In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1881) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1805
From History of Cuyahoga County, Ohio .. (1879), History of Cuyahoga County, Ohio ... : with portraits and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers (1881)
COL. EZRA EDDY.
Col. Ezra Eddy was born in Randolpli, Orange Co., Vt., Aug. 17, 1805. He was the youngest in the family of seven children of James and Sarah (Newton) Eddy, none of whom are now living. His father having died when Ezra was about ten years of age, he was apprenticed to a Mr. Blodgett to learn the tanner's trade.
He remained with him till 1826, when he went to Lodi, Seneca Co., N. Y., where he followed his trade for one year.
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After his marriage he removed to Mayfield, Cuyahoga Co., where he engaged in the tannery business, in which he continued till 1861, after which time he engaged in farming till his death, which occurred Aug. 3, 1870.
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Mr. Eddy was perhaps better known throughout the county than almost any man outside of the city of Cleveland as an independent farmer and intelligent citizen.
In the olden time, when militia masters were annual holidays, he was colonel of the regiment east of the Cuyahoga River, which position he filled with ability as long as the old military organizations lasted. For six years he was a commissioner of the county, and as such was respected for his ability, integrity, and faithfulness.
As an honest and zealous politician he was always present at the conventions of the old Whig party, and later of the Republican party, in the county, and was one of the men who gave character to those organizations.
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to open that road from the center westward. Of those who were on the hill before 1830, few if any remain besides Rufus Mapes. Joseph Leuty came in 1830. Elijah Sorter, with his son.s, Charles, Isaac and Harry, came in December, 1831. 8. Wlieeling, ijticas Lindslcy and others also came in 1831, and settled a mile and a half south of the center.
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The first physician in the township) was Dr. A. L. Dille, who came thither from Euclid in 1834, settled at Willson'.s Mills, and has ever since resided there. DdWH to 1834 the inhabitants had to go to Willougliby for their mail-matter. In that year a mail route was established from Chardon, (Jcauga county, to Cleveland, thi-ough (rates' Mills, and a post office was located at the latter place.
Willson & McDowell built a hotel at Willson's.Mills in 1833, which they kept for several years, and al)out the same time, perhaps a little earlier, Hiram Falk opened one at Gates' Mills. In 1834 Halsey (late put up a fine framed hotel at Gates' Mills with a ball-room in it, which was the ceiker of many a joyous gathering. About 1833 or '34 Willson & Mc- Dowell built a flouring-mill and sawmill near the site of their store and tavern. The mills were burned in ls39, but were soon rebuilt, Genei'al Willson remaining a part or entire owner until they i)passed into the hands of his son, who now owns them. Hence the name of Willson's Mills has always been a strictly correct appellation.
By this time all the laud in the township]) had been purchased, and a large part of it cleared off. The deer had given way before the axes and rifles of the pioneers, though a few were still to be seen bounding through the remaining belts of forest. Only once after Dr. Dille came, in 1834, did he hear the howling of a wolf. Mayfield was rapidly changing from a wilderness to a civilized townsiiip.
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The first church edifice in the township) was built by the Methodists in 1843, at Mayfield Center.
By 18.')(J the work of clearing up the township was substantially accomplished, the deer had all fallen before the rifles of their foes, or had followed the wolves into banishment, framed houses had generally taken the place of log ones, and Mayfield had assumed very near the appearance which it now presents.
In March, 185C, a few enterprising individuals procured a charter as the Mayfield Academy association, and proceeded to erect an academy on the State road in the southwest portion of the township. The institution was maintained for many years in a flourishing condition.
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In 1877 a plank road was built from a point in East Cleveland near the line of the city of Cleveland, through Euclid and Mayfield to the top of the hill half a mile east of Gates' Mills; about three and a half miles of it being in Mayfield.
There are now three post offices in the township at the three villages before mentioned. Gates' Mills. W'iU- son's Mills and Mayfield Center; the first of which has about twenty houses and the others a smaller number. Besides these there are at Gates" Mills a gristmill, a sawmill, a rake factory, a store and two churches; at Willson's Mills, a gristmill, a sawmill, a church; at Mayfield Center, a church, a store, a town hall and a steam sawmill. There arc also two cheese factories in the township; one on the State road, a mile east of Gates' Mills, and one half way between Gates' and Willson's Mills.
The Mayfield circuit contains three churches, one at Mayfield Center, one at Gates' Mills, and one on the cast line of the township. As has been said a Methodist class was organized as early as 18(i' Occasional preaching was held in the township, but owing to the sparsity of the inhabitants no great progress was made for many years. In 1835 there was a very earnest revival and a church was fully organized.
Rev. Mr. Graham was one of the first preachers; also Rev. Messrs. Excell and Mix. In 1843 the I\Iethodisls built, as before stated, the first church edifice in the township, at Mayfield Center. They have since rejjlaced this by a larger one, and in 1853 erected oi.e at Gates' Mills. There are now about a hundred members of the church at the Center, twenty-four of the one at (Jatos' [ills, and thirty-five of the one on East Hill. The following pastors have preached on this circuit since 1861: B. J. Kennedy, 1803, '03 and '04; E. C. Latimer, 1865 and '00; A. M. Brown, 1867; (J. J. Bliss, 1808; E. C. Latimer, Hiram Kellogg, Ib'lO; D. Rowland, 1871; J. B. Goodrich, 1873 and "73; 1). Meizener, 1874; J. K. Shafi"er, Is75:.James Shields, 1877 and '78.
( lirU< H (IF THE UNITED BRETHUKV.
This church was organized at Willson's Mills in 1870, and a neat tiamed edifice was erected the same year. There are now about thirty member.s.
As printed in History of Cuyahoga County, Ohio .. (1879). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
COL. EZRA EDDY.
Col. Ezra Eddy was born in Randolph, Orange Co., Vt., Aug. 17, 1805. He was the youngest in the family of seven children of James and Sarah (Newton) Eddy, none of whom are now living. His fatiier having died when Ezra was about ten years of age, he was apprenticed to a Mr. Blodgett to learn the tanner's trade.
He remained with him till 1826, when he went to Lodi, Seneca Co., X. Y., where he followed his trade for one year.
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After his marriage he removed to Mayfield, Cuyahoga Co., where he engaged in the tannery business, in which he continued till 1861, after which time he engaged in farming till his death, which occurred Aug. 3, 1870.
Col. Eddy was a well-known resident of the county, and was conspicuous as one of the pioneers of Mayfield township, where he raised a respectable family, and by severe industry and strict economy left a handsome competence.
Mr. Eddy was perhaps better known throughout the county than almost any man outside of the city of Cleveland as an independent farmer and intelligent citizen.
In the olden time, when militia masters were annual holidays, he was colonel of the regiment east of the Cuyahoga River, which position he filled with ability as long as the old military organizations lasted. For six years he was a commissioner of the county, and as such was respected for his ability, integrity, and faithfulness.
As an honest and zealous politician he was always present at the conventions of the old Whig party, and later of the Republican party, in the county, and was one of the men who gave character to those organizations.
As a neighbor, a husband, and a father, his character and that of his family are sufficient testimony of his value in all such relations of life. Long may his beloved widow enjoy the esteem of her friends and the aBection of her children.
As printed in History of Cuyahoga County, Ohio ... : with portraits and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers (1881). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1879. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.