Community Named For Beloved President

Community Named For Beloved President

By CATHERINE ELLSWORTH (1976)

By CATHERINE ELLSWORTH (1976)

Gideon Granger, former Postmaster General of the United States under President ThomasJefferson, envisioned his Western Reserve land as "the center of a small universe, and the seat of the future County."

Granger had become sole owner of the land known as township number two of the third range, through an exchange with his partner, Oliver Phelps. They had drawn the land now known as Jefferson, Wayne, Harpersfield and Lenox in the lot drawing of 1798.

Gideon Granger became totally involved with his project, first platting it into 320-acre lots. He sent Eldad Smith as his representative in 1804. Smith established residency by building a cabin on Mill Creek. His next task was to clear a path to the Austinburg settlement to the west. This done, he sowed several acres of wheat. Six years later Ashtabula County's first courthouse was built in this field.

One such pioneer, Samuel Wilson, filled with expectation of the beautiful city, endured the difficult and perilous journey to Jefferson with his family, only to fall into a deep shock with the realization that the forest before him was his "city," with those dreamed of avenues merely blazed lines on the forest trees.

The Wilson family arrived on a bleak Friday in November, 1805, anguished and disillusioned with the reality of the situation. The following Friday, Wilson raised his log cabin on the south side of Court Square, on the next Friday he moved his family in, on the next Friday butchered a beef, and on the following Friday, died. His was the first death in the community. He was buried on Lot No. 3. His was also the first house of Jefferson, and the town became the seat of Ashtabula County government, organized January 22, 1811.

One year after the incorporation of Jefferson Village in l838 the need for fire protection was realized. Thus, in 1837, the oldest volunteer fire department in the county came into existence as the Phoenix Hose Co. Then Sen. Benjamin F Wade presented a silver hailing trumpet to the company, which returned the honor by changing the name to the Wade Hose Company.

Joshua Giddings was clerk of the first school board formed in 1826 on the corner of Chestnut and Jefferson streets.

Gideon Granger, former Postmaster General of the United States under President ThomasJefferson, envisioned his Western Reserve land as "the center of a small universe, and the seat of the future County."

Granger had become sole owner of the land known as township number two of the third range, through an exchange with his partner, Oliver Phelps. They had drawn the land now known as Jefferson, Wayne, Harpersfield and Lenox in the lot drawing of 1798.

Gideon Granger became totally involved with his project, first platting it into 320-acre lots. He sent Eldad Smith as his representative in 1804. Smith established residency by building a cabin on Mill Creek. His next task was to clear a path to the Austinburg settlement to the west. This done, he sowed several acres of wheat. Six years later Ashtabula County's first courthouse was built in this field.

One such pioneer, Samuel Wilson, filled with expectation of the beautiful city, endured the difficult and perilous journey to Jefferson with his family, only to fall into a deep shock with the realization that the forest before him was his "city," with those dreamed of avenues merely blazed lines on the forest trees.

The Wilson family arrived on a bleak Friday in November, 1805, anguished and disillusioned with the reality of the situation. The following Friday, Wilson raised his log cabin on the south side of Court Square, on the next Friday he moved his family in, on the next Friday butchered a beef, and on the following Friday, died. His was the first death in the community. He was buried on Lot No. 3. His was also the first house of Jefferson, and the town became the seat of Ashtabula County government, organized January 22, 1811.

One year after the incorporation of Jefferson Village in l838 the need for fire protection was realized. Thus, in 1837, the oldest volunteer fire department in the county came into existence as the Phoenix Hose Co. Then Sen. Benjamin F Wade presented a silver hailing trumpet to the company, which returned the honor by changing the name to the Wade Hose Company.

Joshua Giddings was clerk of the first school board formed in 1826 on the corner of Chestnut and Jefferson streets.

Jefferson's most notable residents were undoubtedly Benjamin F. Wade and Joshua R. Giddings. The two were partners in law from 1831 until 1838, when Giddings was elected to Congress.

In the fall of 1837, Wade was elected to the Ohio State Senate. In March of 1851, he was elected to the United States Senate. The two one-time partners became fearless and formidable foes of slavery.

As President pro-tem of the Senate, Wade very nearly became President of the United States when Andrew Johnson escaped impeachment by one vote.

 A plaque adorns the wall next to the entrance to the Jefferson Town Hall. It names several persons as "pioneers in transportation" including John Udell and his wife, for the first covered wagon to travel to California by the southern route, in 1859 and 1860; W.F Babcock, the third person to ride a bicycle from the Pacific to the Atlantic; E.T. Fetch, who drove the first automobile from coast to coast; and Mark Cummings, the first person to operate an electric street car in the United States. The plaque also notes seven residents have served in Congress. The remaining words sum up the whole story of Jefferson, truly a community with "an inspiring past, a worthy present, a confident future." 

Jefferson's most notable residents were undoubtedly Benjamin F. Wade and Joshua R. Giddings. The two were partners in law from 1831 until 1838, when Giddings was elected to Congress.

In the fall of 1837, Wade was elected to the Ohio State Senate. In March of 1851, he was elected to the United States Senate. The two one-time partners became fearless and formidable foes of slavery.

As President pro-tem of the Senate, Wade very nearly became President of the United States when Andrew Johnson escaped impeachment by one vote.

 A plaque adorns the wall next to the entrance to the Jefferson Town Hall. It names several persons as "pioneers in transportation" including John Udell and his wife, for the first covered wagon to travel to California by the southern route, in 1859 and 1860; W.F Babcock, the third person to ride a bicycle from the Pacific to the Atlantic; E.T. Fetch, who drove the first automobile from coast to coast; and Mark Cummings, the first person to operate an electric street car in the United States. The plaque also notes seven residents have served in Congress. The remaining words sum up the whole story of Jefferson, truly a community with "an inspiring past, a worthy present, a confident future." 

Runaway slave Charlie Garlick posed in front of his home, the Giddings law office. It was on the lawn next to the huge home, since burned down, of the Giddings family.

Runaway slave Charlie Garlick posed in front of his home, the Giddings law office. It was on the lawn next to the huge home, since burned down, of the Giddings family.

Ashtabula Courthouse as shown in 

Charley Garlick's book

Ashtabula Courthouse as shown in 

Charley Garlick's book

                                                                ^

To Join ACHS please click the blue box 

Print the form and mail it to

Ashtabula County Historical Society, P.O. Box 36, Jefferson, Ohio 44047

Please make checks payable to the Ashtabula County Historical Society 

A.C.H.S. Headquarters Office Phone: 440-466-7337

Members must be present to cast their ballot at the Annual Meeting held in the fall.

                                                                ^

To Join ACHS please click the blue box 

Print the form and mail it to

Ashtabula County Historical Society, P.O. Box 36, Jefferson, Ohio 44047

Please make checks payable to the Ashtabula County Historical Society 

A.C.H.S. Headquarters Office Phone: 440-466-7337

Members must be present to cast their ballot at the Annual Meeting held in the fall.

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