Rock Creek Village Records Varied,Colorful Heritage

By Marie Lawson (1976)

Rock Creek Village Records Varied,Colorful Heritage

By Marie Lawson (1976)

The Village of Rock Creek in the township of Morgan records in its annals of history, a varied and colorful heritage. Appropriately named for that winding and rocky creek around which it developed, Rock Creek was forged into a vital, flourishing community by its industrious Connecticut founders.

In September, 1798, the going price of real estate in these parts was 30 cents an acre. After bequeathing his name to the township from which Rock Creek incorporates, landowner Capt. John Morgan from New Haven, Connecticut, sold his vast holdings to the Torringford Land Co., then moved on. An enterprising young man, Timothy Hawley of Hartford County, Connecticut, was then commissioned by that company to survey this township into lots. 

For this service Mr. Hawley received from the company, a deed of lots 5, 87, and 123, and the millsite on Rock Creek, Lots 115 and 125. It was stipulated that he settle the township and erect a sawmill on the aforementioned millsite. Hawley completed his survey, opened a road from Austinburg through the township to Gustavus in Trumbull County, then brought his family here from Connecticut. 

Emigrating here from Farmington, Connecticut, in the fall of 1801, Nathan Gillet and his family built a crude log cabin on Lot 77 and settled down to life among a few friendly Indians. Their primitive home, 18-foot square and eight logs high, was fashioned of round logs and split timbers made snug with mud and clay. 

Presbyterians formed Morgan's first church organization could safely proceed. Meantime, traffic, bypassing the stalled church, created the present bend in Route 45.  

Historically, Ashtabula County played a large part in the Underground Railroad. The Church of Christ in Morgan (Congregational) passed resolution on March 28, 1839, denouncing slavery as a great sin. That resolution further pledged church members to cooperate in all proper ways to secure abolition. This was a courageous action indeed, at a time when abolitionist was synonymous with anarchist.  

It was erected in 1832 by George Crowell and Samuel Ackley at the request of the Trumbull-Ashtabula Turnpike Co.

Those entering Rock Creek from its southern approach came over Ashtabula County's only two-lane covered bridge, the first such bridge built on a stone foundation and the first to be dated

The Village of Rock Creek in the township of Morgan records in its annals of history, a varied and colorful heritage. Appropriately named for that winding and rocky creek around which it developed, Rock Creek was forged into a vital, flourishing community by its industrious Connecticut founders.

In September, 1798, the going price of real estate in these parts was 30 cents an acre. After bequeathing his name to the township from which Rock Creek incorporates, landowner Capt. John Morgan from New Haven, Connecticut, sold his vast holdings to the Torringford Land Co., then moved on. An enterprising young man, Timothy Hawley of Hartford County, Connecticut, was then commissioned by that company to survey this township into lots. 

For this service Mr. Hawley received from the company, a deed of lots 5, 87, and 123, and the millsite on Rock Creek, Lots 115 and 125. It was stipulated that he settle the township and erect a sawmill on the aforementioned millsite. Hawley completed his survey, opened a road from Austinburg through the township to Gustavus in Trumbull County, then brought his family here from Connecticut. 

Emigrating here from Farmington, Connecticut, in the fall of 1801, Nathan Gillet and his family built a crude log cabin on Lot 77 and settled down to life among a few friendly Indians. Their primitive home, 18-foot square and eight logs high, was fashioned of round logs and split timbers made snug with mud and clay. 

Presbyterians formed Morgan's first church organization could safely proceed. Meantime, traffic, bypassing the stalled church, created the present bend in Route 45.  

Historically, Ashtabula County played a large part in the Underground Railroad. The Church of Christ in Morgan (Congregational) passed resolution on March 28, 1839, denouncing slavery as a great sin. That resolution further pledged church members to cooperate in all proper ways to secure abolition. This was a courageous action indeed, at a time when abolitionist was synonymous with anarchist.  

It was erected in 1832 by George Crowell and Samuel Ackley at the request of the Trumbull-Ashtabula Turnpike Co.

Those entering Rock Creek from its southern approach came over Ashtabula County's only two-lane covered bridge, the first such bridge built on a stone foundation and the first to be dated

Rock Creek Station was always a busy meeting place with five trains and two mail coaches passing through daily. Goodall's hack picked up the the mail, and Sidley's Livery picked up passengers.

Rock Creek Station was always a busy meeting place with five trains and two mail coaches passing through daily. Goodall's hack picked up the the mail, and Sidley's Livery picked up passengers.

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