Notable deceased Aurorans get honors

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by Brent Hovey

Reporter

Aurora -- Portage County is turning 200 years old and Aurora will be part of the celebration.

On May 17, Aurora will honor two long-deceased residents and one who died 22 years ago who were instrumental in the founding and development of the city.

The three men are Ebenezer Sheldon, first pioneer to come to Aurora; Charles Harmon, grandson of Sheldon and a two-term state legislator; and John Ingalls Eldridge, mayor when the township and village merged.

Mayor Lynn McGill said Portage County asked communities to honor important individuals from the city's past.

"We looked back at all the folks who have been part of the city and picked these three men," the mayor said. "They were outstanding individuals to Aurora."

Ebenezer Sheldon

Sheldon was born in 1754. In 1799, he brought his family from Connecticut that spring to become the first permanent residents.

They lived in a log cabin on what became East Pioneer Trail near the Mantua Township line. From 1799 to 1803, they were the only residents in the area.

Sheldon served as the local agent for the Connecticut Land Co. He was a Revolutionary War veteran and he and his family were active in town until the late 1800s. He died in 1825.

Charles Harmon

Harmon was born in 1811 to parents Ebenezer Harmon and Mary Sheldon. Harmon and his brother, Calvin, lived on land near Sunny Lake and were cheese merchants.

Harmon married Hannah Baldwin and moved to the large brick house on East Pioneer Trail just down from the library (present Clark family home).

In 1847, he and Calvin purchased land on the west side of Chillicothe Road and constructed a store, which still stands today and is operated as the Chet Edwards Store.

It is the oldest remaining commercial building in town.

They then purchased property north and south of the store, and built a cheese warehouse.

Harmon, who served during the Civil , was twice elected as an Ohio legislator and died in 1902.

John I. Eldridge

Eldridge was born in 1896 in Aurora. He was the son of Willis Eldridge, another cheese merchant in the times when Aurora was said to be the "Cheese Capital of the World."

He was born in a house at Maple Lane and Route 306, was educated in the local schools, attended Ohio State University and became a salesman of bank supplies.

Eldridge served as mayor of Aurora from 1956 to 1959 and as a Councilman prior to that.

He was instrumental in bringing forward legislation that brought the township and village together as one entity.

Eldridge was known as Mr. Aurora. He was active in social happenings, the Church in Aurora and Kiwanis Club, and founded the Aurora Historical Society and served on the Portage County Library Board and Robinson Memorial Hospital trustees. He died in 1986.

The program begins at 10:30 a.m. when McGill and local Scout groups post 240 American flags in the Town Center cemetery.

The ceremony will begin at about 11. McGill will give opening remarks and a procession will proceed to each of the three men's graves.

At each gravesite, local historian Dick Fetzer will talk about the men and Councilman John Kudley will unveil commemorative markers.

The ceremony will conclude with final words from Portage County Bicentennial Committee members Mark Cheplowitz (chairman) and Christine Shock as they present a plaque marking the day.

"It will be a nice tribute to those who were here before many of us were and who helped shape the city," said McGill.

E-mail: bhovey@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3155