From the preface of Pioneer Women of the Western Reserve*:
When, in August 1895, the women of Cleveland organized the celebration of the city's centennial year, local history was selected as a work. Upon investigation, it was found that every county of the Reserve had its published history, including each of the townships therein, so that apparently everything worth mentioning had already been told.
One thing noticed, however, was the prominence given to the biographies of men, with little or no mention of their wives, who, doubtless, had performed an equal though different part in the laying of the foundations of future civilization and prosperity. In view of this, a letter was prepared asking for the histories of the pioneer women, to be written by their daughters and granddaughters.
And therefore , whatever may be noted as crude in style, defective in composition or lacking in taste, let it steadily be borne in mind that not one in twenty who performed the task had ever before written a line for publication. This is stated not as an apology, but as an explanation. All honor is due to every name following these sketches.
A postal card received by the editor will serve to indicate the difficulties under which many of the writers labored: "I hope to forward my article by the 15th, for I expect from now on to devote all the time to it that I can spare from absolutely necessary duties. But a family of six must eat, and I am cook. There is a big house to keep in order, and I am housemaid. But I shall leave every thing undone possible, devote myself to literary pursuits, and let the boys go ragged. For the sake of my soul's repose I want to finish it, for when I have worked all the evening, I go to bed so excited that I can scarcely sleep, and the ghosts of bygone generations hold high carnival all night long in my dreams, and the next morning my head aches."
Excerpts from Pioneer Women of Richfield, Summit County 1800 - 1850
Chief Historian Mrs. Heman Oviatt, nee Susanna Sweet, 774 Fairmount St., Cleveland, chairman and historian Richfield Committee: Mrs. Mary Farnham Braddock, Mrs. Almoretta Bourne Garman, Mrs. Emma Hart Garget, Mrs. Clarissa Payne Kirby, Mrs. Harriet Palmer Mackey, Miss Charlotte Noble, Miss Julia Pope
The first woman of whom there is any mention in connection with Richfield is the wife of an inoffensive, friendly old Indian called Nicksaw, who was shot down in the presence of his squaw by one Williams, a white man who had followed them a long distance for the purpose. The woman made her escape after hiding her papoose in a hollow log. Returning the following day with help to bury her husband, she found her child in fine condition.
In 1818, a church was organized under the trees in the open air. Among the twelve charter members were 8 women, as follows: Mrs. Isaac Welton, Hannah and Ann Welton, Mary Oviatt, Sarah Sturtevant, Lydia Carter and Martha Farnham. [sic: there are only 7 names]
Abiah Northrop - Mrs. Jonathan Sheldon - came with her husband and children in 1812 with oxen and wagon on the broad end of which was painted in large, distinct lettering, "Going to Ohio". It is told of Mrs. Sheldon that she often quieted her restless babe by suspending it in her strong linen apron while spinning her stinted day's work of a certain number of skeins of wool yarn.
Mrs. Lucy Sheldon Clark had a platform made to place beside the wheel to enable her young daughters to reach the spindle, and so do their part of this important branch of labor. Her daughters also became experts at the braiding and plaiting of straw hats.
Mrs. Annie Benedict Crissy settled in the township in 1818, from Schoharle County, New York. Upon going to the door one day to learn what was disturbing the pigs, she saw a very large bear carrying one of them away. Mr. Crissy, most fortunately, had set his loaded gun just outside the door. Mrs. Crissy discharged the piece with such unerring aim as to kill the trespassing visitor without harm to the pig.
Mrs. Barton Brown lived a kind of gypsy life for some years, camping out in the forest - moving from one spot to another to suit the convenience of her husband, who was a famous chopper and took jobs clearing the land.
Mary Humphrey - Mrs. Salmon Oviatt - a woman of sterling worth, emigrated from Goshen, CT, in 1815 and settled near the center of the township. During the first 28 years of her life on this extreme frontier, she became the mother of 14 children, most of whom married and made their homes near her. In those early days, deer were so numerous that they sometimes came up with the cows to the stable. There were also wolves, wildcats, bears, and occasionally the frightfully human call of a panther could be heard.
Mrs. Eliza Benedict Bigelow, from Schoharie County, New York, a sister to Mrs. Crissy, is said to have been an able and resolute woman. She was returning from a visit to Mrs. Welton with a young son on the horse with her, when she was startled upon hearing the unmistakable cry of a panther which seemed to proceed from the direction she was following. To deviate from her way was not to be thought of. She instantly decided to frighten the creature by taxing her own vocal chords to their utmost. This she did by frequent and resounding screams, at the same time waving her lighted lantern aloft and in this manner reached her home in safety.
Mrs. Sarah Baker Alger, the daughter of a New Haven merchant, married John Alger in 1788. In 1818, Mr. Alger died and three years later, Mrs. Alger left Bethany, Genessee County, New York, with six children, making the journey in winter with two sleds drawn by oxen and bringing a sick son on a bed all the way. They stopped with relatives near Cleveland for a few days, and these friends went with her to her destination, bringing with them axes to fell the trees and build a house for her. In three days the home was ready, and she commenced her pioneer life with only 25 cents left of her money, which was spent for medicine for her sick boy. Salt at this time was $6 per barrel. Mrs. Alger's children dug ginseng in the surrounding wood, which, when dried, sold for 25 cents per pound. With this they bought half a barrel of salt. When the supply of flour failed, a meal or two could be furnished by shaving ears of corn with a carpenter's shave and boiled. This was called "jointed corn". At one time, Mrs. Alger was taken suddenly ill in the night. The fire having gone out, her son went to the house of Mrs. Nathaniel Oviatt a mile away for a few live coals to start a fire.
Mrs. Elenor Coates Weld was the first hostess of a public house, her husband building and keeping it for a few years; he also did much to give Richfield a reputation for fine fruits of all kinds.
The mother of Mrs. Richard Houck was sick at one time, having little or no relish for food. She was visited by an Indian woman, who brought some savory cooked meat, which the sick woman ate with great relish. After some questioning by the friends of Mrs. Houck, the squaw told them it was rattlesnake.
Mrs. Timothy Hall - Dolly Miles - was a natural nurse, at one time having access to some medical books, studied with such zeal and comprehension of the subject that she had not been long in this new country before there were so many demands upon her medical skill that she was obliged to provide herself with a horse and saddle for her own special use. Many of the first generations in Richfield made their advent into this world with her skillful assistance. She was not like the lilies of the field that toil not, neither did they spin, for she did both, early and late. The last of the bed linen made by her hands she sent to the Sanitary Commission for use in the hospitals during the first year of the late war.
Mrs. Amanda Barnes Hart, a true hardworking pioneer, wove one thousand yards of carpet after she reached the age of 72 years.
Mrs. Sarah Hart, her daughter, was a successful teacher for 30 years, always boarding around, spending a stated number of nights in each family. In the winter, she sometimes waded through drifts of snow as high as the wayside fences, lighting the schoolhouse fire with benumbed fingers and cheerfully doing each day's duty as it came to her, even to the walk with her family of three miles to church on Sunday.
Mrs. Emily Oviatt Farnham, wife of Everett Farnham, spent her whole life in Richfield. She was a woman of unusual mental ability and deft of hand, not only faithful in all her home relations, but a warm and forgiving friend.
Jane Kettle, Mrs. Drayton Curtis, came in 1829. Having outlived all who were near her in relationship excepting a grandchild, she lives almost alone with her flowers, which she tenderly cares for summer and winter. Her personality seems to be in some way merged into these constant companions.
There being no stated minister in the early days of the church, the people met in town council and elected Mr. Elijah Ellsworth to lead in meetings. As he was somewhat addicted to swearing, he agreed to abandon the practice so long as he held this office. The concientious discharge of his duties gave him a claim on the affections of the people, and he was subsequently elected train band captain and finally rose to the part of colonel. His esteemable wife, Clarissa Oviatt, became mistress of one of the earliest of the pretentious homes, which contained a large hall - a favorite place for gatherings of a social nature. Dr. Wheeler, who was at that time a bachelor and a member of Mrs. Ellsworth's household, kept his primitive laboratory in a cupboard by the side of the chimney-piece. During a social function, a rather conspicuous bottle of antimonial wine, an active emetic, was taken from its place and secretly passed among a few of the liveliest of the young men; the doctor, seemingly oblivious of what was going on, was not unmindful of results. It became known the following day, that several very limp young men were unusually silent whenever the party was alluded to.
*Memorial to the Pioneer Women of the Western Reserve (published by the Women's Department of the Cleveland Centennial Commission, 1896)
Multiple authors.
Mrs. Gertrude Van Rensselaer Wickham ( 1844 - 1929? ), editor.
According to Shirley M. De Boer CG, " This work was originally printed in five parts, each for sale for forty cents. Reprinted as books, Parts 1 & 2 made up Vol. 1 in 1896; Parts 3 & 4 contained in Vol. 2 were published in 1897; and Part 5 & the Name Index finished the series in Vol. 3 in 1924."
Multiple authors.
Mrs. Gertrude Van Rensselaer Wickham ( 1844 - 1929? ), editor.
According to Shirley M. De Boer CG, " This work was originally printed in five parts, each for sale for forty cents. Reprinted as books, Parts 1 & 2 made up Vol. 1 in 1896; Parts 3 & 4 contained in Vol. 2 were published in 1897; and Part 5 & the Name Index finished the series in Vol. 3 in 1924."
