| Minutes of November 18, 1835 |
| In New Portage, Clarissa and David Matthews charge Reuben Keeler with taking their land through a civil proceeding and oppressing their family. Reuben is found guilty and says he will appeal to the Kirtland high council. | ||||
| Date | November 18, 1835 | |||
| Location | New Portage, Ohio | New Portage is now part of Barberton, which is at the southwest corner of Akron. three miles south of I-76. The Norton branch was midway between what is now Barberton and the freeway. | ||
| Description | A council of High Priests & Elders … | |||
| Presiding | Ambrose Palmer | |||
| Clerk | Joseph B. Bosworth | |||
| Present |
High priests Ambrose Palmer, Joseph B. Bosworth, and Thomas Gordon. Elders Salmon Warner, William Fry, Jeremiah Moley, Anthony Cooper, John
McLay, Michael B. Welton and Julius Black. |
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| Complaint Civil law, taking land, oppressing family |
Clarissa Matthews complains that Elder Reuben Keeler, prosecuted her family in a civil court of Law and obtaining a judgment, took their land even though they had paid for most of it and refused to let them pay the rest. He had promised he would not the property this way, which amounted to "oppressing her family in an unchristian like manner." | |||
| Guilty
of two charges Return property to family, postpone civil proceeding |
Reuben pleads not guilty. After "patiently investigating" the case, the council finds him guilty of prosecuting the Matthews in a civil court and oppressing the family. He is to return the property to them, reimburse David Matthews the $15 assessed by New Portage justice of the peace John C. Stearns, and postpone another scheduled hearing for a brief period so the Matthews pay the remaining $3. | |||
| Reuben appeals | Reuben refused to accept the council's decision, and says he will appeal it to the high council at Kirtland. | |||
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