The first settler in the township was Isaac Bacon. He was born in Boston, Mass., in 1772, and when quite young, prompted by that active energy that actuated the pioneers of the Reserve to break away from the crowded coast of the Atlantic, he left his native city, and removed to Genesee in the State of New York, where he purchased some laud on which he commenced his improvements. In 1801 he married Nancy Cranmer, a sister of Jeremiah and Abraham Cranmer, long known as residents of Northfield.
But, for his active and enterprising spirit, even Genesee was too much cramped—and in 1806 he exchanged his farm there with Judge Phelps, for 320 acres in the Western Reserve; 160
acres of which lay in Northfield—being lot 63—on to which he removed his family in April, 1807. Zina Post of Hudson, and a family by the name of Noble, at Tinker's creek, in- Cuyahoga county, were his nearest neighbors. His family, consisting of himself, wife, a brother of his, and three children, had no shelter but their wagon, until he could erect a cabin. It being nearly impossible to procure help to raise a house, he resolved to attempt
it alone, which he did by placing skids on which to roll up the logs, and then, by ropes, fastened to the ends of the logs and thrown over the house, ho drew them up by the help of his oxen.
In this manner he raised a house, in five days, and had it covered with bark ready for his family. It stood on the lot, and near the spot, where his oldest son, David C. Bacon, now lives.
For three years he had no neighbor nearer than Tinker's creek, and Mrs. Bacon often remarked that for six months after her arrival in Northfield, she did not see the face of a white woman, except her own when looking in a pool of water, the only looking-glass of that day.
At that time Indians were very plenty in Northfield—there being three wigwams on the farm of Bacon, all well filled. Shortly after he built bis cabin, a committee was sent out to survey and lay a road from Hudson to the old Portage road, as it was called, to Cleveland. The committee had surveyed to within about 80 rods of Bacon's cabin before they were aware there was a settler in the township. Hearing some one chopping, the committee went to the spot and found Bacon clearing up his farm. To accommodate him they made an angle in the road to get to his house, and then turned out West to the old Portage road. North Hampton Mills, fourteen miles distant, were then the nearest mills.
It generally took two days to go to the mills and back, as the roads were as bad as can well be imagined. From Hudson to Newburgh was an almost continuous bed of clay mud, almost deep enough to mire a team. Teamsters used to say there were but two mud holes, and Tinker's creek bridge separated them. From Pest-s, in Hudson to Bacon's farm, was known as the musquito swamp, and well did it merit its name.
For several years after Bacon settled there, bears and wolves were as thick as pettifoggers, in a country village, and almost at troublesome. One day, while Bacon was from home, a bear came within three or four rods of the house, and caught and carried off a large hog. On another occasion a pack of wolves got after Bacon's sheep, and having chased them several times round the house, they saved their bacon by bursting the door open, and seeking protection from the family. •
The perils and trials of early life in the woods cannot be fully understood by persons at the present day—but incidents in the life of Mrs. Bacon, the female Boone of Northfield, will convey aelight idea of them.
One day while Mr. Bacon was absent from home, a company of Indians went into the house and called for fire-water. Mrs. Bacon denied having any in the house. The Indians went to a cupboard, where a bottle of it was kept, and on her attempting to oppose them they drew their knives, and compelled her to give up the whisky.
At another time a suspicious looking man called in about the middle of the day, and enquired for Mr. Bacon—and when she expected him home—how far it was to the nearest neighbor, and if she was not afraid to stay alone? She replied her husband would be home the next day—and that she was not afraid while she had that trusty old friend (pointing to a large dog lying on the hearth, with his eyes on the stranger). He remained until it was getting near night, and she told him as she had no accommodations for keeping strangers, he had better be going, as it was several miles to any house. He, however, hung round till about dark, when he asked one of the little boys to turn the grind-stone for him to sharpen his knife—showing an instrument similar to an Indian scalping knife. Mrs. B. now began to prepare for evil—and took her position in one corner, while the stranger satin the other, and the dog took his post between them.
In this manner they sat without exchanging a word till near mid night, when he asked her why she sat up so late, and then asked her why the did not turn that dog out of doors? She told him the dog always slept in the house when his master was gone. H» then ordered her to turn him out, when she opened the door and told the dog to go in. The dog looked up and wagged his tail but would not go. She spoke to him again, when he growled, but kept his position. The stranger then got up and ordered him out, but the dog rose up and growled defiance at him. The stranger, seeing he was an ugly customer to handle was glad to resume his station, and the dog took his. In this manner the group remained till morning, when the stranger left.
In 1808 Bacon lost an infant daughter, which was the first death of a white person, in the township. Zina Post of Hudson, and Noble of Tinker's creek, the only neighbors, came and buried the dead.
Having lived thus solitary and alone for four years, their solitude was relieved, in June 1810, by the arrival of Jeremiah Cranmer, a brother of Mrs. Bacon, who settled on Lot 72 and built a cabin half a mile from Bacon's.
In 1812, soon after the surrender of Hull, news came that the British had landed at Cleveland and were going to march through the country. Noble, Bacon, and Cranmer, resolved to remove their families to Hudson. The families got together at Bacon's and began to load their furniture on to their wagons, while Bacon started for Cleveland to ascertain the truth of the report.
While loading the wagons an Indian was seen skulking round the woods, when Cranmer advised him to be off as his scalp would be the forfeit if he was found there an hour later. As he was never afterwards heard from it is very doubtful whether he got out of the township.
The wagons were loaded with such articles as they could carry, and the balance buried in the earth. The teams, and families started and got about three miles towards Hudson, when Bacon returned and overtook them, with the intelligence that it was the American prisoners, surrendered by Hull, that the British had landed at Cleveland. The teams then returned to Northfield.
Soon after the surrender of Hull a draft was made for militia to protect the frontier from the expected attack of British and Indians. Bacon was drafted, and in September ordered to Cleveland, where he was soon after discharged and returned home. Soon after his return he was taken sick, and on the sixth of November 1812, he died, and was buried on the top of Tinker's creek hill, near where George Comstock formerly lived.
