The Indians did not trouble these settlers though they had lived in this section. Game was abundant. Snakes were too abundant, rattlesnakes had to be driven out of the homes. Parket Pelton was one of the most successful game hunters and supplied families with much of his prowess. William Warner, though a later settler was a noted hunter and is said to have killed the last deer.
Snakes especially rattlers were a great abomination. It is related that Mrs. Albro wife of J. H. Albro when a child was observed to carry a cup of milk quite regularly out of the house, and it was discovered that she held the cup while a large snake drank the milk while she patted its head - truly a snake story.
The pioneer people were as much afraid of the woods as of the bears and wild cats.
John Clark, Father of Wm. P. Clark, who arrived in Montville that year became lost while hunting causing a neighborhood organization to hunt for many hours before he was found.
Montville takes it's name from its high rolling land and from a town in Vermont where the original proprietor, Gen. Aristarchus Champion lived.
A water divide in the southern part of the township is quite worthy of mention; Rocky River and the River Styx separated by only a mile of distance, flow in opposite direction northern slope finding its was into the St. Lawrence River and then to the Atlantic Ocean and the southern slope flowing by way of the Ohio River to the Mississippi and the Gulf of Mexico.
The soil in the highlands is of rich clay mixture, devoted to corn, wheat and other grains and grasses.
Montville is situated near the center of the county, bounded on the north by Medina, east by Sharon, south by Guilford, west by Lafayette. Medina village extends into Montville on the north. Its community center is Poe, four miles south of Medina.
This territory known in the Connecticut Company's survey as township Range 14 was sold by the company to Gen. Champion in 1818 and surveyed into sections preparatory for settlement. As this settlement proceeded, Montville appeared to be off the line of travel. Trails were indistinct and man made his own roads and traffic laws. These roads were unpassable in the spring because of mud.
The first cut out road that touched the township was the Smith road which worked the boundary between Montville and Medina. This was the Military road of Gen. Smith's army in 1812 and the only outlet for travel east and west - and is still an important thoroughfare.
Old State Road between Cleveland and Wooster constituted the north and south routes by which most of the immigration moved. Social events followed the trend of other settlements. Husking bees, logging, and raising various entertainment's could bring work and play. At first there were a few Indians but they abandoned camps as white people moved in. Few pioneer children saw these though they had hoped for such neighbors. In 1829, Ref. Alra Sanford organized the first religious service. This was the Episcopal Order. This service continued until it merged with the Medina Episcopal Church. Rev. Stephan Bareres came into the township to reside. Mr. Champion, still the original owner of the township gave Mr. Bareres one hundred acres to settle there. He labored with uncertain results until 1830, when the Methodist Church founded a class meeting in the houses or the school house. in 1844, they build a house of worship which still stands near the center of the township. Mr. Champion had contributed $300 toward the building.
The first members were John S. Wheeler, who had constituted the entire building committee; Asa Bradley; Washington Nichols; John Nichols; John Fritz; Daniel Wheeler; Asa House; Bunker and Geuas Buch. Rev. W. B. Farrar of Medina preached a sermon whenever roads were passable.
A secretary's record of 1832 gives names of well known people, Mr. and Mrs. Nelson Wheeler, Mr. and Mrs. Bert Morse, Mr. R. L. Gehman and Mrs. Lila Thayer. When Montville was to have a Post Office, the name Poe was decided upon after the Ref. Adam Poe, Presiding Elder of the district at the time.
After twenty years of service the church acted upon the suggestion of a new cover - meaning new shingles. The new roof was provided by members of the church. Charles Crofoot, who lived on a farm recently purchased by Willis Roshon, had a shingle machine. The original roof was thatched, made of oak slates split out by hand about 2 feet long by 1 1/2 inches thick, four or five inches wide. Experts were required to split them. It was also decided to pay the sexton, David Hackethorn, $10 for the year 1868. The pulpit at this time was in the form of a box three feet high with a door which was tightly closed.
An interesting family of this period was that of Daniel Hitchcock, who made the Hitchcock chairs much in demand among antiquarians. These were always painted green, seats made of twisted slippery elm bark. Descendants of the family now live near Grafton, Ohio.
In 1873, a musical convention was held in the church, the box pulpit having been removed. Prof. C.E. Leslie of OBerlin conducted afternoon and evening sessions. A book called Silver Carols was preserved by R.L. Gehman, one of the singers. Other singing classes and some dramatic efforts were afterward indulged in, but the church board afterward declined the use of the building for any but devotional purposes.
Rev. B. J. Hoadley was preacher for the years of 1875 to 1876. When the roads were bad he rode a white pony from Medina to Poe. Twenty years later Rev. H. T. Steves, pastor, received $150 for his services. Miss. Eva Johnson and Mrs. Lila Thayer were mentioned amount the members of this church in 1900. Baldwin Wallace students officiated in many services; later Rev. Dugene Williams having instituted the first home coming. In 1931 the church was fortunate in securing the services of Rev. Rowe of Wadsworth as pastor. He gave illustrated lectures on experiences in foreign fields.
Rev. P.S. Jyde of Leroy church served the two congregations in 1939. He also found time and opportunity to call on the people of the community. Since 1942, Rev. Tripp holds the present pastorate (1946) very acceptably. The Poe church has had its experiences of progress and decline; having been the church of the Montville forefathers, their faith should hold and brighten with generation. Another church in the township which was started in September 1944, and dedicated on May 13, 1945 is located on Wadsworth road, about one mile north of Poe and belongs to the Apostolic Christian creed. There are nineteen members with their families and services are held each Sunday morning and afternoon.
On Friday evenings there are singing services for the young people. These people are very earnest and loyal to their church and will no doubt grow in members and strengths.
There are three cemeteries located in Montville township two of which are the resting places of the earliest settlers of this township and are now abandoned and overgrown with undesirable weeds. One is located on the River Road near Crofoot Hill which was the place of the earliest settlements. At this place we found monuments of Hon. Philo Welton and his wife. Caleb Chase, Parker Pelton and wife and two sons are also buried here. Also Mary, wife of Austin Badger. The second of the old cemeteries is located just east of Wadsworth road on Sharon road and accommodated those n the northern section of the township. The cemetery which is being used today is a very pretty spot just east of Poe.
The first marriage in this township was that of A.R. Williams to Nancy Monroe. Henry Pelton was the first child born in the township. The first death was that of Mrs. Caroline Badger, also mention as the first teacher; her school consisting of eight pupils, was held in a school house erected by Auston Badger on the corner of his farm. Parker Pelton raised the first three acres of wheat ever cut, his neighbor, Austin Badger, threshed it out with a flail for the seventh bushel and thought himself well paid.
In 1820 there were two horses in the community, Parker Pelton and Austin Badger each owning one. Parker Pelton served the township as blacksmith. Two years later an assessment made by Mr. Welton showed three horses and forty-one cattle. Hogs were introduced about this time and were allowed to run wild in abundance. Forty head of sheep bought in Euclid were only twenty at the end of the winter, wolves bring a great nuisance, a high light fence enabled their owners to raise enough wool for their own use.
Supplies had to come from Cleveland, a considerable distance away - wooden pegs and pins were used instead of nails which were very high priced. A saw mill was constructed on the Rocky River in 1823 by Austin Badger on land owned by John Morris. A later enterprise was an “ashery” by Mr. Van Gilder, who manufactured black salt which could be traded for ashes. He also carried a small stock of groceries and dry goods. Later a general store was founded at Poe, probably about 1850 by Abraham Oberholtzer and this store having changed owners many times still continues to serve its community. The electrical refrigeration plant of recent organization owned by O.A. Nichols and sons: Arthur and O.A. Jr. is on the so-called South Pike, and provides employment for fifty persons.
The pickle plant owned by Fred Chandler on East Smith road is a thriving enterprise. Still later two families by name of Giffin have purchased fine old farms and are devoting their ability to horse raising; a byproduct being Hormones for medical use.
In 1873 Montville had eight school houses distributed over the township according to the need. In 1923 these schools were consolidated; a new building constructed with classrooms and all the needs of the community for an elementary school. High school pupils were transported to Medina by bus.
Previous to consolidation, the South Pike and East Smith road were set apart as a special district, a part of Medina district; teachers were, Mrs. Clara Hartman, 1, 2 and 3 grades; Bernice Couthamel, 4, 5 and 6 grades; Mrs. Lawrence Hammett of Medina, 7 and 8 grades.
In 1890 a railroad first known as Northern Ohio now the A.C. and Y. was build crossing the northeastern part of Montville. A large trestle 720 feet long, 75 feet high, crosses Rocky River Balley and the River Road at the Ingham farm. A unique musical organization is the martial band. Sammy Ingham, was director, playing a fife, those taking part in the early days were Bill, Cling, Fred and Bob Neff, Wilber and John Tower, Frank and Geo Whipple, Charles and Denis Ingham and E.C. Wagner. Of this group greatly in demand for celebrations, three played fifes, the others drums. The group is much smaller now and its picturesque leader Sammy Ingham gone. Those playing still are Bill Neff, E.C. Wager, Art Young of Seville, Chet Ryan and daughter Martha.
In an agricultural community, church and school hold ever the predominating interest. Montville Grange was organized in march 1932 and has ever been foremost among activities and the business life of its own township and boundaries. It has been active in promoting other organizations. The Grange having a membership of 250 or more has served as a nucleus of activity in Montville for fifty-three years.
A prominent feature of Montville, a very unusual one was the pioneer monument of Fairfax Smith erected in 1879 by his son, Linas Smith, the statue of the finest Carara marble, six feet in height and bearing a good resemblance to the sturdy pioneer, was erected on the farm burial place of the Smith family. In 1894 after the death of Linas Smith the beautiful memorial was moved to Spring Grove cemetery which has become the family's burial place.
