Enlisted in USMC, 2 June 1846, Brooklyn, New York, date of desertion 2 March 1848 report of U. S. S. Preble.
Joseph Haskell was the son of Joseph Sr. and Judith Reynolds Haskell and was born in New Salem, Franklin Co., Massachusetts, August 29, 1803. He learned the trade of wagon-maker and carried on a shop in his native place. In 1827, he was married to Selina Spencer Hoven, and in 1835 decided to remove to Ohio, where his two brothers had preceded him. In September of that year, with his family, consisting of his wife, his mother, and three children, the oldest a lad of seven years, the youngest an infant daughter of a few months, started for the then far west, the family and household goods taken by team to Troy, New York, a distance of ninety miles. Here they shipped for Buffalo, Mr. Haskell, taking his first ride on the cars from Albany to Schenectady, where he awaited the arrival of the canal boat with his family. At Buffalo they took passage on the steamer Gultana, and in due time were landed at Fairport, thence by team with family and goods to Burton, to the home of his brother, Arba, who worked in the grist-mills of James Gilmore. On the way they called on Warren Haskell, a brother, who was a single man, and was at work in Chardon. Nearly three weeks had been taken in coming [from] Massachusetts.
Mr. Haskell was anxious to locate where he could have available water power that he might utilize for running mills and machinery. He had noticed that those who had mills or shops always got along well and accumulated property, all things being equal. With those purposes in view, by the advice of his brother, he went to near where Christopher Langdon had built a grist mill and where two saw mills were the running on a small branch of the Chagrin near the north line of Munson Township. Being pleased with the location, he made a purchase of six acres of the wild and unimproved land of Daniel Huger, for which he paid $60 in cash. In the history of Geauga County, compiled by Judge Taylor, on page 263, Mr. Miner writes: "A saw-mill was also built lower down the stream by Joseph Haskell in 1836. A saw-mill was also built by him near the site where Langdon's grist mill formerly stood, about 1852."
Let us turn a leaf or two in his life history, and see how he made a start in getting a home in the wilderness, Returning to the home of his brother, In Burton, he packed up the few tools necessary for primitive carpenter work, axe, saw, hammer, square and a few smaller tools, and with his son, Otis, early one morning started on foot to where he made his purchase. Arriving there before noon, he bought a few hundred feet of boards, also a few pound of nails, and, selecting a site, he began erection of the family mansion. In clearing away the place for the building, he found three straight saplings the right distance apart for the corners. One corner post lacking was supplied, and also a door post. This was built about twelve by fourteen feet, only one story, and a combined kitchen, parlor, bedroom, laundry and storeroom. This was so far completed, that, on the arrival of the family and goods, the second day, they moved in, although a blanket served for a door and [had] no chimney. This he built using stones from the brook with clay for mortar. This dwelling, with slight additions made a home for a family of six for three years or more. He then built a shop two stories high, where the family lived in the upper part until he [built] a dwelling house now on the place. Baking for ordinary families sixty years ago was by the traditional bake kettle, or what was thought at that time a great improvement, the tin oven. These could only be used before an open fireplace, and went out of use on the advent of the cooking stove. A few of the better class of houses of course had brick or stone ovens. As showing how some of the early settlers fared, I will relate the following: The writer was working in company with a Mr. Tucker many years since, at Harveson. Mr. Tucker praised the Johnny-cake, which the wife of a farmer served for supper. "This," said he, "is different from the kind my stepmother used to make. Those were white oak variety. You could roll them ten rods on the frozen ground without breaking them."
To carry out his plans, Mr. Haskell had to borrow money. He obtained $100 of Luther Thwing, giving his note for 12 percent annual interest, the hard times of 1837, the cost of living was high, wheat, $2.00 a bushel, corn $1.00, pork, $20.00 per barrel. When the note was paid he found he had paid double the amount for which the note had been given. The present generation, with its bicycles and electric cars as a means of quick transit, other things, in proportion can but faintly realize the straits to which people were driven to raise money to pay their taxes. It is related that one man had a letter sent him by mail by which .25 cents postage was due. After considerable delay the postmaster received one bushel of ears of corn of the farmer in payment.
Mr. Haskell and his two sons made most of his improvements both in buildings and machinery. Naturally ingenious, he was a comparatively little expense in millwright work. He bought the Hager grist-mill, had two saw mills, made sawed shingles, and afterward cut shingles and lathe. The grist-mill as an investment did not pay him, and he sold it. The spring freshets tore out his dam location, which was a serious trouble for him, incurring a great deal of expense. His dreams of building up a little town, were for a short time there had been a prospect of permanent growth, were not realized, and while he did not leave to his heirs real or personal estate bonds of stocks, I trust he left a character for strict integrity, which after all is more essential, and which they may well emulate.
His mother was kindly cared for by the family, and passed to spirit life September 15, 1864, having lived to the age of about 88 years.
He was a lover of good music and could play the violin very sweetly and he also made a string instrument called a cymbal, which frond out a kind of music peculiarly its own. Of these, he made several selling or trading them for other property.
His wife, who had for so long a time had been sharing in his toils, joys, sorrows, passed to the other shore February 2, 1881, age about 73 years. She was the mother of six children, five of whom are still living, one having died in infancy. His was an active life. It took a good deal of hard work to build up the business that he carried on to success, with no capital but head and hands. A few years of the latter part of his life his mind failed, and weighed down with bodily infirmities he died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Frank Benton, in Chardon. He remains rest beside those of his wife in Mentor Cemetery.
E. H. Cleveland
Mentor, April 14, 1896The Western Reserve loses another pioneer of the early days of this country. Three years after the century began, in the historic town of Salem, Franklin County, Massachusetts, Joseph Haskell was born. He was united in marriage to Miss Selina Hoven in 1828 and came to Munson in 1837 where he lived until a year ago. The remainder of his days was spent with his daughter, Mrs. Frank Henton, on King Street. Mr. Haskell was a very ingenious man, a loving husband, a devoted father, an honest and esteemed citizen. He departed from this earthly habitation February 9, 1894; aged 90 years, 5 months and 12 days.
He leaves five children to mourn his loss: Otis Haskell of Mentor, Austen Haskell of Chardon, Mrs. Lydia Moore of Los Angeles, California, Mrs. Theresa Benton of Chardon, and Mrs. Ella Chamberlain of Geneva.
In early boyhood he made an open profession of religion and united with the Universalists.
Shepard engaged in lumbering operations on the waters of the Upper St. John and Allagash Rivers. He owned large tracts of timber in those areas and other parts of Aroostook county Maine. He also engaged in agriculture, built and operated a foundry and machine shop in Houlton, and grist and lumber mills. He was active in politics, serving sixteen terms in the House and Senate of Maine. He was a member of Congress in 1842, and ran for Governor in 1854 on the Liberty Party ticket.
George graduated at Bowdoin in 1860. He enlisted as a private in the 1st Maine cavalry, was promoted to Captain. Engaged in the battles of Cedar Mountain, Second Bull Run, Freericksburg and others. He resigned in 1863 due to health problems. He received his M.D. from the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York. He practiced medicine to the time of his death. He bequethed to the town a sizeable estate to establish and maintain a Free Public Library known as the Cary Library.
William worked with his brother Shepard in the management of lumber operations in Northern Aroostook county Maine. To satisfy lumber demands in England, they cut and floated lumber down the rivers to St. Johns, New Brunswick.
Died of yellow fever
Daily Missouri Republican
October 12, 1858Captain Isaac Bowen, of the army and for several years United States Commisary at New Orleans, died of yellow fever last Sunday, at Pass Christian, where we regret to learn, his wife also was lying dangerously ill of this disease when the Lake steamer left the Pass. They had gone over there to spend this summer.