where she first went as a bride. Mrs. BABCOCK is a loved and honored member of the Methodist church, a blessing wherever she is.

Mrs. Dr. DeWOLF (Eunice GOODRICH) was a life friend of Mrs. Almon BABCOCK, and was married at about the same time. She was pleasant, social and unusually keen witted. Her manner of relating bright, humorous anecdotes was inimitable, and no company of which she was a member could be dull.

Mrs. Dr. Lyman COLLINS (Lucy WHITTLESY) came from Canfield, O. in 1838. One of the pleasant things for which she is remembered in Ravenna is the active part which she took in the Congregational church of this city.

One of the early pioneer women was Mrs. Wm. TAPPAN who was a miss PATTISON. Mrs. TAPPAN was very highly educated and the people of this western town were inclined to stand in awe of her superior accomplishments, but they soon found that they only made her the more charming. She was very brave under the many trials which came to her and is held in loving remembrance by many Ravennians.

About the year 1838, Cottage Hill, now owned by D.R. HANNA of Cleveland, was purchased from Wm. STODDARD by a Mr. CURTIS of New York city.

Mr. and Mrs. CURTIS started with their two daughters and their household goods for their new home. Mr. CURTIS was taken ill and died during their journey. Mrs. CURTIS and the daughters continued on their way sorrowing. The elder daughter became the wife of John M. HOOD, and the younger daughter, Ellen, the wife of his brother, Robert HOOD.

Mr. Robert HOOD was occupied in some position which required his presence in the Manila Islands. From here he sent to his fiancee many gifts of beautiful foreign good, among them being shawls of fine crepe "like crinkled cream on scalded milk." After her marriage, Mrs. HOOD went with her husband to Manila Islands, but she could not endure the climate and died in a short time. On the stone which marks her resting place in Maple Grove are inscribed the following lines: "Her remains were brought from far o'er the seas to rest beside her kindred in her native land."

Mrs. John KING (Polly BLACK) came from Charleston, O. in 1815. Miss BLACK's sister, Betsey, married Mr. KING's brother, William, and both were valued members in the village. Mrs. Polly KING's daughter, Elizabeth R. KING was married to Wm. WADSWORTH. Mrs. WADSWORTH was a lovely Christian woman, and so long as health permitted was a regular attendant at the Methodist church.

Only one of the four children is now living in Ravenna, Mrs. John HART.

In 1828 Judge Ira SELBY came from Canandaigua, N.Y., with his wife Alice (GIDDINGS) SELBY, and his family. Hon. Ira SELBY was a man prominent in public affairs, both in Portage County and in the place in New York from which they came, and Mrs. SELBY was eminently fitted to be a help meet to him. Their daughter, Henrietta SELBY, married James BARKER, and is remembered with the deepest love and respect by her daughter, Mrs. John BRIGHAM, who is the only one of her children living in Ravenna.

Another daughter, Caroline SELBY, became Mrs. John Berkeley KING. Mrs. KING is considered now to have had great artistic ability, and although pioneer life did not offer conditions favorable for its development, there are among the family treasures some of her drawings which show marked talent.

Edmond BOSTWICK and his wife, Mercy, came from Vermont in 1818. Mrs. BOSTWICK died in 1823, aged eighty-nine years. There were twelve children in the family, eleven sons and one daughter. The daughter Lucy died in Vermont.

The following sketch was very kindly furnished by E.P. BRAINARD, for fifty years a resident of Ravenna, a man widely known for his broad views and advanced opinions.

"In the spring of 1810, Mrs. Mary McKENZIE MASON came with her husband Jared MASON and her four children from Beaver, Penn., and settled in Ravenna.

"Her husband sunk vats and established a tannery east of the courthouse, where the Gretzinger Block now stands. Mrs. MASON's husband died 1813. The widow continued to run the tannery, employing John F. WELLS and Jesse R. GRANT, father of U.S. GRANT, to work out the stock. Later she married J.F. WELLS, and sold out the tannery to GRANT, who carried it on till 1819, but failing to meet his obligations, the tannery reverted, and was taken back and GRANT left Ravenna.

"By her second husband Mrs. WELLS became the mother of two daughters and one son. The eldest daughter married E.P. BRAINARD, the youngest, John B. KING, Jr., and Benj. J., the son married Miss Hannah DOTY.

"In all that tends to make up Christian character, pure and noble womanhood, Mrs. WELLS approached a model. Her kind, sympathetic, affectionate disposition and ways, won for her the love and esteem of all who knew her.

"February 1839, at the age of fifty-five, her useful and well ordered life terminated and she was summoned to answer the last roll call on the other shore, leaving behind her a memory fragrant with the virtues that adorn the character of a faithful wife and mother."

Mrs. Emily D. McBRIDE, Historian