NEW LYME TOWNSHIP
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     THIS township, which is No. 9 of the third range, was originally called Lebanon.  On the 17th day of May, in the year 1799, it was deeded by the Connecticut land company to Elisha Tracy, and on June 1, same year, Josiah Barber purchased an undivided interest in the township.  During the years 1801 and 1803, Barber sold to S. Gilbert, E. Tracy, and on June 1, same year, Josiah Barber purchased an undivided interest in the township.  During the years 1801 and 1803,
Barber sold to S. Gilbert, E. Tracy, and Joseph Pepoon all his interest excepting one thousand acres, which were deeded, on the 15th day of May, 1813, to Joel Owen, originally of Nelson township, Tolland county, Connecticut.  This land was located as follows : two hundred acres in the west part of lot No. 1, and eight hundred in lots Nos. 25 and 26.  Mr. Owen received an article for this land in the summer of 1803, and in the fall of same year began the journey to his far western home.  This was undertaken with a wagon drawn by oxen.  Owing to the inclemency of the season, bad roads, etc., he left his family, which at that time consisted of a wife and two children, at Amsterdam, New York, and came on to his possessions in this township.  During the winter he erected thereon the first house in New Lyme.  This was a small log structure, with the “regulation puncheon floor” and rived shingle roof.  Having completed his dwelling he returned in the spring for his family, and soon after embarked for his new home.  His route was up the Mohawk river and along Lake Ontario to Buffalo, in an open boat, and from that point to Ashtabula, thence through Austinburg and Morgan to their cabin, at which point they arrived on the 13th day of August, 1804, over nine months from the time of their “breaking camp” in Connecticut.  At this time the nearest white settlers were seven miles away, and here, solitary and alone, except as occasional parties of Indians encamped near them for the purpose of hunting, this family resided for nearly seven years.  Of the children of Mr. Owen we learn there were six, three of whom settled, after marriage, in the adjoining township of Colebrook, one in Gustavus, Trumbull county, and another in Saybrook, then called Wrightsburg.  The names of these children were Sophia, who married Reuben Roberts; Zarina, who married John Scoville; Anna, who married Jedediah Groves; Sallie, who married Gilbert Cole; Electa, who married Daniel Collings; and Polly, who married Jonathan Webb.  None of the family are at present residents of New Lyme.  In January, 1811, Mr. Owen ceased to be “ monarch of all he surveyed,” from the fact that at this time the following persons removed from Lyme, New London county, Connecticut, and located near him: Samuel G. and Daniel Peck, Joshua Strickland, Vinton B. Way, and John and Salmon Gee.  These parties built a log cabin and cleared off a piece of ground in what was then known as the “ pigeon-roost,” and from it some six hundred bushels of corn (in the ear) were harvested.  In July of the same year, Dan Huntley, Joseph Miller, Peter Chapman, and Perry G. Beckwith, with their families, arrived in the township.  The children of Joseph Miller, who settled on lot No. 2, were Angeline, born in Connecticut; deceased.  The next, Dan, married Lydia Johnson; was ordained a clergyman of the Baptist connection, Oct. 15, 1836; died in Minnesota, April, 1874.  Louisa, third child, married Heman Johnson; deceased.  Temperance, married Nelson Hyde; resides in New Lyme.  Eliza, died young.  Joseph, Jr., married Mary St. John; lives on south part of old farm. Marcenus V., married Beulah Brown;
lives on lot No. 8.  Griswold and Phoebe both died single.  The children of Perry G. Beckwith are Delinda, married John Gee; deceased. Elijah, married Sarah Partridge; now residing in Jefferson with his son, George W., who, with A. R., are connected with the mercantile interests at that point. Esther, deceased. Perry G., deceased.  Alvin, married Peggy Little; resides near the old homestead. Joanna, deceased.  Edward M., deceased. Ezra M., married. Phillips, resides in Colebrook. Adelia, deceased; and Samuel R., married Mary Allison; resides in Kinsman, Trumbull county. Of the families of Huntley and Chapman we have no data.
     The following August, Samuel and Daniel Peck and Vinton B. Way returned to Connecticut after their families.  Returning, they, in company with Eusebius Dodge, Zopher Gee, Charles Knowles, and Sanford Miner, arrived in New Lyme on the 20th day of the subsequent September.  This company, numbering some ninety persons all told, performed this journey of over six hundred miles in wagons drawn by horses and oxen.  Many mishaps are related of this journey and its privations and sufferings. Sufficient is it for us to know, however, that forty-three days from the time of their leaving their New England home they arrived at the cabin of Samuel G. Peck.  The children of Samuel Peck are William D., married Zipperali Miner, now resides in Fairfield, Iowa; Josiah J., deceased; Susannah, deceased; Betsey, married Eli Andrews, resides in Bloomingdale, Michigan; Lorica, deceased; Elijah, married Parney Hubbard, still living in New Lyme; Samuel G., married Nancy E. Canfield, lives in Rome, this county; Silas, married Angelina Gee, lives in this township; Zipperali and Mary Ann, deceased. D. Peck’s children were Edward C., deceased; Ansel, left New Lyme in 1818, supposed to have died west; Polly, married Elias Brockway, now living in Michigan; Lyman, married Laura Brown, residing on lands purchased by his father.  The children of Joshua Strickland are Stephen, Marcus L., and Eliza.  The children of Eusebius Dodge were John, deceased; Jeremiah, married Harriet Jackson, still living on the original homestead; Nancy, married Lemuel Lee, their only child is the present Judge Lee, of Ashtabula,—Mrs. Lee resides on the old place with her brother; Patty, deceased; Eusebius was a Baptist clergyman, deceased; Henry, deceased; Maria, deceased; Joanna, married Dr. Jared Fuller,—Sylvester Tracy, only son of this couple, is now cashier of the Second National bank of Jefferson.  The foregoing children were born in Lyme, Connecticut.  Two children were born here,—Edward C. and Matthew, who both died young.  The children of Vinton B.  Way are as follows: Abby, deceased Darien, married Catharine Foreman, resides in Colebrook; Caroline, still resides on the old homestead; Phebe, married Elisha B. Clark, lives in Rome, this county; John C., married Caroline C. Edwards, resides in this township; E. S., married Ann Norton, resides on the old farm; Sarah, deceased; Mary, deceased; Erastus and Esther, also deceased.

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emptying into Rock creek, in Rome.  Whetstone creek has its rise in a small swamp situated on the east line of the township, near the centre, flows nearly due west, and discharges its waters into Rock creek, a little north of the Centre road. 
     The first school was taught in the winter of 1812—13, by John Gee.  The building occupied for school purposes on this occasion was a small log affair, and was probably located on the land of Perry G. Beckwith, Sr.  There were some eighteen pupils in attendance, and comprised all the youth within the township.  The first select school was taught by Albert Hall, at the Baptist church, in the rear 1850.  The first marriage in the township of New Lyme occurred in the year 1812.  Miss Susan, daughter of Samuel G. Peck, and Calvin Knowlton, of Morgan, were the participants in this no doubt highly interesting event.  The ceremony was performed at the residence of the bride’s father, by the Rev. Giles H. Cowles, then resident in Austinburg.  The first male child born in this township was a son to Joseph and Elizabeth Miller, Dec. 14. 1811.  This child was named Daniel, and is the same of whom mention is made in connection with the Miller family.  The first child who saw the light in a frame dwelling was Marcena Miller; this was in 1822.  The first frame house erected in the township was in 1820, Dan Huntley owner.  The first adult death was that of an old lady named Bailey. This occurred in the year 1818.  Where buried, or who had charge of the funeral obsequies, we are unable to learn.  The first physician was Jared Fuller, who arrived in New Lyme in the year 1829.  Dr. Fuller was originally from Windham (now Scotland), Connecticut.  He located on lot No. 1, and continued to practice his profession successfully until 1870, when he removed to Jefferson.  Dr. Porter Kee, who was a partner of Dr. Fuller’s for some years, built the Water Cure establishment in this township.  The present medical staff of New Lyme is composed of Dr. A. Rathbone, who is spoken of as being fully up to the standard in professional attainments; has a fine practice.

ROADS

     “ Blazed” routes were established to Wayne, Lenox, Morgan, and Rome as early as 1811, but the first road of which mention is made in the county records was in June, 1813; this was “ from the Strong place in Rome, and running southerly through New Lyme; thence southerly and easterly until it intersects the road at Nathan Fobes’, in Wayne.”  The same date another road was authorized “ from the south line of No. 10, third range (Lenox), running south until it intersects the new road laid in Lebanon (New Lyme), and north in a direction with said line until it intersects the road running to Jefferson.”   June, 1816.  A road “from Eusebius Dodge, and running in an easterly direction until it intersects the road leading from Rome to Wayne, at Levi Bailey’s.”  Same date.  From, at, or near Joseph Miller's, and running eastwardly by the houses of Martin and Seldin Huntley, until it intersects the highway leading from Rome to Wayne. December, 1817.  From near the house of Levi Bailey, and running southeasterly to intersect the road running northerly from Titus Hayes’, in No. 8, second range (Wayne). March, 1819. From Eusebius Dodge’s, running westerly to Edward C. Dodge, in Rome. March, 1820.  From centre of south line to old road leading to Morgan, June, 1820.  From northeast corner of Josiah Peck's land to Windsor road.
     The first sermon delivered in the township was at the house of Zopher Gee, by the Rev. Giles H. Cowles, of Austinburg, in the fall of 1812, to an audience of, perhaps, twenty.
     The Free-Will Baptist church was organized Nov. 12, 1826, by Elder Samuel Wires, with nine members, whose names are as follows: Benj. Reeve, Elias Brockway, Elijah Brown, Rumsey Reeve, Daniel Bogue, Joshua Strickland, Lovina Waters, Martha Reeve, and Sarepta Brown.   Joshua Strickland was the first clerk and Benjamin Reeve deacon. Following are the names of such of the pastors as we could procure: Revs. Wires, Cheeney, Dodge, Rolland, Perry, Craft, D. H. Miller, Dunn, Rice, Straight, Crandall, Page, and ____ Drake, who is the present incumbent.  Their church at Dodgeville .was erected in the year 1846.  The close-communion Baptists erected a church in 1832.  Rev. Joshua Woodworth (ordained at Jefferson, 1811) was for years pastor of this church; was succeeded by Silas Barnes, Sidney Carter, and _____ St. John.

THE FIRST SAW-MILL.

was erected by Joseph Miller in 1814.  Its location was on Whetstone creek, north of Brownsville.  The next mill was built by Zopher Gee and Samuel G. Peck in 1820,  and stood on Lebanon creek, near the present residence of Zopher Gee.  Oliver Brown, in 1843, built a mill at Brownsville, on Lebanon creek.  This was run by water until 1850, when steam-power was substituted. This and the steam-mill just north of the centre comprise the sum total of the New Lyme mills.

ORGANIZATION.

     This township was organized under the name of Lebanon on the first Monday of April, 1813, and continued under that name until 1825, when it was, by special act of the legislature, changed to New Lyme.  Upon its organization the following persons were elected: David Huntley, Samuel G. Peck, and Perry G. Beckwith, trustees; Joseph Miller, clerk; Joel Owen, treasurer; and Edward C. Peck, constable. Eusebius Dodge was, on the 2d day of August, 1813, commissioned a justice of the peace for this township.  He was succeeded by Joseph Miller, and was recommissioned July 19, 1816.  His successor was Lemuel Lee, who served in that capacity for a number of years.  The present justices of the peace are Calvin Dodge and M. A. Eaton. Mr. Lee was one term to the legislature, and Judge William S. Deming two terms.  The first postmaster was undoubtedly Lemuel Lee, and the mail matter was received and distributed at his house, which stood just north of Dr. Fuller’s.  The date upon which this office was created we are unable to obtain, though a mail-route was established in 1826, running from Warren through this town to Jefferson, and it was probably soon after that this office was established. Samuel Lee was his successor.  This office is now kept at the store of Perry G. Hyde, who is postmaster. A second office is located on lot No. 8. M. V. Miller, postmaster, was commissioned Oct. 25, 1873.  The first hotel was opened in about the year 1S31 by Elijah Brown.  This building is now occupied by Byron Brown for a dwelling.  The present hotel is owned by L. S. Potter. Its location is next door south of Hyde’s store, and was first thrown open as a house of entertainment on May 17, 1876.  The first store was opened in the year 1830 by Richard Hayes and Benjamin Carpenter, of Hartford, Trumbull county, though Jeremiah Dodge sold some goods on commission prior to this date. The store of Messrs. Hayes & Carpenter was located at Dodgeville.  February, 1834, this store was sold to J. Dodge and Samuel Plumb. Nelson Hyde and Albert Latimer subsequently became partners.  In the spring of 1834 a mercantile establishment began business at Brownsville, under the firm -name of Oakley, Deming & Co.  They continued under this name for two years, when William S. Deming became sole owner.  The business continued for many years as Deming & St. John, William S. & John Deming, and Deming & Gee. New Lyme has at present five mercantile establishments: Hiram Dodge and M. L. Strickland at Dodgeville, P. G. Hyde and M. H. Wilson at Brownsville, and Nelson Hyde has a small stock of goods at his house, on the turnpike.  The first cheese-factory in New Lyme was built by Albert Latimer and Jonathan Bishop in 1865 and 1866.  This was the “Alderney.” Mr. Zopher Gee has been manager the most of the time.  The first year the milk of about three hundred cows was manufactured. Now the number is about six hundred.  The Lebanon Valley cheese-factory is owned by Messrs. Dodge & Brown, and does an extensive business, manufacturing in 1876 the milk of eleven hundred cows.
     At Brownsville there is a very fine lodge of the Independent Order of Good Templars.  Their charter bears date Apr. 15. 1868, with the following members: F. J. Reeve. H. A. Reeve, S. Reeve, J. S. Peck, Antoinette Peck, F. P. Brown, J. H. Patchin, A. E. Peck, C. H. Coon, D. S. Chapel, and Mary Chapel.  Membership, forty.

FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS.

     Symbol Lodge, No. 452, whose charter bears date Oct. 19, A. D. 5871, own a fine wooden building at Dodgeville, the lower story of which is occupied by the
store of M. L. Strickland. The charter members of this lodge are Alexander McCausland, Sylvester T. Fuller, George E. Gee, H. L Dodge.  D. C. Woodworth.
Benjamin Reeve, M. H. Wilson, J. C. Perry, J. A. Hoskins, F. E. and A. C. Crosby, O. R. Potter, A. W. Remick, A. G. Rathbone, R. L. Foreman, and Byron Bovee.  Present officers are E. S. Gee, W. M.; M. D. Rogers, S. W.; A. W. Remick, J. W.; E. N. Jayne, Sec.; H. L. Dodge, Treas.; George E. Gee, S. D.; George Parker, J. D.; and M. L. Strickland, Tyler.  The present membership is sixty, and steadily increasing.  Stated communications, second and fourth Mondays.
     New Lvme has in training a brass-band of no mean ability.
     In manufacturing, there is the carriage-manufactory of Messrs. Richmond, Dodge & Co., and Elisha Peckwith, the harness-shop of M. H. Wilson, blacksmith-and shoe-shops, marble-works, etc.
     In relation to the industries of this township, the assessor’s returns show that more than one hundred thousand pounds of cheese are manufactured here than in any other township in Ashtabula County. Below find crop statistics, etc.

     There are 6 school-houses, valued at $3300; amount paid teachers, $661.85; with a total number of scholars of 209.
     Population, 708.
     Vote for President in 1876 was: R. B. Hayes, 144; S. J. Tilden, 59.

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