OHIO STATEWIDE FILES - Know your Ohio: Tidbits of Ohio -- Part 98 ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES(tm) NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information is included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgenwebarchives.org ************************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Darlene E. Kelley http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00026.html#0006374 September 1, 2006 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Historical Collections of Ohio And Then They Went West Know Your Ohio Tid Bits - Part 98 by Darlene E. Kelley notes by S. Kelly ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Tid Bits - Part 98 Amzi Atwater Amzi Atwater was born at New Haven, Connecticut on the 23rd of May, 1776. He was the last survivor of the first exploring expedition on the Reserve, dying at Mantua, Portage County, Ohio, June 22, 1851. His parents were poor, and unable to give him anything more than an ordinary education. Ushered into life in the early part of the Revolutionary war, and in that part of the colonies most exposed to the incursions of the enemy, his lullaby was the booming of artillery, or the rattling of musketry. On the defeat of the Americans on Long Island, in 1776, when Amzi was but three months old, his father was called out with the militia for the defense of New York, from which he returned sick, and with constitution broken. When old enough, young Atwater was sent to school, where he obtained a little knowledge of reading, writing and arithmetic. So straightened were his parent's circumstances, that he was hired out to work by the day, week or month, as opportunities offered, till he was a man. At the age of eighteen his father hired him out to work for an uncle, for sixty dollars a year, who transfered him over to a man by the nam of Watson. " At the end of the year," says Amzi Atwater in a letter, " my parents gave me my time with their good advice and blessing." He then hired to Watson for seven months, at eight dollars a month, but he died before that time expired. Being out of employment young Atwater went to Westfield, in Massachusetts, to visit his Uncle Rev. Noah Atwater, who was in the habit of teaching mathamatics to a class of young men. He invited young Atwater to come and study with him the ensuing winter, which he did. Here he learned the art of surveying, in company with Warren Shepherd, who was one of the first exploring party on the Reserve. In the minutes of that expedition, Warham Shepherd and Amzi Atwater are called " Explorers Assistants." At this school a friendship was formed between them that lasted till the death of Shepherd. In April, 1796, being then nineteen years of age, young Atwater left Connecticut, on foot and alone, with a heavy knapsack on is back, to meet his friend Shepherd at Ontario county, New York, with whom he remained until the agents of the Connecticut Land Company, were ready to commence their survey, when he left for then unknown west. He joined them at Canandaigua, June 13, 1796. His business was to collect cattle, and pack horses, with which he went all the way by land. Having served as chairman, drover, and assistant surveor faithfully through the year 1796, he returned in the spring of 1797 as one of the assistant surveyors. The last surveyors left the Reserve the fore part of November, 1797, for the most part a sorry, sickly looking set of beings, the very reverse of what they were in the spring. In 1798-99 Amzi Atwater was in the employ of the Holland Land Company, in the western part of New York, and assisted in running nearly all the township lines. In te fall of 1799 he returned to Connecticut, and spent the winter with his Uncle, in study. In 1800, in company with his brother, Jotham, he came to Mantua, Ohio, and made a permanent settlement on the farm where he died. In 1808, on the organization of Portage County, he was elected one of the Associate Judges, and subsequently held many public trusts, such as his neighbors urged upon him, but which he did not covet. He chose retirement, and in the language o his old friend, Abram Tappan, of Ashtabula, " Judge Atwater's disposition was mild, and he was honest to a proverb." In a letter to Mr. Tappen, written March 24th, 1851, Judge Atwater says--- " I need not say much how I have run the line of life. I have run through some of the swamps of adversity, and over many of the plains of prosperity. My assistants have generally been cheerfully, and I may say faithful. My provisons hold out well, and perhaps I have enough to carry me through to the end of my line, which I have good reason to believe will soon be completed. " ++++++++++++++++++++ Extracts From the Diary of Amzi Atwater Arrived at Stows Castle at the mouth of the Conneaut River, September 14th, there we heard that the other companies were a part of them at the Cuyahoga, and that the Cuyahoga river, was fifteen miles west of the one we had followed to the lake, supposing it to be the Cuyahoga. A boat was at Conneaut going to carry provisions to the other companies at Cuyahoga. We prepared to go onthe same, but before we could get the boat out of the creek, it was so near night that we concluded to stay till morning. the wind was so high for several days that we could not go. On the 18th of September four of us were sent to Cuyahoga by land, leading the pack horses louded with flour, and the other two driving cattle. When we were within six miles of the Cuyahoga.we saw boats coming from there with the other company in them. They had, spent so much of their provisions that they thought it best not to stay there any longer, but whem they saw us they returned to Cuyahoga. The next day after we got there I was sent with Mr. Stoddard to survey the south-east part of the township of Cleveland. No 7, in the twelfth range, in one hundred acre lots, which will be found to vary, very much in size. There were two other parties in the east part of the township about two weeks, and then returned to the house at the mouth of the Cuyahoga River. When we arrived at the house, I was sent with Pease to run out a part of the city plat. We were two or three days in finishing this, when about one-half of the company was dismissed. "Amazi Atwater always styled the proprietor's of Euclid as mutineers. He was minutely narriatated to me the cicumstances of the mutiny. They mutinied on their first arrival at Conneaut The sale of the township of Euclid, was a part of the compromise made by Cleavelad and Porter. The organization of the surveyors and men was of the military order, and they were enlisted the same as in the army, for two years, Providing it took so long." (This was taken from a conversation to Orrin Harmon. ) Proceeding at Cleaveland Sept. 30, 1796 ( Substance of a contract made at Cleaveland Sept 30th, 1796, between Moses Cleaveland agent of the Connecticut Land Company, and the employees of the Company, in reference to the Sale and Settlement of the township of Euclid No 8, in the eleventh Range. ) One the part of the surveyors forty one persons signed the agreement. Each party to have an equal share in the township, at the price of one dollar per acre, with interest from Sept. 1st, 1797, to remain in te service of the company faithfully to the end of the year, and to perform certain acts of settlement, as follows; To settle, in the year 1797, eleven families, build eleven houses, and sow two acres of wheat around each house - to be on different lots. In the year 1798 to settle eighteen more familes, build eighteen more houses on different lots, and to clear and sow five acres wheat on each. There must be also fifty acres in grass in the township. In the year 1799, there must be twelve more families occupying twelve more lots, ( in all forty-one, ) with eight acres in wheat. On all other lots three acres additional in wheat for this year, and in all seventy acres to be in grass. There must be, in the year 1800, forty-one families resident of the township. In case of falure to perform any of the conditions, whatever had been done or paid was to be forfeited to the company. But the failure of other parties not to affect those who perform. If salt springs are discovered on the lot it is expected from the agreement, and other lands given instead. [To this contract are appended as witnesses, the names of Jeffries Marvin, and Nathan Perry, the latter of whom became a resident in 1806, and died at Black river, Oct 28, 1813.] Persons in the employ of the company who were not parties to this agreement: Amos Sawtel, Daniel Shulay, Nathan Chapmen, Stephen Burbank, Samuel Barnes, Joshua Stow, Robert Hamilton. +++++++++++++++ Proceedings At a General Meeting of The Employees of The Land Company; [ Held at Cleaveland, Sept. 30, 1796. ] At a meeting of the proprietors of No 8, in the eleventh range of towns in new Connecticut, held at the city of Cleaveland, on the 30th day of Sept, 1796, being the surveyors and assistants employed in surveying the summer past the country of New Connecticut. Seth Pease chosen Moderator. Moses Warren chosen Clerk. In said meeting it was agreed, that a majority of votes shall govern in any question before the meeting, without contradiction. Voted that it be determined by a lottery which said proprietors shall do the first, second and third years settling duties, as required by our patent this day executed by Moses Cleaveland, Esq., director of said New Connecticut Land Company, without contridiction. The lots beng drawn, it is as follows; Seth Pease -- 1 ; Martin Coffin -- 2 ; Moses Warren 2; Nathaniel Doan - 3; Milton Holley - 2; Samuel Davenport -3; Amos Spafford 3; Timothy Dunham - 1; Joseph Tinker -2; Samuel Forbes - 1; Theo.Shepherd 1; Elijah Gun - 3; Rich. M.Stoddard 3; Francis Gray -2; Elisha Ayer - 1; George Goodwin - 2; Amzi Atwater - 1; Luke Hanchet - 3; Samuel Agnew- 1; James Hacket -2 Shadrach Benham-2; James Hamilton - 2; Stephen Benton -3; Sam. Hungerford -1; David Beard - 3; Thomas Harris - 2; Amos Barber -3; William B. Hall -2; John Briant -3; Joseph Landon - 3; John Locke -2; Charles Parker - 2; Asa Mason -2; Olney F. Rice - 3; Joseph M'Intire -2; Wareham Shepard -1; Ezekiel Morley -2; Job P. Stiles - 2; Titus V. Munson -1; Norman Wilcox -2; George Proudfoot -1. Total -- 41. The names marked No 1 are to do said settling duties in the year 1797,and the names marked No 2 are to do said duties in the year 1798, and the names marked No 3 are to do said settling duties in the year 1799, agreeable to said lottery. A true copy of part of the proceedings of the proprietors meeting, Examined by Moses Clarkm Jr., Clerk. This copy is in the hand writing of Seth Pease. Mr. Atwater who was one of the parties to this compact, always spoke of the transaction as a mutiny. There is no such mention of it, so far as I know, in the papers of General Cleaveland, or of the Land Company. If they had regarded the conduct of Messrs. Pease, Spafford and Warren in that light, the proprietors would not have hired them again in the year 1797. After a trial of three months, wherein they had undergone the hardsips of forest life, they were no doubt inclined to obtain some advantages for their services. The Company, on their part, required an early settlement of their lands. ++++++++++++++++++ Mr. Porter's Plan of Disposing of the lots in Cleaveland. " Terms proposed by Augustus Porter, for sale of the one-fourth part of the township of Cleaveland after, making the following reservations, to wit; City lots No. 58,59,60,61,62,63,81,82,83,84,85,86,87, and the point of land west of town, and also some reservations of flats on the river if it should be advisable, after surveying.The aforesaid quarter to be selected in the following manner to wit; to begin with lot 1, and to take every fourth number in succession through the town, which should be offered for sae on the following terms; " 1st, To sell to each person who would engage to become an actual settler in the year of 1797, one town or city lot, one ten or twenty acre lot, and one one hundred acre lot, or two one hundred acre lts, or as much less as they may choose, but in all cases to make settlement as aforesaid. 2nd. The price of town lots, fifty dollars, cash in hand. 10 acre lots -- at $ 3.00 per acre 20 acre lots -- at $ 2.00 per acre. 100 acre lots -- at $ 1.50 per acre. Payable 20 per centum in hand, the remainder in three annual payments, with annual interest from date Sept. 28th, 1796. The above is in the handwriting of Amos Spafford. ++++++++++++++++ What was accomplished in 1796 fell short of the expectations of all parties, particularly of the stockholders of the company. About fourteen thousand dollars had been expended upon the expedition. The field books of the surveyors show rapid work, frequently making eight, ten, and sometimes twelve miles a day. Warren appears to have been less energetic than the others, however, as he was continued in service the next year, the company must have been satisfied with him. When the season closed, there was a large tract in which no lines had been run. This was all that territory east of the Cuyahoga, west of the fourth meridian and south of the sixth parallel. The southern boundary of the Reserve, had not been continued west o the fourth Range, that is, only to the south-west corner of Berlin. Pease had run southerly, between ranges eight and nine, one township below the sixth parallel, to the north-west corner of Town five, range eight, ( Mantua ) and tence west to the Cuyahoga, on the north line of Northfield, which he reached on the 6th of September. None of the six townships intended for sale were allotted, except fractions number seven and eight in the twelfth Range, afterwards Cleaveland and Newburg. None of the ten acre out-lots in Cleaveland were surveyed. Around these are the one hundred acre loys, nunbering from 268 to 486, which, with the in and out lots of the city, covered fractional Towns seven and eight. Why the numbers of the one hundred acre lots were not commenced at number one, I have no means of explaining. the four townships making four hundred lots, intended for distrbution, one of each share in the company, were not yet sub-divided. It is probable that all, or nearly all of the township lines north of the sixth parallel were finished this season. One cause of delay in the surveys, was the time lost by all parties when they arrived at Chagrin river and mistook it as the Cuyahoga. It was not always practical to have provisions promptly delivered to the surveying parties, so that their work could go on without interruption. The axmen, chainmen, cooks, pack-horse men and boatmen, soon got over their first enthusiasm, which delayed their progress. After ther experience in running the first four meridians, the romance of the line in the woods was very much dissipated. Every day was one of toil, and frequently discomfort. The woods, and particularly the swamps, were filled with ravenous mosquitoes, who were never idle, day or night. In rainy weather the bushes were wet, and in clear weather the heat was oppressive. They were not always sure of supper at night, nor of their drink of New England rum, which constituted an important part of their rations. Their well provided clothing began to show rents, from so much clambering over logs and through thickets. Their shoes gave out rapidly, as they were incessantly on foot, and where no cobblers could be found to reair them. They had no special interest in the work, except their pay. It does not appear that their discontent arose to an open rupture with the surveyors, but was sufficient to hinder progress of the work. The agent and his subordinates, were obliged to make promises of lands to such as proved faithful, which the proceedings of Sept 30th, sufficiently expain. Before they started some of the party had selected lots in the capital city of New Connecticut. The allotment of the town and the surrounding lots, was the work of all the parties. Porter states that he ran the outline of the tract to be compromised in the new town. Pease, Stoddard and Spafford had a hand in it, and Holley surveyed some of the one hundred acre lots. A few lots were sold probably on te terms proposed by Porter. Great expectations were formed of their projected settlement in Euclid, which however, were not realized. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Tid Bits con't in part 99.